Ilhan Omar Wins Primary, Eyes Fifth Term

Ilhan Omar won the Minnesota primary in the 5th Congressional District on Tuesday, putting the Democrat on course for a fifth term in the U.S. House. The result clears the way for Omar to head into November’s general election as she seeks to keep representing the Minneapolis-area district she has held since 2019.

Omar, a Somali-born congresswoman, faced four challengers in the Democratic race: Julie Trang Le, a former federal immigration prosecutor; Abena McKenzie, a nurse who also ran against Omar in 2024; Latonya Reeves, a Democratic National Committee member and longtime activist; and Nate Schluter, a political outsider. None of them posed a serious threat to the incumbent, who has built her standing by connecting with the district’s increasingly progressive voters.

The Minnesota 5th Congressional District includes Minneapolis and several surrounding suburbs. It is also home to the largest concentration of Somali Americans in the United States, a detail that has helped shape the district’s political identity and Omar’s national profile. Her rise has made her one of the most recognizable progressive Democrats in Congress, and one of the most closely watched as debates over the party’s direction continue to sharpen.

Omar was one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress and the first Somali American elected to the House. She is also a founding member of the group known as the Squad. Since entering Congress, she has drawn repeated attention for her views on immigration, healthcare, and U.S. policy toward Israel. Those issues have helped define both her supporters and her critics, while cementing her place as a prominent voice on the party’s left flank.