In the wake of Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) losing her primary, GOP efforts in Minnesota are intensifying to see Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) ousted in a similar fashion. With the primary election set for this Tuesday, Omar is up against three Democrats, in a state where primary voting is open to all, regardless of party. With the Republican contender, Dalia Al-Aqidi, running without opposition, the strategy encourages GOP voters to support one of Omar’s Democratic opponents.
This strategic move is gaining traction, especially on X, following surprising defeats of Squad members like Bush and Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) earlier in the year, attributing to dissatisfaction over their positions on Israel.
Don Samuels, narrowly defeated by Omar in 2022, is leading the challenge against her once more. Samuels, a former Minneapolis City Councilman and School Board member, born in Jamaica, holds positions on Israel that are more aligned with mainstream Democratic views, contrasting Omar who has been criticized for her comments on Israel and anti-Semitic remarks since her term began in 2019. Omar’s criticisms have intensified following a deadly attack by Hamas on Israelis on October 7.
Samuels has critiqued Omar for her vote against a widely supported bipartisan measure to address Iran in April.
On his campaign page, Samuels emphasizes his support for a peaceful resolution in Gaza and Israel, involving both a cessation of new settlements by Israel and a move towards a dual-state resolution, while also calling for an end to Hamas’s governance in Gaza.
Omar, in an attempt to widen the gap with Samuels, has accelerated her fundraising, bringing in an estimated $6.2 million ahead of the primary, in stark contrast to Samuels’ $1.4 million, based on the Associated Press data.
Bush and Bowman point fingers at the United Democracy Project, a super PAC linked to AIPAC, for their primary losses, after the PAC reportedly spent over $24 million in opposition. Bush, in a passionate concession speech, vowed to confront AIPAC directly.
However, the United Democracy Project hasn’t engaged in Omar’s race, a decision Samuels remarked on as a missed chance in an interview with the Forward.
Recent polling places Omar significantly ahead of Samuels, with a 27-point lead, though Samuels’ own polling shows a tighter race with a significant portion of voters undecided. Early voting kicked off on June 28.
