Ilhan Omar wins Minnesota Democratic primary for House seat
Ilhan Omar secured the Democratic nomination for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District with over 80% of the vote in the August 11 primary, extending her dominance in a race that for the first time lacked a major challenger. Omar, who has represented the Minneapolis-area district since 2018, defeated four opponents: Julie Le, a former federal prosecutor; Abena McKenzie; Latonya Reeves; and Nate Schluter.
The 5th Congressional District is the most Democratic district in Minnesota and the entire nation, a stronghold that has consistently backed Omar by wide margins. In her last general election, she won by 50 percentage points; in the 2024 primary, she defeated former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels by 13 points. Those dominant performances appear to have discouraged a repeat challenge from Samuels or other high-profile opponents in 2026.
Omar’s campaign focused on immigration policy as a top priority, citing President Trump’s immigration crackdown as a central concern. The c…