Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar survived another primary on Tuesday in Minnesota’s 5th District.
Omar, one of the most well-known components of “The Squad,” a collection of left-wing US House members, saw off a challenge in a rematch from her 2022 primary opponent.
2024 MN-05 DFL Primary: Ilhan Omar Wins
Ilhan Omar won her Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) primary with about 56 percent of the vote. Her main rival, Don Samuels, finished with 43 percent of the vote.
Samuels, a former Minneapolis city councilman, ran against Omar in 2022, losing by less than 2,500 votes (or about two points). This primary scare prompted Samuels to run again, but in 2024, he lost momentum and fell by double-digits this time.
Three counties are partially in this district, and Omar won all of them. By far the largest segment of the district includes Hennepin County, home to Minneapolis. The incumbent won Hennepin over Samuels by about 14 points. She also defeated Samuels in Anoka and Ramsey Counties, though each contributed a small number of votes.
The 5th District of Minnesota is heavily Democratic, meaning Omar’s re-election in November is a very strong likelihood. Republicans nominated Dalia Al-Aqidi unopposed.
Assessing the Results
Ilhan Omar’s victory comes at a time when “Squad” members were under primary attack from the Democratic establishment wing. Just one week earlier, Missouri Rep. Cori Bush lost her 1st District primary in the face of heavy spending by pro-Israel special interest groups. This was the fate shared by New York’s Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat who lost his primary for the same reason, at the hands of the same big spenders. The organization, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which helped oust Bush and Bowman, did not unleash on Omar in this primary.
CNN said that this victory for Omar broke a “losing streak” for the progressive coalition, which is a bit of an ineloquent way to put it. If we may cite the movie “Major League II” – and we are – it takes three in a row to constitute a winning streak, so in fairness, two in a row is not much of a losing streak. Meanwhile, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez easily won her primary in New York, Rashida Tlaib faced no opposition in Michigan, and Boston’s Ayanna Pressley will be unopposed in the September 3 Massachusetts primary. “The Squad” took a few high-profile hits in 2024, but most will be back in Congress in 2025.
Samuels, like the others who challenged “Squad” members in primaries, had differences with Omar on the Gaza-Israel conflict. While Omar is at the forefront of calls for a ceasefire, Samuels spoke on his campaign website of a two-state solution and democratic self-determination.
Simplified Summary
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) won her primary in Minnesota's 5th District on Tuesday. She defeated Don Samuels, who also ran against her in 2022. Omar is one of the most progressive voices in the House. Two other House progressives lost their primaries earlier this year, so some feared Omar might not win. However, she increased her margin from last time. Omar is almost certain to win the November election.
