U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar successfully fended off a primary challenge from former Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s election.
Omar’s victory is seen as a win for progressive factions in Minneapolis and for those opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza. Although two members of the progressive “Squad” have been ousted in recent Democratic primaries by pro-Israel advocates, Omar is positioned to return to Congress for another term, facing minimal competition in the upcoming November election.
The primary contest for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District did not experience the significant external funding seen in other races involving Squad members. Samuels had previously lost to Omar in the 2022 primary by roughly 2 percentage points and argued this year that her prominent national advocacy has detracted from effective leadership in Minneapolis.
Preliminary results suggest that Omar’s margin of victory will be greater than in 2022. At her election night watch party, Omar characterized the campaign against her as “one of the ugliest, most disgusting” she has witnessed, accusing her opponent of aligning with extreme factions.
In 2022, Omar largely overlooked Samuels’ campaign and faced a serious challenge when he nearly defeated her. This year, however, she campaigned vigorously against him, investing approximately $450,000 in advertising leading up to the primary, as indicated by a July campaign finance report.
Now in her third term, Omar continues to navigate her dual roles as a significant progressive voice in Washington and a local representative addressing constituents’ needs, which includes assisting them with federal processes and supporting local businesses and organizations.
She is optimistic that a Democratic House majority will grant her a chance to return to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, from which she was removed amid allegations of antisemitism, despite receiving unanimous support from her caucus, including Jewish colleagues.
Voter feedback reflects strong support for Omar, with Katherine Byrn, a 53-year-old University of Minnesota teacher, stating she voted for Omar because she “kicks ass.” Similarly, Kerry Newstrom, a 45-year-old high school teacher in northeast Minneapolis, expressed her support on the basis of the importance of women in elective office, identifying herself humorously as “a childless cat lady” in reference to remarks made by Republican officials.