U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar defeated former Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels in a primary challenge on Tuesday, according to unofficial results. This win is seen as a triumph for progressive activists in Minneapolis and for those opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza. While several members of the Squad were recently ousted in Democratic primaries by pro-Israel forces, Omar is expected to secure another term in Congress with minimal opposition in the upcoming November election.
The primary contest for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District did not see the same level of outside financial support as prior Squad races. Samuels narrowly lost to Omar in the 2022 primary by approximately 2 percentage points, positioning his campaign this year around the argument that Omar’s prominent advocacy was detracting from effective local leadership.
Preliminary results indicate that Omar’s margin of victory this year may be greater than in 2022. During her election night speech, Omar described the campaign as one of the most hostile she has encountered, claiming her opponent was willing to associate with extremist groups to defeat her.
In response to her near loss in 2022, Omar worked vigorously throughout this election cycle, investing $450,000 in advertisements leading up to the primary, as noted in a July campaign finance report.
Currently serving her third term, Omar has managed to balance her role as a leading progressive figure in Washington with the day-to-day responsibilities of congressional life, which include assisting constituents with federal issues and engaging in legislation that may not proceed due to her party’s minority status.
Omar expressed hope that a Democratic majority in the House would allow her to regain her position on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, from which she was removed by the Republican majority amid allegations of antisemitism, despite support from her caucus.
Supporters such as Katherine Byrn, a 53-year-old teacher at the University of Minnesota, expressed their endorsement for Omar, stating she is a strong leader. Kerry Newstrom, a 45-year-old high school educator, also backed Omar, emphasizing the need for more women in elected positions and reflecting on her own status as a “childless cat lady” in response to derogatory remarks aimed at women without children.