Ilhan Omar wins Minnesota Democratic primary

US lawmaker Ilhan Omar has won the Democratic primary election in Minnesota. A prominent member of the progressive “Squad” and a vocal critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, Omar, 41, successfully retained her seat in the Minneapolis-area 5th district, defeating a familiar opponent, former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels.

“We run the politics of joy because we know it is joyful to fight for your neighbours,” Omar told supporters in Minneapolis in her victory speech yesterday. “We know it is joyful to make sure housing is a human right. We know it is joyful to fight for healthcare to be a human right. We know it is joyful to want to live in a peaceful and equitable world.”

According to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office, with 216 of 217 precincts reporting, Omar led with 56.2 per cent of the vote, while Samuels garnered 42.9 per cent.

Samuels criticised Omar for her sharp condemnation of the Israeli government’s military onslaught in Gaza. While Omar also condemned the Palestinian group Hamas for attacking Israel, Samuels accused her of being biased and divisive and said he was “very disappointed” with his loss.

“What I was hoping is that a strong ground game and an attention to the details of folks who felt left out would trump an overwhelming superiority in dollars,” he said in one interview. “Clearly, money matters a little more in politics than I had hoped.”

I am honored that my community voted to *send me back to Congress*. Tonight’s victory shows that the Fifth District believes in the collective values we are fighting for in Washington. pic.twitter.com/DwcRVI55fQ

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) August 14, 2024

Yesterday’s election marked the final contest in a series of intense primaries for the progressive “Squad” of House Democrats, who have been outspoken critics of Israel’s war against Gaza. Recently, fellow Squad members Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri were defeated by opponents bolstered by significant pro-Israel funding, reported the Guardian. 

Omar, now in her second term, made history in 2019 as the first woman of colour to represent Minnesota in the US House of Representatives. Yesterday’s victory also comes after the US House of Representatives removed the Congresswoman from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in February under the pretext of “anti-Semitism” after she criticised the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

The decision to remove Omar was supported by 218 Republican representatives of the committee, while all 211 Democratic representatives opposed it. The Republicans justified their removal of Omar because of her previous statements against Israel, as she faced accusations in 2019 of anti-Semitism due to remarks in which she criticised certain lawmakers’ support for the occupation.

Israel’s military offensive against the Palestinians in Gaza has displaced almost the whole population of 2.3 million, caused famine conditions and led to allegations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which Israel denies.

Washington has faced mounting domestic and international criticism for its military, political and diplomatic support for Israel.

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