Omar defeated former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels in primary for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district.

Democratic United States Representative Ilhan Omar, one of the progressive House members known as the “Squad” and an outspoken critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, has won her primary race in Minnesota.

With 216 of 217 precincts reporting results, Omar had 56.2 percent, compared with 42.9 percent for Samuels, according to Minnesota Secretary of State tallies.

Samuels had criticised Omar’s condemnation of the Israeli government’s handling of the war on Gaza. While Omar has also criticised the Palestinian group Hamas for attacking Israel and taking captives, Samuels has accused her of being one-sided and divisive. He also stressed public safety issues in Minneapolis where a former police officer murdered Black man George Floyd in 2020.

Other “Squad” members Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri have lost their party primaries over the past few months against opponents who had won substantial support from the pro-Israel fundraising group AIPAC.

  • MonkRome@lemmy.worldEnglish
    261·
    5 months ago

    Don Samuels is a corrupt garbage human, it should never have been that close regardless of your view of our Israel policy.

    • RinseDrizzle@midwest.socialEnglish
      94·
      5 months ago

      How so?

      Edit: Oi, voted for Illy fwiw! Just never made time to dig up on the other guy and wanted some insights and intel from the community!

      • MonkRome@lemmy.worldEnglish
        18·
        5 months ago

        IIRC: He helped close down the poorest school in his city district instead of funding and fixing it. Championed broken windows policing that in part led to things like George Floyd and poor people I know getting massive fines for things like chipped paint on their house, leading to foreclosures and a debtors system with the city. Worked to kick out small businesses in favor of corporate chains. Tried to push poor people into neighboring districts and suburbs. Etc. Nothing he ever put his hands on helped people. I think it was very likely he was being paid under the table by business interests to do this stuff. If not, he is still a royal piece of shit.

        When the revolution comes, he’s on the short list of people to punch in the face.

      • Doug Holland@lemmy.worldEnglish
        123·
        5 months ago

        I’m not from Minnesota and know nothing about Don Samuels or this primary, but anyone who’d run against Ilhan Omar is probably a garbage human.