Ilhan Omar, the incumbent Democratic representative from Minnesota’s 5th congressional district, is facing a challenging re-election this year as she competes against three strong opponents in the primary. One of these opponents is Don Samuels, a former member of the Minneapolis City Council, who narrowly lost to Omar in the previous primary. Samuels, a moderate Democrat, has announced his candidacy for Omar’s congressional seat, stating that she is “beatable” based on his close loss in the previous election.
“Ilhan hasn’t helped herself,” Samuels said. “She has made missteps, even after the last race. And so some folks are coming [to support me] because of what I am, who I am, and what I will do, and some are coming because of what she does and will do.”
Moreover, he explicitly stated that he is joining the race earlier than previously, enabling him to dedicate more time to establishing connections with supporters and voters. Samuels also criticized Omar for being a divisive figure, highlighting her criticism of Obama for describing police budget cuts as a “catchy phrase.”
“My opponent is known for divisiveness and rancor personally, locally, nationally, and internationally,” he said.
Furthermore, a Muslim immigrant from Iraq who supports Israel and has a background in broadcast journalism in Minnesota has declared her candidacy against Omar in the upcoming year, labeling her as the most anti-Semitic member of Congress.
According to the report, Dalia al-Aqidi, a Republican who fled Iraq to seek refuge from the oppressive regime of Saddam Hussein, and Omar hold contrasting views on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Furthermore, Dalia al-Aqidi, a Muslim immigrant from Iraq who strongly supports Israel, and has an extensive background in broadcast journalism in Minnesota, has recently declared her candidacy to challenge Omar in the upcoming year. Al-Aqidi has openly criticized Omar, labeling her as the most antisemitic member of Congress. The report also highlights that their perspectives on the Israel-Hamas conflict greatly differ, with al-Aqidi firmly standing in support of Israel.
Furthermore, Dalia al-Aqidi, a Muslim immigrant from Iraq who strongly supports Israel, and has an extensive background in broadcast journalism in Minnesota, has recently declared her candidacy to challenge Omar in the upcoming year. Al-Aqidi has openly criticized Omar, labeling her as the most antisemitic member of Congress. The report also highlights that their perspectives on the Israel-Hamas conflict greatly differ, with al-Aqidi firmly standing in support of Israel.
“My religion should not matter to anyone but myself,” al-Aqidi told Politico’s Women Rule column. “If I was a white woman, if I was a black woman, if I was a white man, saying what I’m saying now? I’d be called a white supremacist, a hater, a racist, a bigot.”
The Republican candidate initiated her campaign approximately one month ago due to her firm conviction that the residents of her Minneapolis district should have a different representative than Omar. She has accused Omar of being the most prominent anti-Semite in Congress after voting against a resolution to back Israel following an attack by Hamas, which is supported by Palestinians.
In a recent statement released by her office, Omar expressed her condolences for the lives lost due to Hamas but chose not to support the resolution as it did not recognize and mourn the lives of Palestinians who were killed by the Israeli military.
“While I was here, Ilhan Omar voted against the U.S. House resolution that condemned Hamas. And that tells you a lot about who Ilhan Omar is,” Al-Aqidi told Politico while she was touring Israel late last month. “I come here as a Muslim, as someone who understands what it means to be a radical Muslim. Unfortunately, the majority of people in the United States cannot comprehend the difference between being a Muslim or being an extremist.”
“And, of course, that came from the narrative of [Rep.] Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar, that if you criticize radical Islamism, it means you criticize Muslims. For years, they’ve been trying to indoctrinate the Muslim community and the Middle Eastern community in the United States,” she said.
“I’m Muslim, and I was here when 9/11 happened. I was not muted just because I was a Muslim. I was not mistreated because of my identity or because of my religion. I love America. I came to America because I fled the hostility and oppression in the Middle East. I don’t want to come here and be oppressed by so-called Muslims,” Al-Aqidi added.