Photo: Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP
Rep.Ilhan Omarnarrowly won her Democratic primary race Tuesday, securing a spot on the November ballot as she continues her bid to represent Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District in a third term.
Omar, 39, defeated former Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels to be the Democratic nominee.
The results were unexpectedly close. Omar finished with 50.3 percent of the vote while Samuels earned 48.2 percent, with a difference of less than 2,500 votes between them on Wednesday morning,according to CNN. Three other candidates were on the ballot but none received more than 1,000 votes.
“Tonight’s victory is a testament to how much our district believes in the collective values we are fighting for and how much they’re willing to do to help us overcome defeat,” Omar tweeted Tuesday night. “This win is for them and everyone who still believes that regression will not be the legacy of the Fifth.”
Samuels ran as a Democrat who would “make a difference,” rather than “make a point,” HuffPost reported, noting that the slogan hints at Omar’s outspoken reputation but suggests he could be a more effective representative for the Minneapolis-based district.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty
He also opposed calls to “defund the police” while Omar supported a 2021 ballot initiative that would have replaced the Minneapolis Police Department with a new agency to handle public safety.
Omar joins fellow House “Squad” members in the primary-race winners' circle. Missouri Rep. Cori Bush and Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib also fended off primary challenges.
The “Squad,” a progressive group of House Democrats, also includes N.Y. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.
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source: people.com
