Omar wins primary, in boost to Squad

Two other House Democrats and 'Squad' members lost their primaries this summer after being targeted by pro-Israel groups

(Image credit: Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images)

By Peter Weber, The Week US

published 14 August 2024

What happened

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) fended off a repeat primary challenge from former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and other pro-Israel groups spent $25 million to unseat Squad members Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.). But AIPAC has been "strategic about which races it's investing in," and Omar's wasn't one of them this year, Politico said. Bush and Bowman also had "other vulnerabilities that would have made their reelection bids difficult" even without the "flood of money against them."

Omar's race was "one of the most high-profile contests" in this week's primaries in Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin, the Post said.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.