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‘SPECIAL INTERESTS LOST AND OUR MOVEMENT WON’: ILHAN OMAR
TROUNCES PRIMARY CHALLENGERS  
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Jake Johnson
August 14, 2024
Common Dreams
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_ "Whether it's universal school meals, student debt cancellation,
climate action, or a just foreign policy that reflects our values—
the 5th District showed tonight that we want to drive the nation
toward a better future." _

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) speaks on Capitol Hill on May 24, 2023.,
Mariam Zuhaib/AP

 

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar
[[link removed]] handily won her primary
race in Minnesota's 5th District on Tuesday, effectively securing her
reelection to Congress in the face of an onslaught of pro-Israel cash
aimed at unseating progressive supporters of a Gaza
[[link removed]] cease-fire and other popular
policy positions.

Omar defeated her main challenger, former Minneapolis city
councilmember Don Samuels, by more than 16,000 votes after narrowly
fending him off
[[link removed]] in
2022. The American Israel
[[link removed]] Public Affairs Committee
(AIPAC [[link removed]]), which has spent
aggressively to defeat other members of the progressive "Squad," did
not get heavily involved
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after its attempt
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recruit a different challenger failed.

Samuels' campaign did receive a late boost
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pro-Israel donors—including a flurry of contributions following Rep.
Cori Bush's (D-Mo.) primary loss
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AIPAC-backed Democrat last week—but Omar enjoyed a significant
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and spending advantage.

"I am honored that my community voted to send me back to Congress,"
Omar, the deputy chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said
after _The Associated Press_ called the race in her favor.
"Tonight's victory shows that the 5th District believes in the
collective values we are fighting for in Washington."

"Whether it's universal school meals, student debt
[[link removed]] cancellation, climate
action, or a just foreign policy that reflects our values—the 5th
District showed tonight that we want to drive the nation toward a
better future," she continued. "And our work is far from over. From
protecting reproductive healthcare to reforming the Supreme Court to
ending the genocide in Gaza to combatting the climate crisis—we will
continue to fight for a more just world."

Tonight, special interests lost and our movement won. Thank you to
everyone who was a part of it. Every single person who contributed
made this moment possible.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) August 14, 2024
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Omar's decisive victory in a primary that was open to voters of all
party affiliations came after candidates bankrolled by AIPAC's super
PAC succeeded in defeating Bush and Rep. Jamaal Bowman
[[link removed]] (D-N.Y.)
in two of the most expensive congressional primaries in U.S. history.
Along with Omar, Bush and Bowman are among Congress' most vocal
supporters of a Gaza cease-fire.

A _Politico_analysis
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that AIPAC has been "the biggest source of Republican money flowing
into competitive Democratic primaries this year." The lobbying
organization has spent nearly $25 million
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elections in 2024.

Justice Democrats, a progressive advocacy group that has been working
to counter [[link removed]] AIPAC's
influence in Democratic primaries, acknowledged in the wake of Omar's
win Tuesday that "our movement has suffered immeasurable losses this
cycle."

"But the backlash from monied corporate and right-wing interests
proves not only are we succeeding, but our mandate to elect more
Justice Democrats and take big money out of politics is abundantly
clear," the group added. "The greatest obstacle to Democrats
delivering the agenda they have promised the American people is the
influence of corporate super PACs and lobbies buying our party's
inaction. We must show our voters that a brighter future is possible,
if we fight for it."

Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution—a group
that backed Omar's campaign—said Tuesday that the Minnesota
progressive's victory was "a powerful rebuke to the influence of
corporate money in our democracy."

"Her commitment to bold, progressive policies—whether it's climate
action, Medicare for All, or standing up for a permanent cease-fire
and end to unconditional aid to Israel—resonates deeply with her
constituents," said Geevarghese. "The Democratic Party must take note:
To secure victories in 2024 and beyond, they must embrace the policies
that truly address the struggles of working families, and reject the
influence of dark money that seeks to undermine our democracy."

_Jake Johnson is a senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams._

* Rep. Ilhan Omar
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* primary
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* winner
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