Ilhan Omar wins Minnesota primary with 80% vote despite Trump attacks
Omar dominates the Democratic primary
With more than 95% of ballots counted, Omar had received 122,640 votes. Former federal prosecutor Julie Trang Le had 10,201 votes, while Latonya T. Reeves had 9,131.
Omar won more than 80% of the vote in the Minneapolis-based 5th Congressional District. The result shows her strong position among Democratic voters in the district.
Her victory also came after several earlier primary challenges that attracted much more campaign spending. This year, none of her Democratic rivals had reported more than $100,000 in cash on hand shortly before the election.
Omar had already received the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsement unanimously in May. Her strong support helped her enter the primary with a major political advantage.
A closely watched political figure
Omar is one of the most prominent progressive lawmakers in Congress and a member of “The Squad”. She has strongly criticized US military support for Israel and has repeatedly clashed with President Donald Trump.
Her political career has also faced attacks linked to her Somali background, Muslim faith and political views. In January, a man was federally charged after allegedly spraying her with apple cider vinegar from a syringe during a Minneapolis town hall.
Omar first entered the US House in 2018. She made history as one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress and the first woman to wear a hijab in the chamber.
Why the “Pro-Israel Lobby” issue matters
Omar has previously faced opposition from groups supporting pro-Israel candidates. In earlier primary contests, pro-Israel super PACs such as AIPAC spent millions of dollars trying to defeat progressive lawmakers who criticized Israel.
However, the situation was different in this year’s race. Such groups largely stayed out of Omar’s primary as her strong local support made the contest less attractive for a major spending campaign.
Omar will now move toward the November general election. Republican John Nage is projected to be her opponent after winning his party’s primary.
The 5th District is one of Minnesota’s most heavily Democratic congressional districts. That gives Omar a major advantage as she prepares for the general election.
Her victory also comes during a primary season in which several progressive candidates have scored important wins. Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in neighboring Michigan is another example of progressive candidates gaining attention in the 2026 Democratic primary cycle.
Omar’s large primary margin shows that her support remains strong in her Minneapolis-based district. It also suggests that Democratic voters were not seriously divided by the issues that have made her a national political figure.
The lack of a major spending campaign against her is also notable. Her strong position made it harder for opponents to turn the primary into a competitive race.
The November election is likely to be less difficult for Omar because of the district’s strong Democratic leaning. Her biggest challenge now may be maintaining voter support while continuing to face national political criticism.
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