Ako Abdul-Samad

Ako Abdul-Samad (born July 25, 1951)^[1][2] an American politician. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives^[3] 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.

Ako Abdul-Samad
Abdul-Samad in 2021
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 34th district
In office January 8, 2007 – January 12, 2025
Preceded by	Ed Fallon
Succeeded by	Rob Johnson
Personal details
Born	(1951-07-25) July 25, 1951 (age 74) Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Residence(s)	Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Occupation	CEO of Creative Visions
Website	legis.iowa.gov/...

Abdul-Samad is the founder and CEO of Creative Visions Human Development Institute, a nonprofit organization in Des Moines.

As of May 2013^[update], 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.^[4]

Abdul-Samad is founder and president of the African-American Islamic Association.^[5]

In February 2024, Abdul-Samad announced that he would retire at the end of his current term.^[6]

Electoral history

*incumbent

Election	Political result		Candidate		Party	Votes	%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2006  [7] District 66 Turnout: 1,625		Democratic		Ako Abdul-Samad	Democratic	856	52.68%
				Frank E. Affannato	Democratic	332	20.43%
				Tre Wilson	Democratic	212	13.05%
				Paul Lay	Democratic	210	12.92%
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2006  [8] District 66 Turnout: 5,672		Democratic hold		Ako Abdul-Samad	Democratic	3,459	60.98%
				Jack Whitver	Republican	1,566	27.61%
				Jeff Johannsen	Independent	398	7.02%
				Brett Blanchfield	Libertarian	225	3.97%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2008  [9] District 66		Democratic		Ako Abdul-Samad*	Democratic	unopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2008  [10] District 66 Turnout: 10,303		Democratic hold		Ako Abdul-Samad*	Democratic	6,734	65.36%
				Chris Moeller	Iowa Green Party	1,889	18.33%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2010  [11] District 66 Turnout: 1,304		Democratic		Ako Abdul-Samad*	Democratic	912	69.94%
				Clair E. Rudison, Jr.	Democratic	306	23.47%
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2010  [12] District 66		Democratic hold		Ako Abdul-Samad*	Democratic	unopposed
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2012  [13] District 35		Democratic		Ako Abdul-Samad*	Democratic	unopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2012  [14] District 35 Turnout: 10,889		Democratic (newly redistricted)		Ako Abdul-Samad*	Democratic	7,508	68.95%
				Terrance Williams	Republican	2,727	25.04%

Voting History

During the legislative session of 2017, Abdul-Samad voted^[15] 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.^[16]

Personal life

Abdul-Samad is a former Black Panthers lieutenant. His son was shot and killed at the age of 20 in 1997.^[17]