Rep. Ilhan Omar fends off primary challengers following other ‘squad’ members’ defeats

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. She turned back several, primary challengers Tuesday, NBC News predicts, enabling progressives to celebrate after two of her colleagues in the so-called “squad” lost in the summer. 
 
Omar won with 10 challengers, many of whom she beat decisively: former Minneapolis City Council Member Don Samuels, who got within 2 percentage points of ousting her in the August 2022 primary, as well as two other challengers in the DFL’s Fifth District. 
 
Progressive Democrats Jamaal Bowman of New York, and Cori Bush of Missouri, both members of the ‘squad’ were defeated in primaries that took place in the past few weeks which were primarily over the divide within the Democratic Party that was over the Israel-Hamas war. 
 
Unlike other progressive politicians who have berated Israel viciously, Omar did not attract blitz campaigns from other entities. United Democracy Project, the pro-Bernie super PAC which is affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, did not meddle in Omar’s race after the group spent millions to unseat Bush and Bowman. 

Omar did intensify efforts after the experience of a near defeat to Samuels in the elections two years ago. Her campaign had spent more than $6 by July 24. This is another $1 million on the race, based on the most recent campaign statements. Her campaign at the same point of the 2022 primary had only spent $71 000. For its part, Samuels’ campaign spent $1. $2 million on this year’s race. 
 
On the airwaves, Omar went for positive content and themes, including Biden’s acknowledgment of her efforts in Congress, her pro-choice stance, and background. 
 
“Minnesota might be cold, but those who call this place home, you are warm and caring, hardworking, resilient and proud,” she said in one of her TV ads. “You embraced me as a refugee, you introduced me to labour union, strikes and democracy, you are the people for whom I fight each day, struggling to provide food, shelter and health care. ” 
 
Another ad which Samuels felt would tarnish Omar’s image was one where he claimed that “today Samuels is nowhere to be found on the issues that concern us most”. 
 
“Omar asked to defund the police amid gun violence and then voted against President Biden Infrastructure Plan to rebuild roads, bridges, expand public transportation and ev charging infrastructure,” the ad’s narrator said. “We deserve better. ” 
 
Whereas Bush’s and Bowman’s opponents could bring pressure against the Democratic president’s bipartisan infrastructure deal in their primary races, Samuels was not able to pin that charge on Omar, outgunned by her campaign war chest. 
 
The highly urbanised deep-blue 5th District, which contains part of Minneapolis, is likely to remain in the hands of a Democrat in November. In the previous election, Biden triumphed in the district with a margin of 63 points as estimated by the Daily Kos Elections.