Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has secured her spot on the November ballot after winning the primary election for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. According to the Associated Press, Omar received 67,524 votes, or 56.2% of the total, while her closest opponent, Don Samuels, garnered 51,581 votes, or 42.9%.
The primary election was called in Omar’s favor at 10:39 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Two other candidates, Abena McKenzie and Nate Schluter, received a combined total of less than 1% of the vote.
Omar’s victory comes after two of her fellow Squad members, Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) and Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), lost their primary races. Omar had previously defeated Samuels in the last election cycle by a narrow margin of just over 2%.
Recent polls had shown Omar with a significant lead over Samuels. A July poll conducted by Lake Research Partners found that Omar had a 27-point lead, with 60% of respondents supporting her. A February poll conducted by Victoria Research & Consulting had shown Omar with a 19-point lead, with 49% of respondents supporting her.
Omar has faced criticism for her views on Israel, including her support for withholding artillery and other weapons from the country. She has also been accused of inciting anti-Israel protests and has been named in a class-action lawsuit along with fellow Squad members Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
In February 2023, Omar was removed from her position on the Foreign Affairs Committee due to her previous derogatory remarks about Jewish people. She will face Republican candidate Dalia Al-Aqidi in the November general election.
