U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar successfully fended off a primary challenge from former Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels on Tuesday, according to unofficial election results.
Omar’s victory is seen as a win for progressives in Minneapolis and for those opposing Israel’s war in Gaza. While pro-Israel advocates have recently succeeded in ousting two members of “The Squad” during Democratic primaries, Omar looks poised to head back to Congress for another term, facing minimal opposition in the upcoming November election.
The primary contest for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District lacked the heavy outside funding seen in other similar races. Samuels had previously lost to Omar in the 2022 primary by a narrow margin of about 2 percentage points. This year, he argued that Omar’s high-profile activism has meant a lack of effective leadership to tackle local issues.
Preliminary results indicate that Omar’s victory margin will surpass that from 2022. Speaking at her election night gathering, Omar described the campaign as one of the most aggressive she has experienced, claiming that her opponent aligned himself with extreme groups in a bid to defeat her.
In contrast to her low-key approach during the last election, Omar campaigned vigorously this time, spending approximately $450,000 on advertisements leading up to the primary, as reported in her July campaign finance statements.
Now entering her third term, Omar has focused on being a significant progressive voice in Washington while also addressing the everyday needs of her constituents, such as assisting them with federal issues and promoting local businesses and nonprofits in her district.
Omar aims to regain her position on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, from which she was removed by the Republican majority, despite unanimous support from her caucus, which includes Jewish Democratic colleagues.
Voters at the polls expressed their support for Omar: Katherine Byrn, a 53-year-old university teacher, stated she voted for Omar because she “kicks ass,” while 45-year-old high school teacher Kerry Newstrom highlighted the importance of having women in office, referring to herself humorously as a “childless cat lady” in response to derogatory comments made by Republican vice presidential nominee, U.S. Senator J.D. Vance.