MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), a prominent progressive voice in Congress, is once again facing intensified scrutiny and political pressure as national pro-Israel lobbying groups turn their attention to her upcoming reelection campaign.
Omar, a member of the progressive “Squad,” has been a frequent target of criticism for her outspoken views on U.S. policy toward Israel and the Palestinian territories. In 2019, she drew bipartisan backlash over a tweet suggesting that U.S. support for Israel was “all about the Benjamins,” a comment she later apologized for.
In the 2024 election cycle, AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) and affiliated political action committees spent millions of dollars to influence Democratic primaries across the country — including the high-profile race in New York’s 16th District, where Representative Jamaal Bowman was unseated by George Latimer. That race was among the most expensive House primaries in history, with outside spending playing a decisive role.
Progressive groups such as Justice Democrats and the Working Families Party have voiced concern over the growing influence of outside money in Democratic primaries, arguing that it undermines grassroots candidates and empowers corporate-aligned interests.
As of now, there is no confirmed primary challenger to Ilhan Omar for the 2024 race. However, political analysts anticipate that she may again face a well-funded opponent, as she did in 2022 when she narrowly defeated former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels in the Democratic primary.
Despite outside pressure, Omar has continued to defend her record and remains one of the most recognizable progressive voices in Congress. Her supporters argue that efforts to unseat her are part of a broader campaign to silence critics of Israeli government policy within the Democratic Party.
