# Ako Abdul-Samad

Ako Abdul-Samad (born July 25, 1951) 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.
As of May 2013, 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
| Election | Political result | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2006 District 66 Turnout: 1,625 | Democratic | Ako Abdul-Samad | Democratic | 856 | 52.68% |
| Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2006 District 66 Turnout: 1,625 | Democratic | Frank E. Affannato | Democratic | 332 | 20.43% |
| Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2006 District 66 Turnout: 1,625 | Democratic | Tre Wilson | Democratic | 212 | 13.05% |
| Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2006 District 66 Turnout: 1,625 | Democratic | Paul Lay | Democratic | 210 | 12.92% |
| Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2006 District 66 Turnout: 5,672 | Democratic hold | Ako Abdul-Samad | Democratic | 3,459 | 60.98% |
| Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2006 District 66 Turnout: 5,672 | Democratic hold | Jack Whitver | Republican | 1,566 | 27.61% |
| Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2006 District 66 Turnout: 5,672 | Democratic hold | Jeff Johannsen | Independent | 398 | 7.02% |
| Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2006 District 66 Turnout: 5,672 | Democratic hold | Brett Blanchfield | Libertarian | 225 | 3.97% |
| Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2008 District 66 | Democratic | Ako Abdul-Samad* | Democratic | unopposed | unopposed |
| Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2008 District 66 Turnout: 10,303 | Democratic hold | Ako Abdul-Samad* | Democratic | 6,734 | 65.36% |
| Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2008 District 66 Turnout: 10,303 | Democratic hold | Chris Moeller | Iowa Green Party | 1,889 | 18.33% |
| Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2010 District 66 Turnout: 1,304 | Democratic | Ako Abdul-Samad* | Democratic | 912 | 69.94% |
| Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2010 District 66 Turnout: 1,304 | Democratic | Clair E. Rudison, Jr. | Democratic | 306 | 23.47% |
| Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2010 District 66 | Democratic hold | Ako Abdul-Samad* | Democratic | unopposed | unopposed |
| Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2012 District 35 | Democratic | Ako Abdul-Samad* | Democratic | unopposed | unopposed |
| Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2012 District 35 Turnout: 10,889 | Democratic (newly redistricted) | Ako Abdul-Samad* | Democratic | 7,508 | 68.95% |
| Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2012 District 35 Turnout: 10,889 | Democratic (newly redistricted) | Terrance Williams | Republican | 2,727 | 25.04% |

## 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. His son was shot and killed at the age of 20 in 1997.