Abdishakur Mohamed drops out of Minnesota House race for Moorhead district

Founder of Soma Employment Solutions endorses Mayor Shelly Carlson for the DFL nomination

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:59am

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A cinematic painting of a solitary Minnesota state capitol building, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, evoking a sense of political contemplation and civic engagement.The quiet, contemplative scene of the Minnesota state capitol reflects the thoughtful nature of the local political race in Moorhead.Moorhead Today

Abdishakur Mohamed, the founder and CEO of Soma Employment Solutions, has ended his campaign for the Minnesota House of Representatives District 4A seat, which covers most of Moorhead. Mohamed endorsed Mayor Shelly Carlson, who is running for the DFL endorsement against psychiatric nurse practitioner Erika Yoney. Auto dealership owner Andrew Rockhold is running for the Republican nomination for the seat.

Why it matters

This is an open race for the Minnesota House District 4A seat, as the current DFL State Representative Heather Keeler is running for the DFL nomination for Minnesota's 7th Congressional District. Mohamed's withdrawal and endorsement of Carlson could have a significant impact on the DFL primary race.

The details

Mohamed cited his desire to remain engaged in the work that matters most and continue serving the Moorhead community in meaningful ways as the reason for his withdrawal from the race. Carlson, who Mohamed endorsed, is running against Erika Yoney for the DFL nomination. On the Republican side, auto dealership owner Andrew Rockhold is running for the nomination.

  • Last month, Moorhead Firefighter Kevin Salisbury ended his campaign for the DFL nomination in the race.

The players

Abdishakur Mohamed

Founder and CEO of Soma Employment Solutions, who has ended his campaign for the Minnesota House of Representatives District 4A seat.

Shelly Carlson

Mayor of Moorhead, who is running for the DFL endorsement for the Minnesota House District 4A seat.

Erika Yoney

Psychiatric nurse practitioner, who is running against Shelly Carlson for the DFL endorsement for the Minnesota House District 4A seat.

Andrew Rockhold

Auto dealership owner, who is running for the Republican nomination for the Minnesota House District 4A seat.

Heather Keeler

DFL State Representative, who is running for the DFL nomination for Minnesota's 7th Congressional District.

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What they’re saying

“This step allows me to remain engaged in the work that matters most while continuing to serve and contribute to District 4A and our community in meaningful ways. My commitment to Moorhead's future remains strong and unchanged.”

— Abdishakur Mohamed, Founder and CEO of Soma Employment Solutions

“She leads with integrity, heart, and genuine dedication, and I have full confidence she is the right voice for our community in St. Paul.”

— Abdishakur Mohamed, Founder and CEO of Soma Employment Solutions

The takeaway

Mohamed's withdrawal from the race and endorsement of Carlson could have a significant impact on the DFL primary, as Carlson now has the backing of a prominent community leader. The open nature of the race for Minnesota House District 4A also adds an element of uncertainty, with several candidates vying for the nominations on both sides.