Rep. Ilhan Omar, a member of the progressive "Squad" in Congress, has defeated a well-funded challenger

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Che -Guevara]

Money cannot always buy votes.

[Che -Guevara]

Other Somalis winning their primary tonight

Omar Fateh for MN state senate

 

[Che -Guevara]

Jamal Osman for Minneapolis Six Ward

 

[maakhiri1]

Great news for Somalis 

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Tillamook]

Congrats to all 3 Somalis.

Now let’s aim for the governorship of MN and even the damn White House. 

We Somalis are capable of more than we know!

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

I am very glad to hear this news of her defeating the unholy alliance of Zionist propaganda machine and far-right racists, who raised millions of illegal funds for her challenger. Isha ayaa ku haaye doorashadaan hoose and aad ayaa ugu farxay the result, which were not even that close. All guul for our sister.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

 

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Minnesota’s Omar holds off well-funded primary challenger

Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota on Tuesday survived a stiff Democratic primary challenge from a well-funded opponent who tried to make an issue of her national celebrity.

Omar, seeking her second term in November, defeated Antone Melton-Meaux, an attorney and mediator who raised millions in anti-Omar money.

Melton-Meaux used the cash to paper the district and flood airwaves with his “Focused on the Fifth” message that portrayed Omar, a member of “The Squad” of four progressive female members of Congress, as out of touch with the Minneapolis-area 5th District.

Omar in 2018 became one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, building on a national profile that started when the onetime refugee from Somalia was elected to the Minnesota Legislature just two years earlier. Her aggressive advocacy on liberal issues, and her eagerness to take on Donald Trump, made her even more prominent.

Omar rejected Melton-Meaux’s attacks, saying they were funded by interests who wanted to get her out of Congress because she’s effective. She also downplayed Melton-Meaux’s prodigious fundraising before the vote, saying, “Organized people will always beat organized money.”

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and Republican challenger Jason Lewis easily won their primaries in the only statewide races on the ballot. Elsewhere, in western Minnesota’s conservative 7th District, former state Sen. Michelle Fischbach won a three-way Republican race for the right to challenge Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson. Peterson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, is one of the GOP’s top targets to flip a House seat in November.

After entering Congress with fanfare, Omar hurt herself early with comments about Israel and money that even some fellow Democrats called anti-Semitic, and found herself apologizing. She also came under scrutiny when her marriage fell apart and she married her political consultant months after denying they were having an affair.

Republicans also raised questions about continuing payments to her new husband’s firm, though experts said they aren’t necessarily improper.

In the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, police reform also emerged as an issue. Omar supported a push by a majority of the Minneapolis City Council to replace the city’s police department with something new. Melton-Meaux did not support that but did support shifting some funding away from police to more social service-oriented programs. Both touched on the issue in personal ways, with Omar saying she wanted her son to grow up safely. Melton-Meaux, who is also Black, told a personal story of being detained while at the University of Virginia by police seeking an assault suspect reported to have run into his apartment building.

Progressive Democrats gained confidence in Omar’s reelection chances after primary victories last week by fellow “Squad” member Rashida Tlaib in Michigan and by Cori Bush, a Black Lives Matter activist, in a St. Louis-area congressional primary. Progressives also claimed momentum from the renewed focus on racial and economic justice after Floyd’s death.

Catherine Thornton, 36, a General Mills researcher who lives in southwest Minneapolis, said Tuesday that she voted for Melton-Meaux.

“I have a lot of respect for Ms. Omar, but I personally don’t align with just her focus on the progressive agenda. And I felt like Mr. Melton-Meaux would have more focus on our district and the people of our district’s needs.”

Wendy Helgeson, 57, a consultant, backed Omar two years ago, even installing a lawn sign in her yard, and said she was “awfully proud of her being the first Black Muslim woman that we elected.” But she said she was concerned about campaign payments to Omar’s husband’s firm as well as her national presence, and found it easy to vote for Melton-Meaux, whom she said has been her friend for 12 years.

“I admire her as a woman,” Helgeson said of Omar. “As a candidate, ehhh … I have some reservations.”

John Hildebrand, a 47-year-old teacher in Minneapolis who voted for Omar, said her national profile is an advantage.

“I think just her presence encourages other Muslims and Somalis to run for office and to seek to be represented,” he said. “I think she just engages people in the political system more and more.”

Blake Smith, 23, a parks worker who is Black and described himself as a leftist, also backed Omar. He’s concerned about climate change, Medicare for all and getting money out of politics, and he sees her as an ally.

“It’s more time for radical change than like small — I don’t think we have time for incremental change anymore,” Smith said.

Doug Glass contributed. Ibrahim is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a non-profit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Xigasho

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

What the heck is this? All these maryooleey vying for a single council seat. I am glad a fellow Soomaali won. Imagine if they all lost - and a non-Soomaali won - as a result of Soomaali votes being divided.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

 

[Peace Action]

Congratulations to all 3 Somali born winners. MN Somalis are lucky to have their own Somalis as advocates for their interests. Hopefully they will be advocates for Somalis everywhere.

[Abdul]

Yesterday must have been the worst day for the racist-in-chief.first,a high energy,smart black woman was selected as vice presidential running mate for the Democratic ticket that most likely will kick him out of the white house.Then a few hours later,Ilhaan won big in her congressional primary in minnesota.I could see sweat running down his orange face.