MINNEAPOLIS — Incumbent U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar has secured a decisive victory in the Democratic primary for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, winning more than 80 percent of the vote and positioning herself for a fifth term in Congress.
Omar, a fourth-term Democrat representing a district centered in Minneapolis, defeated several challengers in Tuesday’s primary, according to US media projections. With more than 95 percent of the votes counted, unofficial results showed Omar leading with 122,640 votes. Her nearest competitors were Julie Trang Le with 10,201 votes and Latonya T. Reeves with 9,131 votes.
Omar’s other Democratic primary challengers included Abena McKenzie and Nate Schluter. The victory puts Omar in a strong position as she seeks to retain the seat in the November general election, where she is projected to face Republican nominee John Nagel, who won his primary with 52.1 percent of the vote.
Ilhan Omar first made history in 2019 as one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, alongside Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. She was also the first Somali-American to serve in the U.S. Congress. Her journey to Washington began after fleeing Somalia’s civil war as a child, spending four years in a refugee camp in Kenya before her family emigrated to the United States in 1997.
Omar has remained one of the most prominent Somali-American figures in U.S. politics, known for her progressive stances on issues such as immigration reform, universal healthcare, and civil rights. Her district, which includes Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs, is the most Democratic district in Minnesota.
The Somali community in Minnesota, which numbers approximately 80,000 people, has rallied around Omar since her first election in 2018. However, she has also been a frequent target of right-wing criticism and President Donald Trump, who has singled her out for criticism, questioning her citizenship and mocking her Somali heritage. Trump has also made controversial remarks about Somali immigrants, referring to them as “garbage” in a cabinet meeting.
Omar has been a vocal critic of Trump’s immigration policies, calling for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after two US citizens were fatally shot by immigration officers in Minnesota. She has also called for the resignation or impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees ICE.
Omar’s re-election bid comes amid ongoing scrutiny of her finances, with the Justice Department investigating her campaign spending and interactions with a foreign citizen. No charges have been filed, and Omar has denied any wrongdoing.
Omar’s primary campaign was notable for the absence of support from AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group, unlike in past elections where she had faced well-funded primary challenges. She has long supported a movement to boycott Israel and has accused its government of committing genocide in Gaza, drawing criticism from pro-Israel groups who argue that some of her remarks crossed into antisemitism.
Critical Note
While Ilhan Omar’s landslide primary victory demonstrates her enduring popularity in her district, the challenges she faces are far from over. The Justice Department investigation, ongoing attacks from the Trump administration, and the complex geopolitical issues surrounding her foreign policy positions continue to make her a target. However, her ability to secure over 80 percent of the vote suggests that her constituents remain firmly in her corner, and she enters the general election as the clear favorite in a heavily Democratic district.
