Israel critic Ilhan Omar wins in Minnesota primary polls

One of the first Muslim women to serve in Congress is expected to keep her seat in the November 5 election

Ilhan Omar speaks to supporters after announcing her victory in the Minnesota Democratic primary. Reuters

Ilhan Omar, a Muslim congresswoman and vocal critic of Israel, has won her primary race in Minnesota in a boost for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

Her victory follows the defeats of two other members of a group of progressives known as “The Squad”.

Fellow Squad members Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri lost their party primaries over the past few months after speaking out against US support for Israel's war in Gaza.

Ms Omar successfully defended her Minneapolis-area seat against a repeat challenge from former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels, a more centrist liberal who she only narrowly defeated in the 2022 primary.

“We run the politics of joy,” Ms Omar told supporters in Minneapolis.

“We know it is joyful to make sure housing is a human right. We know it is joyful to fight for health care to be a human right. We know it is joyful to want to live in a peaceful and equitable world.”

Ms Omar has been a leading voice on Capitol Hill opposing the war in Gaza, calling for a ceasefire in October well before other members of the Democratic Party. She has also signed letters to President Joe Biden demanding a halt to US weapons transfers to Israel.

Mr Bowman and Ms Bush lost their primary challenges amid a flood of fundraising from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee backing their opponents.

AIPAC is reportedly prepared to spend $100 million to influence US politics this year, surpassing previous spending amid intensifying scrutiny from Washington over Israel's conduct in Gaza.

Control of Congress will be up for grabs as Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump seek the presidency.

Ms Omar's robust campaign fundraising likely played a significant role in her victory.

She has collected $6.8 million since the 2022 election, more than double the typical House member and well over Mr Samuels's $1.4 million, according to federal campaign disclosures.

Mr Bowman, Ms Bush and Ms Omar had all opposed Mr Biden's support for Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza.

Born in Somalia, Ms Omar became one of the first two Muslim women to serve in the US Congress when she was first elected in 2018. She is expected to easily win the November 5 election.

Ms Omar, who arrived in the US as a refugee, said she has paid close attention to her district's large immigrant population – including Somalis – in part by probing whether large banks discriminate against Muslim Americans.

She has faced criticism for anti-Semitic remarks, with House Republicans last year voting to remove her from the foreign affairs committee over a 2019 social media post suggesting that Israel's supporters were motivated by money rather than principle. Ms Omar has apologised for the post.