Former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels announced on Sunday that he will challenge U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar in the Democratic primary. Samuels narrowly lost to Omar in 2022 and believes he could have won if they had competed in the general election. Omar, a member of the progressive House Democrats known as “the squad,” has faced criticism for her comments in her first term that were seen as invoking antisemitic tropes. She has also been criticized for her stance on Israel’s handling of the war against Hamas.
Samuels accused Omar of promoting divisiveness and conflict and believes that her opposition to the police defunding movement will be a major issue in the upcoming election. He helped lead the opposition against a proposal to replace the police force with a revamped public safety agency in Minneapolis. Samuels believes that issues related to the George Floyd protests and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will also be significant concerns for voters.
Omar’s position on the war in the Middle East has also been a point of contention. While she has criticized Hamas for its attacks on Israel, she has been highly critical of Israel’s military response and has focused on the plight of civilians in the Gaza Strip. Samuels criticized Omar for voting against sanctions on Russia but supporting sanctions against Israel. He also condemned her boycott of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s speech to Congress.
The district where Omar is running is overwhelmingly Democratic and includes a large Somali Muslim population as well as a historically Jewish area. Samuels believes that the war will be a significant concern for voters, particularly the Jewish community, which he claims has been frightened by Omar’s actions.
Omar has faced opposition from groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), who have actively sought a credible challenger to her. However, Samuels stated that AIPAC did not try to recruit him. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries publicly supported Omar, and a super PAC affiliated with AIPAC spent around $350,000 against her in the 2022 election.
Despite criticisms, Omar’s fellow House Democrats view her as a serious legislator who has given a voice to marginalized groups. However, Samuels argues that her oppositional and divisive nature does not effectively bring about change.
Other declared candidates in the race include Minneapolis attorney Sarah Gad, military veteran Tim Peterson, and Republican Dalia Al-Aqidi, who describes Omar as pro-Hamas and a terrorist sympathizer.
