Minnesota primary results: US House races
(KMSP) - The race for Representative Keith Ellison's seat in the Fifth Congressional District is now down to Rep. Ilhan Omar and Jennifer Zielinski.
With 48 percent of the vote, Minnesota House Representative (60B) Ilhan Omar became the official DFL candidate in the race for the Fifth District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Omar was first elected to the chamber in 2016, making her the first Somali-American Muslim legislator elected to office in the U.S.
Next in the polls was Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Patricia Torres Ray.
With 56 percent of the vote, Jennifer Zielinski won the GOP ticket followed by Christopher Chamberlin with 32 percent.
Statement from Rep. Ilhan Omar:
“Tonight we are celebrating because we engaged and empowered our community and we won!” exclaimed Ilhan. “Our campaign staff, our volunteers, and the people of the Fifth Congressional District are the inspiration we need to get up every day and fight for a democracy that guarantees a more just and equitable society. Together, each and everyone of us are the inspiration we need to keep fighting for a democracy that gets us closer to the American promise of prosperity for all and the hope for a better tomorrow. The inspiration we need to keep fighting for the America we deserve. Together,we will move our district, our state and our nation forward.”
As the first refugee elected to Congress (and the second Muslim woman after Rashida Tlaib of Michigan), Ilhan will bring a unique perspective and new energy to our nation’s capital. She will fight for working families so they are paid a living wage and have access to affordable housing and healthcare; for students to make college more affordable and debt forgiveness for those struggling to repay education loans; for immigrants and refugees to stop family separations, abolish ICE, and protect DACA.
Ilhan’s grassroots campaign for Congress focused on engaging, empowering and uplifting the voices of our community. Since announcing her candidacy in early June, Ilhan, her team, and more than 1,000 volunteers reached out to over 100,000 voters in every neighborhood of the Fifth Congressional District.
“The positive response we received on the phone and at the doors was so inspiring,” said Campaign Manager Joelle Stangler. “People want to see Ilhan in Congress because she is the bold.progressive voice we need. She has the hope and resolve to win the tough fights we face.”