Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., emerged victorious in a closely watched primary on Tuesday, marking a significant win for the progressive "Squad" amidst a wave of recent losses. Omar's victory against her moderate challenger, Don Samuels, a former Minneapolis City Council member, underscores her resilience and the continued strength of her support base in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District.
Omar, who is seeking her fourth term, faced a more subdued challenge this year compared to the 2022 primary, where she narrowly edged out Samuels by just over 2,400 votes. This year, the stakes were high, especially after two of her fellow "Squad" members, Reps. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., and Cori Bush, D-Mo., lost their respective primaries to more moderate challengers. These losses were partly attributed to significant financial backing from pro-Israel groups, particularly the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which played a pivotal role in funding opposition campaigns.
In 2022, Omar was a prime target for AIPAC, with the organization's affiliated super PAC, United Democracy Project, injecting $350,000 into Samuels' campaign in a last-ditch effort to unseat her. This time around, however, AIPAC largely refrained from investing heavily in Omar's race, focusing instead on other contests where they perceived greater vulnerabilities.
This relative reprieve allowed Omar to leverage her substantial fundraising advantage. According to AdImpact, Omar's campaign spent a staggering $2.6 million on advertisements, dwarfing Samuels' modest $32,000 expenditure. This financial edge undoubtedly played a critical role in securing her primary win.
While Omar, like her "Squad" colleagues, has been a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza, she managed to avoid some of the controversies that plagued Bowman and Bush. Bowman's infamous decision to pull a fire alarm during a crucial vote to prevent a government shutdown and Bush's ongoing federal investigation into her use of campaign funds for personal security provided ammunition for their opponents, contributing to their primary defeats.
Despite the challenges faced by the progressive faction, Omar's victory is a testament to her political acumen and the loyalty of her constituents in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. This district, which encompasses much of greater Minneapolis, has been a Democratic stronghold since 1963, consistently backing Democratic candidates in both congressional and presidential elections. Omar first took office in 2019, following the footsteps of her predecessor Keith Ellison, and has since become one of the most prominent and outspoken members of Congress.
Omar's win not only breaks the recent losing streak for the "Squad" but also signals the continued relevance and influence of progressive politics within the Democratic Party. Her ability to secure a win in a climate that has seen other progressives falter highlights the complexity and diversity of the electorate within her district. It also reflects the broader dynamics at play in the Democratic Party, where the tension between moderate and progressive wings continues to shape the party's future.
As Omar looks ahead to the general election, she is expected to easily retain her seat in the heavily Democratic district. However, her primary victory will likely serve as a rallying point for progressives nationwide, reinforcing the message that the movement remains a powerful force within American politics, even in the face of significant opposition and setbacks.
