Democratic incumbent Ilhan Omar of Minnesota’s 5th congressional district is facing a tough re-election battle this year, with three strong opponents vying for the primary win. Running as a progressive candidate who can effectively work alongside President Joe Biden, Omar is currently in a tight race with her Democratic primary opponent, as indicated by the latest poll results.
Former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels, who trailed Omar by a mere 2.1 percent in the 2022 primary, is once again challenging her in the upcoming August 13 primary, setting the stage for a closely contested election. This comes amidst criticism directed at Omar and other members of the “squad” for urging voters to boycott Biden in the Democratic primary due to his support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
A recent Victoria Research poll conducted among 519 Democratic voters in Minnesota’s 5th congressional district revealed that 41 percent support Omar, while an equal percentage back Samuels. The remaining 18% of voters are either undecided or plan to vote for a different candidate in the primary election, highlighting the competitive nature of the race.
The Samuels campaign, positioning itself as a progressive alternative capable of working constructively with President Biden, publicly shared the polling data on Monday, which was gathered between February 20–27.
“This poll supports what we already know: We can beat Rep. Ilhan Omar. We talk to exhausted voters around the district every day on the campaign trail, and we hear over and over again how sick and tired they are of the division and dysfunction that define Washington today,” Samuels said in a statement on the results.
“Sadly, many feel that the congresswoman is contributing to this dysfunction and are ready for new leadership focused on building common ground to deliver results for families and working people in the Fifth Congressional District and around the country,” Samuels added.
Omar’s campaign was accused of encouraging voters in Minnesota’s presidential primary to remain uncommitted and not vote on Super Tuesday. This information was reported by Samuels’ campaign. In the Democratic House primary of 2022, Samuels lost to Omar by a narrow margin of 2,466 votes, which accounted for slightly over 2 percent.
Omar holds the distinction of being the first woman to wear a headscarf on the House floor and the first Somali-American elected to Congress. She is also part of a group of progressive lawmakers, including Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley, who were all elected to Congress in the 2018 midterm elections. During their respective Democratic presidential primaries last month, both Omar and Tlaib, who is of Palestinian-American descent, encouraged progressive voters in their states to cast “uncommitted” ballots. This action was a form of protest against President Biden’s support of Israel in its conflict with Hamas, a Palestinian militant group based in the Gaza Strip.
Omar has faced criticism for her strong support of Palestine and her advocacy for voters to cast “uncommitted” ballots in the 2024 presidential primary as a means of protesting Joe Biden’s pro-Israel policies. The accompanying image shows Omar engaged in conversation with Representative Rashida Tlaib, who is also a member of the progressive squad and of Palestinian heritage.
“If Don gets his message out – that he is a progressive and pragmatic alternative to Rep. Omar without the divisive comments and history of taking unpopular votes – Don starts this race tied, 41% Samuels to 41% Omar,” the candidate’s campaign manager Joe Radinovich explained.
“These results outline Rep. Omar’s vulnerability with her Democratic base in the Fifth Congressional District,” he added.