A Democratic challenger to far-left Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has just picked up a huge endorsement as he attempts to unseat her during a primary later this summer.
Don Samuels, 75, former Minneapolis councilman, has won the backing of the United Steelworkers Union as he attempts to position himself as a more centrist choice in the race, the Washington Examiner reported. He has also won the backing of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
Samuels narrowly lost the 2022 primary to Omar, but his chances this time around are improving with the increased support from the unions and others.
Omar is one of the few members of the progressive House “Squad” who must compete in a difficult primary. This is due in part to the fundraising efforts of outside organizations who support the members’ steadfast progressive views, particularly those regarding the Gaza War.
Despite Samuels being a vocal critic of Israel, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee has largely refrained from supporting him, causing significant frustration on his part, the Examiner noted.
Also, Omar has a clear fundraising advantage over Samuels, having raised nearly $5 million compared to Samuels’s $775,000 as of mid-April, according to the MinnPost.
After trailing Omar by just 2.1 percent in the 2022 primary, Samuels’ polling appears much tighter this time around. His campaign released a Victoria Research poll in February that found 519 Democratic voters in Minnesota’s 5th congressional district to be 41 percent in favor of Omar and Samuels. The remaining 18% are either not sure yet or intend to vote in the primary over the summer for a candidate other than Omar or Samuels.