Minnesota Primary Election results: Rep. Ilhan Omar wins close race

Rep. Ilhan Omar survives tight primary against challenger Don Samuels

Rep. Ilhan Omar squeaked by with a win on Tuesday in a primary that was much closer than most expected.

(FOX 9) - U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar has been declared the winner of the Democratic primary for Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District, after a stiff challenge from Don Samuels.

Omar secured 50.5% of the vote, while Samuels won 48% of the vote, as of 9:21 p.m. on Tuesday, with 96.8% of votes counted. The race was separated by a few thousand votes.

Samuels conceded the race just before 9:30 p.m.

Don Samuels concedes in his close-race with Rep. Ilhan Omar

Challenger Don Samuels conceded Tuesday night despite primary results were closer than most expected.

Omar didn't host a watch party as results came in and only issued a statement on Samuels' concession:

"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.

"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."

Mayor Frey reacts to Rep. Omar's narrow primary win

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who backed Rep. Ilhan Omar's opponent Don Samuels, weighed in after Omar squeaked out a narrow victory, in a race that was closer than most imagined.

Crime emerged as the biggest issue in the primary campaign. Samuels, a former Minneapolis City Council member, opposed the movement to defund the police and last year helped defeat efforts to replace the Minneapolis Police Department. Meanwhile, Omar supported the referendum.

Omar is used to competitive primaries by now but this race wasn't expected to be as close as it was. She won the seat in 2018 after defeating Margaret Anderson Kelliher in the Democratic primary. She held the seat in 2020 after a battle with political newcomer Antone Melton-Meaux.

Other Democratic candidates on the primary ballot include AJ Kern and Albert Ross.