Ilhan Omar's Political Career Could Be Over After Democrat Seeks Rematch

Squad Democrat Ilhan Omar (D-MN) received terrifying news over the weekend after her chief political rival in her home district announced his intention to challenge her for the seat this upcoming year. Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels ran against Omar unsuccessfully in 2022 and announced his bid on WCCO's Sunday Take with Blois Olson on Sunday, explaining that "Ilhan hasn't helped herself. She has made missteps, even after the last race. There are some folks who 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's done and what she'll do."

"If there's one virtue that Omar has is that she is consistent," the 74-year-old said about his opponent. "She is consistently divisive and inappropriate. She's consistently that way personally, locally, nationally, and internationally." 

Omar barely defeated Samuels by only two points in the Democrat primary when Omar got 57,683 votes (50.3 percent) to Samuels's 55,217 votes (48.2 percent). She then went on to defeat her Republican opponent in the November midterms. This time around will likely be different, however, given that Omar has repeatedly supported pro-Palestinian demonstrations and causes amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. This decision, which has included sharing Hamas propaganda about the bombing of the al-Ahli hospital, has opened her up to attacks from more moderate Democrats who support Israel.

"So we have to remember that Israel is our ally. Hamas is, in fact, a terrorist organization. But our No. 1 allies are justice and peace," Samuels said about Omar's recent statements. According to POLITICO, Omar, the leader of the Progressive Caucus and a prominent member of the Squad, is not the only radical Democrat to be challenged this cycle with Reps. Cori Bush (D-MO), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and Summer Lee (D-PA) are all facing challenges from Democrats.

If Samuels attempt to unseat Omar is successful, it would be a significant blow to progressives across the country who see Omar as a leader of their movement. Omar's campaign released a statement attacking Samuels by arguing that he has ties to GOP megadonor and friend to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, as well as American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) donor Paul Singer. "I've continued to fight for the progressive values Minnesotans sent me to advocate for—whether it's fighting to codify Roe v. Wade into law, pushing for historic climate legislation, addressing the opioid crisis, or fighting for an assault weapons ban," Omar said about her time in Congress.

Rep. Ilhan Omar has made a name for herself during her past three terms in Congress. However, her leadership of the progressive cause may be coming to an end if Samuels is successful. While he will have an uphill battle against an entrenched incumbent, millions of Americans would likely be happy to see Omar replaced with a more sensible lawmaker, even if he's a Democrat.

You can follow Sterling on X/Twitter here