Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is facing a rematch against Don Samuels in the Democratic primary for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, but unlike some of her “Squad” colleagues, she has not been heavily targeted by pro-Israel groups.
Omar, a vocal critic of the war in Gaza, is seeking reelection in a district that has historically been a stronghold for progressive Democrats. Her primary challenge comes after Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) lost her primary last week, with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s political arm spending nearly $9 million to support her opponent. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) also faced a similar fate in June.
However, pro-Israel groups have not invested significant resources in unseating Omar. According to AdImpact, AIPAC’s political arm has spent a mere $19,000 on primary advertising. In contrast, Omar’s campaign has spent $2.6 million on advertising, while Samuels has spent just $32,000.
Samuels, who entered the primary after the recent conflict in Israel, has attempted to capitalize on Omar’s stance on the issue, labeling her a “pawn for Hamas.” However, his campaign has been significantly outspent, and Omar has received support from prominent progressive lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Despite receiving $350,000 in indirect support from AIPAC in his 2022 campaign, Samuels has not received the same level of backing this time around. According to a source familiar with AIPAC’s deliberations, the group had hoped to recruit a different candidate and believed that Samuels had “reached his capacity.”
The latest survey from Lake Research Partners shows Omar leading Samuels by 27 points. The winner of the primary will go on to face Republican candidate Dalia al-Aqidi, who is running unopposed on the GOP side. The Cook Political Report has given the race a D+30 rating, indicating a strong likelihood of a Democratic victory.
