Democratic U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar achieved a significant victory in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District primary, defeating former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels by a larger margin than in the 2022 primary.
Omar, a progressive and vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, secured 56.23% of the vote, compared to Samuels’ 42.91%, as reported by the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office.
This marks an improvement from her 2022 primary win, where she garnered 50.35% of the vote against Samuels’ 48.2%.
Omar’s victory drew skepticism from MAGA Republican accounts on social media, with some questioning the integrity of the election process.
For example, the “End Wokeness” account on X (formerly Twitter) suggested irregularities in the vote-counting process, which prompted Trump supporter Gunther Eagleman to label the contest as “rigged.”
Despite these allegations, Omar’s campaign emphasized the support she received from her constituents. In her victory statement on X, Omar highlighted her commitment to advancing progressive causes in Washington, stating:
“Tonight’s victory shows that the Fifth District believes in the collective values we are fighting for.”
She also pointed to her efforts in securing $54 million for local projects and passing impactful legislation.
Omar, who has been a frequent target of hostile attacks from Trump and his supporters, avoided the fate of fellow “Squad” members Rep. Cori Bush and Rep. Jamaal Bowman, who both lost their Democratic primaries to pro-Israel candidates backed by the United Democracy Project, a PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Looking ahead to the general election, Omar will face Republican challenger Dalia Al-Aqidi, an Iraqi American journalist.
However, given the district’s strong Democratic lean, Omar is expected to retain her seat. In 2022, she won re-election with 74% of the vote.
