Representative Ilhan Omar has secured victory in the Minnesota Democratic primary, defeating Don Samuels in a rematch from two years ago. With 216 of 217 precincts reporting, Omar led Samuels with 56.2% of the vote compared to Samuels’ 42.9%, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State.
Omar, addressing supporters in Minneapolis on Tuesday evening, emphasized the joy of advocating for progressive causes. “We run the politics of joy,” she declared. “It is joyful to fight for housing as a human right, to ensure health care is a human right, and to strive for a peaceful and equitable world.”
Tuesday’s primary was the final contest in a series of heated races involving progressive Democrats, particularly those critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Fellow “Squad” members Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush had recently been defeated by candidates backed by substantial pro-Israel funding. Omar’s race, however, was less contentious.
First elected to Congress in 2019, Omar became the first woman of color to represent Minnesota in the US House. She has aligned herself with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, supporting initiatives like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All. Omar has been a prominent critic of Israel, drawing controversy in 2019 for comments about US support for Israel being influenced by financial contributions. She later apologized for the remark, which was deemed antisemitic by some.
Following the October 7 Hamas attacks and Israel’s subsequent offensive, Omar was quick to advocate for a ceasefire and support university protests in solidarity with Gaza. Her daughter faced suspension from Barnard College for participating in these protests.
Despite the potential for pro-Israel groups to target Omar, her opponent Don Samuels did not receive backing from Aipac or its affiliated Super Pac, United Democracy Project (UDP). UDP had previously spent over $20 million to oppose Bowman and Bush. The reasons for this lack of support are unclear, though Omar’s campaign did not provide the same level of controversy that might attract such attention.
Omar’s campaign focused on her achievements in securing funding for her district and featured an endorsement from President Joe Biden. Mark Mellman, director of Democratic Majority for Israel, noted that Omar’s strong popularity in her district may have influenced the group’s decision not to engage in the race. Recent internal polling showed Omar leading Samuels by a significant margin, 60% to 33%.
Samuels expressed disappointment over his defeat, acknowledging the impact of financial resources on the campaign. “I hoped a strong ground game and attention to voters feeling left out would outweigh the financial advantage,” he said. “Clearly, money matters more in politics than I had hoped.”
