Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar pulled off a win Tuesday night in her primary race against her main rival, former Minneapolis city councilman Don Samuels, according to a race call by the Associated Press. This Ilhan Omar victory comes as a surprise, given the challenging environment for progressive candidates. #IlhanOmarVictory
Omar is a progressive House member in the “Squad” and has sharply criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza. She avoided losses experienced by fellow Squad members, Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman. Both faced primary opponents supported by the United Democracy Project, linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Omar’s success contrasts with her colleagues’ defeats.
At a victory speech to supporters in Minneapolis, Omar began by expressing joy over the results, but quickly pivoted.
“This campaign has been one of the ugliest, most disgusting campaigns against me that I have ever witnessed,” Omar said. “I hope they reflect in the shameful way they decided to divide our district and the incredible people we are grateful to represent.”
This was not the first matchup between Omar and Samuels. Samuels came just two percentage points short of defeating her in 2022. He again came up short on Tuesday, trailing Omar by more than 10 percentage points.
He ran as more of a centrist than Omar and regularly called her divisive for her comments about the war in Gaza. #IlhanOmarVictory
Additionally, Ilhan Omar’s victory highlights her strong base and enduring appeal. While her colleagues struggled, Ilhan Omar’s campaign resonated with voters. This Ilhan Omar victory demonstrates her ability to navigate political turbulence and secure a crucial win.
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