Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has successfully defeated a primary challenge in Minnesota, allowing her to move forward to the November election in the solidly Democratic 5th District. This race garnered significant attention, especially following recent successful primary challenges against other members of the “Squad,” a group of progressive Democrats critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Omar’s primary contest featured three challengers, with her securing over 67,000 votes, or 56% of the total, according to reported counts. Her closest competitor, Don Samuels, a former Minneapolis City Council member, finished with just under 43% of the vote and expressed disappointment in the outcome.
The primary elections occurred simultaneously in Connecticut, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Minnesota, with Senator Amy Klobuchar also winning her primary in Minnesota. Unlike her fellow Squad members, Omar did not face the same level of financial opposition from pro-Israel groups during her campaign. A significant super PAC linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee had previously invested heavily in races against fellow Squad members Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, which likely contributed to their defeats.
Despite a last-minute fundraising push by pro-Israel donors in support of Samuels, polls had indicated that Omar would maintain a strong lead, with one internal survey showing her ahead by 30 points. Her campaign received endorsements from prominent progressive figures, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Omar, who made history as one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, has long been an advocate for issues like healthcare and housing. Throughout her political career, she has faced controversy for her critiques of Israel, resulting in her removal from the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this year. Omar previously faced backlash for comments suggesting that American lawmakers are pressured to show allegiance to Israel, which she later apologized for.