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Ilhan Omar has represented the 5th Congressional District since 2019. Her constituents live in Minneapolis and the inner city, one of the most Democratic areas in the country.
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Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar faces a tough primary election on Tuesday against former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels, whom she narrowly defeated two years ago.
Ilhan Omar has represented the 5th Congressional District since 2019. Her constituents live in Minneapolis and its inner suburbs, one of the most Democratic areas in the country; historically, primary winners have been able to defeat Republican candidates and enter Congress.
The last time the two met in the primary, the result was close.
Ilhan Omar received 50% of the vote in 2022, while Samuels received 48%. Omar then easily defeated Republican challenger Cecily Davis in the general election.
Samuels, for his part, said he was “very, very excited” about his chances in the runoff, telling CBS News congressional reporter Nicole Killian that “Han probably has the highest standing of any member of the department, so they seem to be invincible and unbeatable, and they’ve always been… “That’s been sold as fact to the financial community and the national community, but voters in this district know who Don Samuels is.”
In 2022, Samuels has run a campaign based largely on crime issues, a stark contrast to Omar, who supported Minneapolis police reforms after the killing of George Floyd but has since softened her stance.
He is also one of eight North Minneapolis residents who sued the city over its depleted police force. In June 2022, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Minneapolis must hire at least 731 police officers.
After losing, Samuels said the margin of just 2,500 votes “sent a message to the incumbent that she needs serious help with her job and that she has to listen to her constituents or she’s not going to keep her seat.”
Last November, Samuels appeared on a podcast and said Ilhan Omar was “neither nice enough” nor “dressed well enough” to ignore her voters. Although Samuels denied making the statement, Ilhan Omar accused him of sexism.
Ilhan Omar was in good financial shape before the primary. As of the end of June, she had raised nearly $5 million and had more than $2.5 million in campaign cash remaining, according to federal filings. Samuels had raised $750,000 and had $230,000 in cash on hand.
She also had help from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who came to Minnesota in early August to support progressive candidates, as well as the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris.
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