Controversial incumbent Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota’s 5th congressional district faces a challenging re-election this year, particularly in the primary, where she contends with not one, but three formidable opponents.
Campaigning as a progressive who can work with President Joe Biden, Omar’s Democratic primary opponent is currently tied with the progressive squad member in a rematch race, according to the most recent poll.
Following a narrow 2.1 percent margin behind Omar in the 2022 primary, former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels is once again challenging Omar in the upcoming August 13 primary.
The race is set up to be tightly contested, with anticipation building for a close outcome. Samuels’ campaign released a Victoria Research poll that found 519 Democratic voters in Minnesota’s 5th congressional district to be 41 percent in favor of either him or Omar. Eighteen percent are either not sure yet or intend to vote in the primary over the summer for a candidate other than Omar or Samuels.
“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 regarding 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,” he added.
Omar “encouraged an uncommitted vote in Minnesota’s presidential primary and did not even bother to vote” on Super Tuesday last month, his campaign noted further.
Samuels lost to Omar by a mere 2,466 votes, or slightly more than 2 percent, in the Democratic House primary of 2022.
Meanwhile, Omar and other members of the “squad” are facing criticism for urging voters to boycott Biden in the Democratic primary because of his support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas militants based in Gaza.
