Omar Campaign Statement on Primary Challengers Ignoring DFL Endorsement

MINNEAPOLIS—Campaign Manager Claire Bergren released the following statement after 5th District primary challengers announced their intention to create division, not abide by the DFL endorsement and stay in the primary.

“Let’s be frank, this furthers party division, diverts critical resources, and undermines DFL efforts in defeating Donald Trump and keeping Minnesota blue.

“In 2018, Rep. Omar’s campaign reached out to over 300,000 constituents in the district (through door knocking, phone calls and texts).

“She turned out more votes than any new Member of the House and was the seventh highest vote getter nationwide. She is also one of the top fundraisers in the House, all without taking any money from corporate PACs. This has allowed her to contribute more than $260,000 to the Democratic Party and frontline candidates, including $120,000 to the DFL. We welcome any primary candidate to put their track record up against ours in getting Democrats elected and fighting for party unity.

“Now that the endorsement process is over, we invite our primary opponents to show party unity and work with us to focus our energy on turning out the vote in November to defeat Trump and keep Minnesota blue.“

About Ilhan Omar: In 2018, Ilhan was elected to Congress representing the Fifth Congressional District of Minnesota. In her first year in office, she successfully passed 16 bills and amendments through the U.S. House of Representatives. Ilhan introduced the Student Debt Cancellation Act to end the student debt crisis, Homes for All legislation to end the homelessness crisis, and legislation to tackle child hunger by making school meals universal. She also co-sponsored the No Ban Act to combat Donald Trump’s xenophobic Muslim Ban, successfully pushed to extend DED status for the Liberian community in Minnesota, and introduced a War Powers Resolution to prevent war with Iran.

She is Vice Chair of the Medicare for All Caucus, Whip for the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Midwest Regional Whip for the Democratic Caucus. Ilhan has consistently worked to show that the American Dream is for everyone. This month, she was awarded the Profile in Courage Award from the Town Project for her consistent engagement with constituents, even in the face of threats to her safety.

She has been endorsed by organizations and elected officials throughout the Fifth District and nationwide, including:

Elected Officials

Attorney General Keith Ellison

Connie Bernardy

Jim Davnie

Ray Dehn

Mike Freiberg

Aisha Gomez

Hodan Hassan

Mike Howard

Mary Kunesh-Podein

Fue Lee

Jamie Long

Mohamud Noor

Patricia Torres Ray

Alondra Cano

Jeremiah Ellison

Andrea Jenkins

Andrew Johnson

Angela Conley

Irene Fernando

Board Chair Marion Greene

Kari Dziedzic

Carolyn Laine

Council President Lisa Bender

Jeremy Schroeder

Brad Bourn

Chris Meyer

Londel French

Kale Severson

Nelson Inz

Jenny Arneson

Josh Pauly

John Budziszewski

Cedrick Frazier

Simon Trautmann

Ben Whalen

Nadia Mohamed

Anne Mavity

Rep. Ayanna Pressley

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton

Rep. Karen Bass

Rep. Barbara Lee

Organizations:

MN AFL-CIO

Stonewall DFL

MoveOn

350 Action

United We Dream Action Fund

Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Peace Action

Working Families Party

End Citizens United

Justice Democrats

National Nurses United

Common Defense

Jewish Voice for Peace Action

National Organization for Women

Democracy for America

NIAC

DSA

Equality PAC

Congressional Back Caucus PAC

Education Minnesota

American Federation of Teachers

National Educators Association