Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, a member of the progressive “Squad” in Congress, defeated her Minnesota Democratic primary on Tuesday.
Antone Melton-Meaux, an attorney, raised more than $4.1 million according to Federal Election Commission data. Omar raised just $200,000 more, making it a close race.
“In Minnesota, we know that organized people will always beat organized money,” Omar wrote on Twitter following her win. “Tonight, our movement didn’t just win. We earned a mandate for change. Despite outside efforts to defeat us, we once again broke turnout records. Despite the attacks, our support has only grown.”
Despite supporting her first run in 2018, Melton-Meaux has been highly critical of Omar, labeling her “divisive.” He even went as far as to imply that Omar is anti-Semitic.
“Omar has made statements that have been reckless and harmful to the Jewish community,” Melton-Meaux told Jewish Insider. “I have spent time with the Jewish community and have met with Jewish leaders, and there’s a deep sense of betrayal by her actions and displeasure with the way that she has handled herself in the process with regard to the residents in this district.”
The campaign against her has been aggressive and, at times, extremely personal, but Omar managed to prevail against the onslaught of attacks.
“Ilhan Omar has fought for her constituents with courage and a positive progressive vision,” Justice Democrats Executive Director Alex Rojas said in a statement via Politico. “Despite all the manufactured hype and money spent attacking them, the Squad is winning, it’s growing, and is here to stay.”
