Far-Left Ilhan Omar Fends Off Primary Challenger After Fellow ‘Squad’ Members Lose

 Far-Left Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) survived her Democratic primary race on Tuesday, winning by a more comfortable margin than her 2022 race when she was nearly upset. 

Omar, who was seen as vulnerable after two of her fellow “Squad” members lost primary races earlier this year, won the Democratic nomination for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District with 56% of the vote. Challenger Don Samuels received 42.9% after almost pulling off an upset two years ago when he lost to Omar by just 2,500 votes. 

In a statement on X, Omar claimed that her win was a defeat for “special interests” and a win for “our movement.” 

“Whether it’s universal school meals, student debt cancellation, climate action, or a just foreign policy that reflects our values – the Fifth District showed tonight that we want to drive the nation toward a better future,” she said. “And our work is far from over. From protecting reproductive healthcare to reforming the Supreme Court to ending the genocide in Gaza to combatting the climate crisis–we will continue to fight for a more just world.”

Omar built a substantial fundraising advantage over Samuels, reportedlyraising around $6.2 million compared to Samuels’ $1.4 million. Polling before the race also indicated that Omar would win, with one poll from July showing her with a 27-point lead. 

Earlier this year, Omar’s fellow “Squad” members Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) lost widely watched primaries. 

Those members, along with Omar, have come under sharp criticism for their opposition to Israel. The United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), targeted Bowman and Bush with $24 million in spending. The super PAC did not spend money against Omar this cycle. 

During the race, Samuels tried to highlight his more pro-Israel views in contrast to Omar, who he called a “pawn for Hamas.”

 

Omar, whose district is solidly Democratic, said she would now focus on backing Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. She previously praised Harris’s decision to add Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to the ticket, citing his support to legalize recreational marijuana and “protections for reproductive rights.”