Honored guests: Minnesotans at the State of the Union speech

A laid-off Iron Ranger, a Twin Cities restaurateur and Minnesota's superintendent of the year will be among the guests of Minnesota's congressional delegation Tuesday to watch President Obama's final State of the Union address.

Here's a look at who's inviting and who's being invited.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar: Dan Hill

Hill is a laid-off steelworker from United Taconite in Eveleth, Minn. In December, he spoke at a meeting with mineworkers, local leaders and White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough on the Iron Range.

Nearly 2,000 workers have lost their jobs on the Range this year. Most blame the crisis on what they say is a flood of illegally imported steel into the country.

"Dan has worked hard to make sure the White House understands the dire situation steelworkers like him are facing and I hope his invitation further strengthens this call to action," she said in a statement.

DFL Sen. Al Franken: Abdirahman Kahin

Kahin is the owner of the popular Afro Deli restaurants in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and a prominent member of the local Muslim community.

"As a small business owner and leader in our community, Abdirahman Kahin is an excellent example of how integral people of diverse faiths and backgrounds are to the prosperity of our state," Franken said in a statement. "For over five years, Afro Deli has introduced Minnesotans to delicious African and Mediterranean cuisine with an American twist, and its success is a testament to Abdirahman's entrepreneurship."

Kahin's plan was to be in his native Djibouti on Dec. 26 to reunite with his mother and relatives that he hadn't seen in nearly two decades. Plans changed, though, when he got a call from Franken's office two days before his departure.

DFL Rep. Timothy Walz: Jonathan Zierdt

Zierdt is president and CEO of Greater Mankato Growth.

"Jonathan has an incredible track record of growing our local economy and building coalitions," Walz said in a statement. "He has been a strong leader, advocate, and partner in the effort to renew and revitalize our economy in southern Minnesota. He has been an inspiration to our community. Under his leadership, the Greater Mankato Area has been consistently named one of the best places to live, raise a family, and have a high quality of life."

Republican Rep. John Kline: Pat Pelletier

Burnsville native and St. Thomas Academy graduate Pelletier has worked for Kline for six years.

Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen: Cayla Ebert

Ebert is a University of Minnesota law student and Wayzata High School graduate.

DFL Rep. Betty McCollum: Lou Frillman

The business executive is a friend of McCollum's.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison: Specialist Elijah Ellison

Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. — who is also chair of the Democratic National Committee — are encouraging lawmakers to bring Muslim guests to the State of the Union. (Franken is among those who answered the call — see above.)

Anti-Islamic sentiments are on the rise in the United States following the Paris attacks and the mass shooting in San Bernadino, Calif. And GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump sparked controversy when he proposed a ban on Muslims entering the country.

Ellison is bringing his son, Elijah, who is Muslim and an Army combat medic.

Republican Rep. Tom Emmer: Dan Bittman

Emmer has invited the Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools superintendent, who was recently named Minnesota superintendent of the year by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators.

"Dr. Bittman clearly is doing fantastic job helping to educate the youth in Central Minnesota and should be applauded for his efforts with the generation of tomorrow," an Emmer spokesperson wrote in an email to the St. Cloud Times.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson: Donated his ticket

Peterson is not bringing a guest to the State of the Union. That's because he donated his ticket so Rhode Island Rep. David Cicilline could take both parents of a soldier killed in Afghanistan last summer.

DFL Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Minn.: Carter Nolan

Nolan is bringing his grandson, fifth-grader Carter Nolan, to the address.