Rep. Ilhan Omar Defeats Primary Challengers After Other ‘Squad’ Losses

Ilhan Omar wins her primary against Don Samuels, avoiding losses seen by other “Squad” members. She faces little opposition in the general election.

On Tuesday night, Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar won her primary race against former Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels, according to the Associated Press. Omar, a member of the progressive “Squad,” has been a strong critic of Israel's actions in Gaza.

While other Squad members, like Reps. Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, faced losses from opponents supported by the super PAC United Democracy Project, Omar came out on top.

During her victory speech in Minneapolis, Omar showed happiness but also frustration. She described the campaign as one of the nastiest she has ever seen. Omar accused her opponents of trying to divide the district and mislead voters.

This was not their first matchup. In 2022, Samuels nearly defeated Omar, trailing by just two percentage points. This time, he fell short by more than 10 points.

Samuels ran as a centrist, criticizing Omar’s remarks about Gaza and her vote against President Biden’s infrastructure bill. Omar pointed to her work in the community and her strong fundraising efforts.

Omar had strong support from Minnesota’s Democratic Party and national figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders. Campaign records showed that pro-Israel groups had little financial impact on this race.

Samuels saw a boost in donations after Cori Bush’s loss, but it wasn’t enough to beat Omar. Omar is expected to face little opposition in the general election, thanks to the Democratic voter registration advantage in Minnesota’s 5th congressional district.