When Deqa Dhalac was selected as the mayor of South Portland, Maine, in late 2021, the headlines were pretty predictable. Most of them focused on the "firsts." She was the first Somali-American mayor in the United States. She was the first African-born female mayor in the country. She was the first Black mayor of South Portland. It’s a lot of "firsts" to carry on your shoulders.
But if you actually talk to people in South Portland—a city that, by the way, is about 90% white—they don't really talk about her like she's a historical monument. To them, she’s Deqa. Honestly, the most interesting thing about her story isn't just that she won; it’s how she won in a place where almost nobody looks like her or shares her faith.
Who is Deqa Dhalac?
Deqa Dhalac didn't just drop into Maine politics out of nowhere. Her journey started in Mogadishu, Somalia. She grew up in a middle-class family where her father, a petroleum engineer, was a bit of a rebel. He was a pro-democracy activist who wasn't afraid to speak out against the dictatorial government of the time. He actually went to prison for it.
That "speak your truth" energy clearly rubbed off on her.
When the Somali Civil War started bubbling over in 1990, she had to leave. It wasn't a straight shot to the U.S., either. She went to Italy, then England, then Canada. She finally landed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1992. She worked as a cashier in a parking garage. She worked in hotels. Basically, she did what every immigrant does: she hustled.
Eventually, she moved to Maine in 2005. Why Maine? Believe it or not, a lot of Somali refugees were drawn there because it felt safer and more affordable than big metro areas. She settled in South Portland in 2008 and raised her three kids there. While doing that, she collected master’s degrees like they were trading cards—one in development policy from the University of New Hampshire and another in social work from the University of New England.
Why Deqa Dhalac Somalia First is a Big Deal
People often ask why the "Somalia first" distinction matters so much in the context of American local government. It's because for the Somali diaspora, Deqa represents a shift from being "guests" to being "stakeholders."
Before she ran for City Council in 2018, she spent years as a social worker and community organizer. She was the person you called when you didn't understand your tax bill or when your kid was having trouble in school. She co-founded Cross Cultural Community Services. She worked for the Maine Department of Education. You've got to realize, she wasn't campaigning as an "immigrant candidate." She was campaigning as the lady who already solved everyone's problems for the last ten years.
The 2021 Unanimous Vote
In South Portland, the mayor isn't elected by a general popular vote; the City Council chooses one of its own members to serve a one-year term. In December 2021, her fellow councilors elected her unanimously.
Think about that. In a city that is overwhelmingly white and has a history that isn't exactly "diverse," every single person on that council decided she was the best person to lead. It wasn't a pity vote. It was a recognition of competence.
Tackling the Misconceptions
A lot of people think that because she's a "first," her platform must be exclusively about immigration or identity politics. That’s kinda wrong.
While she definitely advocates for marginalized groups, her actual work as mayor and now as a State Representative (she was elected to the Maine House in 2022) focuses on the "boring" stuff that actually runs a city:
- Affordable Housing: Maine is facing a massive housing crisis, and she’s been vocal about finding ways to keep people from being priced out of their own neighborhoods.
- Climate Change: She worked on the "One Climate Future" initiative, a joint plan between South Portland and Portland to tackle rising sea levels and carbon emissions.
- Public Education: Having raised three kids who went through the local schools, she’s a stickler for funding and social-emotional learning.
She once told an interviewer that when she knocks on doors, people don't usually want to talk about international relations. They want to know when their street is going to be plowed or why their property taxes went up. She speaks three languages—English, Italian, and Arabic—but she mostly speaks "Local Government."
The "Call In" Method
There's a great story about Deqa that basically sums up her entire vibe. A few years ago, during a community meeting, a woman stood up and said some pretty nasty, Islamophobic things. She basically called all Muslims terrorists.
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Most people would have shouted her down or kicked her out.
Deqa didn't do that. She later described it as "calling her in" instead of "calling her out." She invited the woman to talk. She wanted her to see that "Hey, I’m a mom, I’m a social worker, and I’m your neighbor." It’s that kind of radical empathy that made her successful in a place where, on paper, she shouldn't have been.
What’s Next for Deqa?
She isn't the mayor anymore—South Portland rotates that position—but she's moved on to bigger things. Since 2022, she’s been representing District 120 in the Maine House of Representatives. She even won re-election in 2024 with 100% of the vote (she ran unopposed, which tells you something about her standing in the community).
She’s currently serving on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee. That’s the committee that handles the money. In the world of politics, that’s where the real power is. She’s moved from being a symbol of "firsts" to being a person who decides how millions of dollars are spent on Maine’s infrastructure and social services.
Actionable Insights from Her Career
If you're looking at Deqa Dhalac's story as a blueprint for leadership or community involvement, here are a few things to take away:
- Build Relationships Before You Need Them: Deqa didn't run for office until she had spent over a decade volunteering and working in the community. She was a known entity.
- Education is Leverage: She often credits her two master's degrees for giving her the technical language to navigate policy. It's hard to dismiss someone when they know the data better than you do.
- Local is Personal: Change doesn't start at the White House; it starts at the City Council and the school board. If you want to make an impact, start where you pay your property taxes.
- Don't Let the "Firsts" Define You: Use the platform the "first" gives you, but do the work that ensures you aren't the "last."
Deqa Dhalac's story is still being written. Whether she stays in the state legislature or eventually eyes a federal seat, she’s already proven that "Somalia first" isn't a barrier—it’s just a part of a much larger, very American story.
If you want to follow her work or see what she's voting on lately, you can check the Maine Legislature's official records for District 120. She's particularly active in the "Office of New Americans" legislation, which is a great place to start if you want to see how she's turning her personal experience into statewide policy.