Mohamed Al Hamdani has always been ambitious: an Iraqi refugee whose family fled the Saddam Hussein regime in the early 1990s for the US state of Ohio, he became an immigration lawyer and has served as president of a local school board.
Now, Mr Al Hamdani is setting his sights on becoming chairman of the Montgomery County Democratic Party. If he wins June's in-party vote, he will make history by becoming the first person of colour and first Muslim to hold the office.
“My dad was part of the resistance to Saddam Hussein growing up; it leaves a mark on you,” he says.
“Politics has always been something that’s part of my life and I want my kids to see that we are just as much a part of this country as everybody else," Mr Al Hamdani told The National.
He is seeking to help reinvent his local chapter of the Democratic Party at a time when it is floundering on both the national stage and in small communities outside traditional liberal centres.
“There are not a lot of examples of people like me [in politics], but there’s a growing network of Muslims supporting each other,” he says. “I was lucky and privileged enough to have developed a lot of relationships over time.”
The 2024 presidential election may be a long way off, but primary elections next week will decide who contests November’s congressional midterms and, by extension, who represents the state of Ohio — for decades an important political bellwether — in the US Senate.
Republican Senator Rob Portman announced last year that he would not run for re-election due to “partisan gridlock”, setting the scene for an open race to replace him.
But Democrats believe Ohio is one of their best chances to flip a Senate seat in the November election — possibly allowing the party to keep control of the upper house.
The shadow of former president Donald Trump, however, looms large.
Last week, venture capitalist and author JD Vance won Mr Trump’s endorsement for a seat in the US Senate.
Since then, Mr Vance has received millions of dollars in campaign funding from conservative donors and surged in the polls. This is despite Mr Vance previously calling Mr Trump “noxious” during his 2016 presidential run.
“I think that [Mr Vance] is somewhat of a fraud. He’s tried to go as far into Trumpland as he can,” says Charles “Rocky” Saxbe, a Republican who served four terms in Ohio’s House of Representatives and a vocal critic of Mr Trump.
The former president remains a potent force in the Republican Party: in Ohio, Mr Trump holds a favourability rating of about 80 per cent. His enduring popularity is largely down to the fact that “he gives a lot of people something to hate, to be against”, Mr Saxbe said.
For decades, Ohio mirrored the US political pulse. Before the 2020 presidential election, voters had backed the eventual winner in every election since 1964 and in all but four elections since 1888.
But Mr Trump’s big win in Ohio in 2020 has mirrored the state’s shift to the right. While cities such as Columbus, the state capital, have boomed, former manufacturing centres, such as Youngstown and the Appalachian region, have struggled with unemployment, crime and the fallout from the opioid crisis.
These are many of the same issues that dominate Mr Vance’s autobiography, Hillbilly Elegy, which was turned into a 2020 Netflix film starring Glenn Close and Amy Adams that depicts his life growing up in a town that neighbours Mohamed Al Hamdani’s Montgomery County.
Mr Saxbe’s concern is that Mr Vance could win the Republican nomination, which would work in favour of the Democratic Party.
“I don’t think he is as well-known as he likes to think that he is. He’s like a lot of celebrities — he’s believing his own reviews,” he says.
With a mix of urban and rural communities and demographics, Montgomery County is not only a microcosm of Ohio, but of the US as a whole.
In the 2020 presidential election, voters backed President Joe Biden over Mr Trump by 50 to 48 per cent — at the national level, Mr Biden prevailed 51-47.
But a scandal last year has soured many people’s views of the Montgomery County Democratic Party. Before a local election in November, the Ohio State Democratic Party mailed out attack ads against two African-American Democratic candidates seeking the role of city commissioner in Dayton, Ohio’s sixth-largest city.
Though the commission race is officially non-partisan, all four candidates were Democrats, but the local party had endorsed the other two candidates. The party leadership later apologised.
“It was wrong,” says Mr Al Hamdani. “If I become chair, I want to have not just one vice-chair, but a number of people in that position that represent different parts of our community.”
For Mr Al Hamdani, even if he becomes chairman of the Montgomery County Democratic Party this summer, he and Democrats across the state will face huge challenges.
Since Republicans control Ohio’s top political structures, they can shape electoral mapping, which allows them to gerrymander districts to their own advantage.
But Mr Al Hamdani is undeterred.
“Change is always uncomfortable [and] you’re pushing against ingrained powers,” he says.
“My job is going to be about selling that change in a positive way.”
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Teenage%20Mutant%20Ninja%20Turtles%3A%20Shredder's%20Revenge
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ROUTE%20TO%20TITLE
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Results
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
HAJJAN
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If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
What: India v Afghanistan, first Test
When: Starts Thursday
Where: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengalaru
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Everton%20Fixtures
%3Cp%3EApril%2015%20-%20Chelsea%20(A)%3Cbr%3EApril%2021%20-%20N.%20Forest%20(H)%3Cbr%3EApril%2024%20-%20Liverpool%20(H)%3Cbr%3EApril%2027%20-%20Brentford%20(H)%3Cbr%3EMay%203%20-%20Luton%20Town%20(A)%3Cbr%3EMay%2011%20-%20Sheff%20Utd%20(H)%3Cbr%3EMay%2019%20-%20Arsenal%20(A)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Virtuzone GCC Sixes
Date and venue Friday and Saturday, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City
Time Matches start at 9am
Groups
A Blighty Ducks, Darjeeling Colts, Darjeeling Social, Dubai Wombats; B Darjeeling Veterans, Kuwait Casuals, Loose Cannons, Savannah Lions; C Awali Taverners, Darjeeling, Dromedary, Darjeeling Good Eggs
How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
THE%20HOLDOVERS
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25%20Days%20to%20Aden
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RESULTS
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
SQUADS
UAE
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice-captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan
Nepal
Paras Khadka (captain), Gyanendra Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Pradeep Airee, Binod Bhandari, Avinash Bohara, Sundeep Jora, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Rohit Paudel, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Basant Regmi, Pawan Sarraf, Bhim Sharki, Aarif Sheikh
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Norwich 0
Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')
Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)
Need to know
Unlike other mobile wallets and payment apps, a unique feature of eWallet is that there is no need to have a bank account, credit or debit card to do digital payments.
Customers only need a valid Emirates ID and a working UAE mobile number to register for eWallet account.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
RESULT
Wolves 1 (Traore 67')
Tottenham 2 (Moura 8', Vertonghen 90 1')
Man of the Match: Adama Traore (Wolves)
