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U.S. Rep Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has been declared the winner of the Democratic primary for Minnesota’s fifth Congressional District after a hard challenge from Don Samuels.
Omar received 50.5% of the vote, while Samuels gained 48% of the vote with a spread of only about 2,500 votes with nearly 97% of the vote counted.
Omar didn't host an election night event. She only issued a statement after Samuels' earlier concession on Tuesday evening.
"Six years ago, when I ran and defeated a 44-year incumbent, nobody thought it was possible that a Muslim, immigrant, refugee, Black, hijabi woman could get elected. I’m now honored to be on the path to serve the people of the 5th Congressional District for a 3rd term in the U.S. House of Representatives,” read Omar's statement.
"Millions of dollars have been spent to unseat us. Republicans and conservative Democrats have worked in lockstep to vote us out. Corporations and special interest groups have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on ads against us. Pundits and news agencies have tried to smear us and undermine our work. Tonight’s victory is a testament to how much our district believes in the collective values we are fighting for and how much they’re willing to do to help us overcome defeat. This win is for them and everyone who still believes that hate, division and regression will not be the legacy of the Fifth,” added Omar’s statement.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who backed Omar’s democratic opponent, Don Samuels, weighed in after Omar squeaked out a narrow victory in a race that was closer than most imagined because crime emerged as a huge issue in their district.
Samuels, a former Minneapolis City Council member, opposed Omar’s movement to defund the police and worked to defeat efforts to replace the Minneapolis Police Department.
Omar had supported that referendum.
In the general election, Republican Cicely Davis will face off with Omar on the November ballot.
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