Ilhan Omar escapes AIPAC spending directed at other ‘Squad’ Democrats

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is running for reelection almost unscathed by the pro-Israel groups that have poured millions into unseating her other “Squad” colleagues.

Omar, one of the most critical House Democrats on the war in Gaza, is facing a rematch against former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. He only lost to Omar by 2 percentage points in 2022, raising the prospect that she could be the next progressive colleague to be ousted from the House.

Omar’s primary comes on the heels of Rep. Cori Bush’s (D-MO) loss this past week after the American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent almost $9 million through its political arm supporting her opponent due to her pro-Palestinian stance and accusation that Israel is engaged in “genocide” in Gaza. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), another “Squad” member, faced a similar fate in June when he lost his high-profile primary. 

Yet pro-Israel groups have not spent much against Omar. Its political arm has only put $19,000 into primary advertising, according to AdImpact.

Samuels, who entered the primary after Hamas’s Oct. 7 invasion of Israel, has attempted to make the issue a liability for Omar, accusing her of being a “pawn for Hamas.” But he has been dramatically outspent. Omar’s campaign has spent $2.6 million on advertising, compared to Samuels’s $32,000.

Meanwhile, Omar, who faced accusations of antisemitism for various tweets dating back to 2012 when she said Israel had “hypnotized the world,” benefits from the support of prominent progressive lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who has campaigned on her behalf.

Samuels had received $350,000 indirectly in his 2022 race against Omar, according to the Forward. But this time, an operative familiar with the deliberations told Jewish Insider that AIPAC had hoped to recruit a different candidate and judged that Samuels had “reached his capacity.”

The most recent survey from Lake Research Partners shows Omar 27 points ahead of her Democratic challenger.

Whoever wins the primary on Tuesday will go on to face Republican candidate Dalia al-Aqidi, who is running unopposed on the GOP side. The race is expected to heavily favor the Democratic nominee, and the Cook Political Report has given the race a D+30 rating.