MINNEAPOLIS — Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is well on her way to securing her fourth consecutive term representing Minnesota's 5th Congressional District after defeating former Minneapolis City Councilor Don Samuels in Tuesday's Democratic primary.
"I am incredibly, incredibly honored by this victory," said Rep. Omar at a victory speech.
The district, that includes Minneapolis, is a Democratic stronghold, but Omar's now Republican opponent is adamant she will come out on top in November. The district hasn't been controlled by Republicans in 64 years.
"I've always wanted to make a difference everywhere I go," said Dalia Al-Aqidi, who's a longtime journalist.
She fled Iraq in 1993 and later became an American citizen and resolved to run for office late last year after Omar's sharp criticism of how Israel is conducting the war in Gaza.
"This means a lot to me and I've spent my entire life fighting against these regimes and fighting against these ideologies," said Al-Aqidi.
KARE 11 Reporter Jennifer Hoff is the only local journalist to interview Al-Aqidi since Tuesday's primary results. Al-Aqidi said it's critical she reach out across party lines when asked why voters should choose her.
"I've made it very clear I'm a moderate Republican willing to work with moderate Democrats and Independents," said Al-Aqidi. "We need to unite to save our city, district and our country."
Al-Aqidi doesn't have elected experience, except new political data shows that there's a recent trend of not only more amateur candidates, but voters willing to back them.
"It reflects this intense energy among anti-establishment populists," said University of Minnesota Political Scientist Larry Jacobs.
Jacobs points to former professional basketball player Royce White from Minneapolis who just defeated Joe Fraser and will face incumbent Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar on the November ballot.
And there's Steve Boyd, a small businessman from northwestern Minnesota who still garnered 35% of Tuesday's vote against staunch Republican Michelle Fischbach in the 7th Congressional District - the state's largest and most red.
"If you want an example of grassroots democracy, this is what it looks like and it doesn't always conclude with victory and speeches and parades," said Jacobs. "This is not a system designed for quick or big change, but the populists are just frustrated with how slow this is."
From some voters feeling left behind to others frustrated with the status quo, there's a growing influence in grooming new candidates.
"Together, we can win and together we can have a safe future for our kids," said Al-Aqidi, who has agreed to debate Omar. KARE 11 has not heard back from Omar's campaign on that possibility.