Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar has successfully fended off a primary challenge from former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels, securing her spot on the ballot for the upcoming November election. This victory ensures that all four original members of the progressive House Democrats group known as the 'squad' will be seeking reelection this year.
Omar, who was first elected in 2018 and also defeated Samuels in the previous election cycle, has now defended her seat in the 5th District for three consecutive primary elections. The other two original 'squad' members, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, easily secured renomination earlier this year. Additionally, Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts is set to run unopposed in her primary next month.
For progressives, Omar's win comes as a relief, particularly for those who have been critical of Israel's recent actions in Gaza. This victory follows recent losses suffered by progressive candidates to moderate Democratic challengers who received substantial support from pro-Israel groups. Notably, these groups played a significant role in the defeats of 'squad' members Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri. However, they did not allocate resources to challenge Omar in her Minneapolis-area district, which is traditionally a stronghold for Democrats and where the party typically performs well in statewide elections.
