The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. August 14, 2024 Rep. Ilhan Omar Defeats Primary Challenge After Pro-Israel Groups Raise Funds for Her Opponent ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Minnesota Congressmember Ilhan Omar has fended off a primary election challenge after pro-Israel groups raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to bankroll her opponent's campaign. On Tuesday, Omar defeated former Minneapolis City Councilmember Don Samuels, capturing more than 56% of the votes in the Democratic primary. Omar has been a fierce critic of Israel's war on Gaza and for months has led calls for a ceasefire. Ahead of the primary, Ilhan Omar said in a statement, "It is shameful that my opponent is actively courting Republican votes and desperately seeking funding from AIPAC." Omar's primary victory came after the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its super PAC poured more than $25 million into defeating two Black progressive Democrats: Congressmembers Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Bowman of New York. .