U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar has won the Democratic primary for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, securing more than 80% of the vote and advancing to the November general election.
CBS News projected Omar as the winner Tuesday night as results showed the incumbent congresswoman holding an overwhelming lead over her Democratic challengers.
A Decisive Victory
Omar’s victory was not a close one.
With more than 80% of the vote, she secured one of her strongest primary performances since first winning a seat in Congress.
The result is particularly notable when compared with some of her previous elections.
In 2022, Omar narrowly defeated former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels in the Democratic primary, winning by only a few percentage points.
The two faced each other again in 2024, when Omar won by a considerably larger margin.
This year, the race was far less competitive, with Omar receiving more than four out of every five votes cast in the Democratic primary.
Who Is Ilhan Omar?
Omar has represented Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District since 2019.
Born in Somalia, she spent part of her childhood in a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the United States with her family and eventually settling in Minnesota.
She was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016 before winning election to Congress in 2018.
When she entered Congress in January 2019, Omar and Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib became the first two Muslim women to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Omar is associated with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and has become one of the most nationally recognizable members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation.
Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District
The 5th Congressional District includes Minneapolis and several surrounding communities.
The district has strongly favored Democratic candidates in recent elections, making the Democratic primary an important stage in the race for the congressional seat.
Omar has represented the district through four congressional terms and is now seeking another.
What Happens Next?
Tuesday’s result gives Omar the Democratic nomination, but it does not yet guarantee another term in Congress.
She will advance to the November general election, where voters will make the final decision on who represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.
For now, Tuesday’s result is clear: Omar successfully defended her Democratic nomination — and this time, she did so by an overwhelming margin.