Ilhan Omar Secures Victory in Competitive Primary Following Two Losses for Progressive ‘Squad’
WASHINGTON – Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, successfully defeated a more centrist opponent on Tuesday, concluding a series of primaries for the progressive “Squad,” which has faced significant financial attacks from pro-Israel organizations.
The third-term congresswoman prevailed against Don Samuels, a former member of the Minneapolis City Council. She is anticipated to win re-election in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, which reliably supports Democratic candidates.
In the previous primary in 2022, Samuels lost to Omar by just over 2,400 votes in what turned out to be a surprisingly competitive race. That year, $350,000 was contributed by the United Democracy Project, a super PAC linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, in a last-minute effort to help defeat Omar.
This time, however, the PAC has mostly opted not to invest in Omar’s campaign, which contrasts with their involvement in other recent races.
The organization had targeted Representatives Jamaal Bowman from New York and Cori Bush from Missouri for their outspoken views against the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, after spending at least $14.5 million and nearly $9 million in their respective campaigns. Both succumbed to more moderate opponents, and progressives have voiced their concerns regarding the substantial influence of outside funding in the results of Bowman and Bush’s elections.
Though Omar has been a strong critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, her situation was markedly different from her fellow progressive representatives, who were embroiled in personal controversies. For instance, Bowman was involved in an incident where he activated a fire alarm during a crucial vote aimed at preventing a government shutdown last year, while Bush is under federal scrutiny for allegedly using campaign donations for her personal security.
As the race approached, the Minnesota lawmaker had a considerable advantage in fundraising over Samuels. Omar’s campaign spent $2.6 million on advertisements, while Samuels’ campaign expended merely $32,000, according to AdImpact.
