US Representative Ilhan Omar has decisively won the Democratic primary for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, securing over 80% of the votes. The district, centered around Minneapolis, has been represented by Omar since 2019, when she became the first Somali-American elected to the US Congress.
With over 95% of ballots counted, unofficial tallies showed Omar receiving 122,640 votes. Her closest contenders were Julie Trang Le, a former federal prosecutor, who garnered 10,201 votes, followed by Latonya T. Reeves with 9,131 votes. Other challengers included Abena McKenzie and Nate Schluter.
Omar ran her campaign without backing from the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC. Her victory solidifies her position ahead of the November general election, where she will face Republican nominee John Nagel, who won his primary with approximately 52.1% of the vote.
Background and Controversies
Since taking office, Omar has been an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump and his immigration policies. Her vocal opposition intensified amid a series of fatal shootings involving immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota, which sparked protests and national debate.
In January 2026, immigration agents fatally shot Renee Good, a US citizen, followed by the death of another citizen, Alex Pretti, in a separate incident. Omar responded by calling for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and demanding the resignation or impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Trump frequently targeted Omar in political rhetoric, criticizing her stance on immigration and contrasting her with other immigrants he praised. After the second shooting, he indicated a plan to "de-escalate" enforcement actions in Minnesota.
