US Representative Ilhan Omar has comfortably secured the Democratic nomination for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, taking more than 80 per cent of the vote in a victory that puts the fourth-term congresswoman on course to defend her seat in November.
Omar, who represents a district centred on Minneapolis, defeated four challengers in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, according to US media projections.
With more than 95 per cent of the votes counted, unofficial results cited by The New York Times showed Omar leading with 122,640 votes. Julie Trang Le had 10,201 votes, followed by Latonya T. Reeves with 9,131.
Omar’s other challengers were Abena McKenzie and Nate Schluter. Le is a former federal prosecutor.
The incumbent secured the Democratic nomination without backing from AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group.
Her primary victory now positions her to face the Republican nominee in the November general election as she seeks another term in Congress. John Nagel was projected to win the Republican primary for the same seat with 52.1 per cent of the vote.
Omar first entered Congress in 2019, making history as the first Somali-American elected to the US institution.
Since then, she has become one of President Donald Trump’s most outspoken Democratic critics, particularly over his administration’s immigration policies.
Her criticism has grown sharper amid an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota that has drawn protests and national attention following the deaths of two US citizens in separate incidents.
In January 2026, immigration officers fatally shot Renee Good, a US citizen. Another US citizen, Alex Pretti, was killed on Saturday after he was stopped by border agents.
The two deaths triggered protests across Minnesota and renewed scrutiny of the immigration crackdown.
Speaking at an event, Omar called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency leading the enforcement operation. She also demanded the resignation or impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees ICE.
Omar’s remarks came shortly before she was attacked.
Trump has repeatedly clashed with Democratic leaders in Minnesota and has also targeted Omar with criticism.
Before the attack on the congresswoman, Trump told an audience in Iowa that immigrants to the US should “love our country” and be proud of it, in comments directed at Omar.
After the attack, Trump was asked by ABC News whether he had watched footage of the incident. He said he had not and dismissed the congresswoman, saying: “I don't think about her. I think she's a fraud.”
Trump later said his administration would “de-escalate a little bit” in Minnesota following the second fatal shooting.