Omar leads in Democratic primary for Minnesota House seat

(The Center Square) – Voters across Minnesota cast ballots Tuesday night to pick party nominees in key U.S. House of Representatives races.

In the race for the state’s 5th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar was leading in the Democratic primary with 76.3% of the vote, with 3% counted. As of 9:45 p.m. CT, it was still too early to call, though.

Matt Little, a former member of the Minnesota Senate, led the Democratic field in the primary for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District. He had 47.3% of the vote with 77% reported, as of 9:45 p.m.

Republicans hold a slight majority in the House, with a 218-212 split between the two parties. There are currently four vacancies in the chamber.

Here’s how four of Minnesota’s most competitive House primary races finished Tuesday night.

District 5

Omar was leading the pack in the Democratic primary Tuesday night as she seeks reelection for a fifth term. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the Minnesota seat as “solid Democratic.”

Omar is a leading figure in the progressive bloc of the Democratic Party. Her reelection campaign has centered on abolishing ICE, supporting immigrants’ rights and implementing universal healthcare.

She is likely to run against Republican John Nagel in the Nov. 3 general election, who had 50.4% of the Republican primary vote as of 9:45 p.m.

District 2

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Democratic Rep. Angie Craig is forgoing reelection to run for U.S. Senate, leaving an open field to replace her in the House.

Republicans are eyeing the seat as a possible upset. Cook Political Report rates the seat as “likely Democratic.”

A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, Matt Little will be the Democratic nominee for the state’s 2nd Congressional District. Little previously represented a Twin Cities suburb in the Minnesota Senate for four years between 2017 and 2021.

Little will face Republican nominee Eric Pratt, who was uncontested in the Republican primary.

District 1

Incumbent Rep. Brad Finstad was called as the Republican nominee for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District late Tuesday. He had 90.4% of the vote with 24% reported, as of 9:45 p.m.

He will face Democratic nominee Jake Johnson in November’s general election. Johnson was leading by 61 points with 22% of the vote reported.

District 6

Rep. Tom Emmer won the Republican nomination in Tuesday’s race as he seeks reelection for his seventh term in the House. He had 81.3% of the vote with 66% reported.

His opponent in November’s general election will be Doug Chapin, who was uncontested in the Democratic primary.