Ako Abdul-Samad

Ako Abdul-Samad an American politician. He served in the Iowa [House of Representatives] from 2007 to 2025. Previously, he was a member of the Des Moines school board. Abdul-Samad was born, raised, and resides in Des Moines.
Abdul-Samad is the founder and CEO of Creative Visions Human Development Institute, a nonprofit organization in Des Moines.
, Abdul-Samad serves on the Iowa House Administration and Rules, Education, Human Resources, and Public Safety committees. He also serves on the Health and Human Services Committee of the Midwestern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments.
Abdul-Samad is founder and president of the African-American Islamic Association.
In February 2024, Abdul-Samad announced that he would retire at the end of his current term.

Electoral history

*incumbent

Voting History

During the legislative session of 2017, Abdul-Samad voted against cutting $70.1 million from the department for the Blind, the College Student Aid Commission, the Department of Education, and the Board of Regents.

Personal life

Abdul-Samad is a former Black Panthers lieutenant. He is a Muslim. His son was shot and killed at the age of 20 in 1997.