U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar has once again defeated a primary challenge from former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District.
Omar, one of the progressive House members known as the "Squad," captured 56.23% of Tuesday's vote according to the results posted by the Minnesota Secretary of State's office. Samuels, who challenged Omar in 2022, finished Tuesday's race with 42.91% of the vote.
Omar thanked her supporters Tuesday evening.
"We run the politics of joy," Omar said, echoing themes of the Harris-Walz presidential campaign. "We know it is joyful to fight for your neighbors. We know it is joyful to know everybody has access to healthcare. We know it is joyful to want to live in a peaceful and equitable world. I am incredibly honored by this victory tonight."
Tuesday's election answered questions surrounding Omar's re-election chances after fellow "Squad" members, Reps. Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri, were defeated in their own races.
Omar, 41, became the first Somali-American to be elected to Congress in 2019 and will face off against Republican opponent Dalia Al-Aqidi in November.