Safiya Khalid

Safiya Said Khalid (born 1996) is an American politician from Lewiston, Maine. Khalid is the first Somali-American and youngest person ever elected to serve at the city council in Lewiston, Maine.

Khalid was born in Somalia. As a seven-year-old, Khalid fled the country with her mother and two younger brothers. Her family initially settled in New Jersey before moving to Lewiston, Maine. At fourteen years old, she became an American citizen. She attended Lewiston Public Schools and graduated from Lewiston High School. Khalid went on to graduate from the University of Southern Maine, where she studied psychology.

Khalid worked for L.L.Bean making boots during high school and college. After graduating, she worked for the Maine Democratic Party as a field organizer in Lewiston. She later worked as a clerk for the Maine Legislature's Committee on Housing and Labor. She currently works as a case manager for the nonprofit Gateway Community Services in Maine.

In 2017, Khalid ran for the Lewiston School Committee. She lost to the incumbent by a wide margin. Shortly after the election, she was elected as vice chair of the Lewiston Democratic Party.

In 2018, Khalid won a seat representing Androscoggin County on the Maine Democratic Party State Committee. She went on to be elected to the Maine Democratic Party Executive Committee.

In 2019, Khalid ran for the Lewiston City Council. During her campaign, she was the target of racist attacks online.

On November 5, 2019, Khalid won the election with nearly 70 percent of the vote.

Khalid took office on January 6, 2020.