Ilhan Omar, Member of the ‘Squad’, Emerges Victorious in Democratic Primary
House Representative Ilhan Omar secured a fourth term by winning a close Democratic Primary in Minnesota, besting moderate challenger Don Samuels with 56.2 percent of the vote, escaping the fate of other members of her political “Squad.”
The victory on August 13 was crucial for Omar, who successfully defended her seat against former Minnesota City Council Member Don Samuels, winning by a margin of 56.2 percent to Samuels’ 42.9 percent. This win follows her previous victory over Samuels in 2022.
The U.S. Primaries serve as a pivotal step in the election process, determining the candidates who will appear on the November ballot. It is a tradition that has been integral to America’s political landscape.
Omar’s triumph positions her as the probable winner of the general election on November 5, given that Minnesota’s 5th District leans heavily Democratic with a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of D+30. The Republican primary in the district saw former journalist Dalia Al-Aqidi running uncontested as the GOP candidate.
Omar’s campaign benefitted significantly from her robust fundraising efforts, amassing an impressive $6.8 million since the 2022 election, dwarfing typical House reelection campaigns and surpassing Samuels’ funds of $1.4 million, as reported by federal campaign disclosures.
As the first Somali-American and hijab-wearing lawmaker in Congress, Omar stands alongside fellow progressive minority Democrats as part of the “Squad,” a group that featured nine members at one point, including prominent figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib.
Two of Omar’s “Squad” colleagues, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), lost to more moderate Democrats in recent months, signaling a potential shift in the Democratic party towards a more moderate stance. This shift reflects a broader national sentiment, moving away from extreme positions on issues like police funding and the conflict in Gaza.
Omar, along with Bowman and Bush, has been vocal in opposing President Joe Biden’s pro-Israel stance during the conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Their opponents, backed by pro-Israel group AIPAC, maintained a more supportive view of Israel’s actions against Hamas.
Elected in 2020 against the backdrop of Racial Justice protests following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, Omar has been a vocal critic of Israel, accusing the nation of “genocide.” However, she has faced backlash for making antisemitic comments, prompting House Republicans in 2023 to vote for her removal from the Foreign Affairs Committee over a controversial social media post from 2019.
Additional primary races on August 13 occurred in Connecticut, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Minnesota where Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar secured her primary nomination.
This report includes contributions from Arjun Singh and Reuters.
