WASHINGTON – Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, successfully overcame a primary challenger on Tuesday in a race that garnered significant attention, following the defeats of her progressive colleagues in their own primaries earlier this year, largely due to substantial contributions from pro-Israel organizations.

Omar’s win came after Representatives Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., and Cori Bush, D-Mo., both part of the informal House group known as the “Squad,” lost to more moderate Democratic candidates. They have been outspoken critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, but Omar entered this election from a stronger position than her colleagues.

A significant factor contributing to this difference was the United Democracy Project, a super PAC linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which spent nearly $24 million against Bowman and Bush, resulting in them being the only House Democrats to lose their primaries in 2024 thus far.

This year, races have been heavily influenced by the situation in Israel and Gaza, highlighting a divide within the Democratic Party regarding the conflict. The war has intensified debates among the left as progressive members of Congress urge the Biden administration and other Democratic leaders to take a stronger stand against the bombing in Gaza.

Omar has consistently raised concerns about Israel’s policies and was among the first lawmakers to call for a cease-fire publicly. She faced significant backlash earlier this year after implying that some Jewish students supported “genocide” during a protest at Columbia University.

Interestingly, the United Democracy Project did not channel any resources into Omar’s campaign this time, marking a shift from the previous election cycle in 2022.

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In 2022, former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels, who again challenged Omar on Tuesday, lost to her by a narrow margin of just over 2,400 votes, with the United Democracy Project spending $350,000 shortly before that election to support Samuels.

This year, however, Omar operated from a much stronger position. Her previous reelection campaign focused heavily on police reform following the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota, where she was a prominent advocate for police reform.

While that issue dominated discussions last time, it took a backseat in this election season, and Omar had a significant edge in fundraising over Samuels. She also ran a much more vigorous campaign this time.

“In the last primary, it was close because we didn’t have adequate support from our constituents,” Omar remarked at a rally in Minneapolis last week. “This time, it wasn’t tight because I’ve reminded everyone to vote.”

However, it wasn’t only the Israel-Hamas conflict that distinguished Omar’s campaign from those of her fellow Squad members. She also avoided the controversies that plagued Bowman and Bush. While their outspoken criticism of Israel brought them national attention, they each faced personal scandals during their campaigns.

Bowman hit the headlines after pulling a fire alarm in the Capitol last year during a crucial vote meant to prevent a government shutdown. Security cameras captured him removing safety signs and pulling the alarm.

Bowman maintained it was an accident and ended up pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to the incident. The Republican-majority House ultimately censured him following the event, largely along party lines.

Bush, on the other hand, is currently under federal investigation for allegedly using campaign funds for personal security. She claims to have hired her husband for security due to threats to her safety since becoming a member of Congress, but insists that she has not misused federal funds for personal protection.

The mix of Bowman and Bush’s controversies, compounded by millions in funding from pro-Israel groups, made their primary challenges exceptionally intense. The United Democracy Project shelled out $14.5 million against Bowman, making his primary the most expensive House contest in history. The organization also poured over $9 million into Bush’s campaign.

Both former representatives pointed fingers at AIPAC for their defeats, expressing concerns about the massive spending against them during their concession speeches.

“It’s unacceptable that a super PAC using undisclosed funding can drop $20 million to mislead the public into accepting falsehoods,” stated Bowman in June following forecasts of his primary loss.

Bush was more straightforward in her remarks, addressing her supporters earlier in August after her defeat: “AIPAC, I’m here to dismantle your empire.”