Former Minneapolis City Council member (Samuels) looks to unseat U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar

[question everything]

WASHINGTON – Former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels is launching a bid to defeat U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, giving the Democrat a prominent challenge from within her own party.

In an interview with the Star Tribune, Samuels contrasted his leadership style with Omar's. He noted her support of last fall's Minneapolis ballot question that could have replaced the city's police department with a new public safety agency following the police killing of George Floyd. The question divided some of Minnesota's leading Democrats before Minneapolis voters rejected the measure last November, with 56% voting against the change and close to 44% supporting the shift.

"Representative Omar has demonstrated she's out of touch with the residents of Minneapolis in the last election," said Samuels, 72. "And I've shown that I was very much in touch with the sentiments of the citizenry."

(snip)

While Samuels said housing and economic disparities are among the issues he will focus on in his campaign, he also pointed to Omar's decision to vote no on a U.S. Capitol Security spending bill last year, breaking with most House Democrats. Omar also bucked her party last November when she voted against a roughly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package as she pushed for progress on a larger spending bill funding child care, universal preschool and the battle against climate change.

"I want to go to Washington to make a difference, not to make a point," Samuels said. "And I think Representative Omar has made points, a lot of points, and gotten a lot of press because of points [that] are controversial and they are dramatic. But they don't get things done. They're divisive."

More..

https://www.startribune.com/former-minneapolis-city-council-member-looks-to-unseat-u-s-rep-ilhan-omar/600154184/

[SheltieLover]

1. Good!

Sounds like a great candidate!

[Cha]

2. Very Best of Luck to Don Samuels!

💙💛

[Ocelot II]

3. Good. I'm done with Omar. I was hoping a credible primary challenger would turn up.

I voted for her the first time; I was disappointed with her grandstanding but gave her a second chance in 2020.
Unfortunately she doesn't seem to have improved. It seems like all Omar does is say dumb, controversial things just to be controversial, but she doesn't seem to accomplish anything useful for her district.

[iemanja]

4. I didn't realize she voted no on funding the capitol police

She has really exercised some poor judgment, but I agree with her on the police issue.

[redstatebluegirl]

5. Good it is time.

[Hortensis]

6. "The stakes have never been higher. Our city, our nation, and our world

are threatened by devastating economic disparities, the catastrophic effects of climate change, and a sustained attack on democracy here at home and abroad.

While Rep. Omar and I share similar views on many issues, I believe this moment calls for a different approach to leadership–one that seeks to build a united coalition able to achieve greater progress for everyone." ~ Don Samuels

Congress is designed to be where our representatives unite as majorities that can make change happen.

[PhylliPretzel]

7. None of those measures failed

because of her "no" votes. We need dissenting voices within the Democratic Party to hold us to higher standards. I appreciate Ms. Omar and other progressives sticking their necks out doing just that.
P.S. I wonder how much sexism & islamophobia is a part of her challenger's agenda????

[Ocelot II]

8. Not everyone who opposes Omar is sexist or Islamophobic.

There is nothing about Samuels to suggest he is. He's a solid progressive; he just isn't a tone-deaf grandstander like Omar, whom I once supported. She has not turned out to be an effective legislator.

[iemanja]

9. We have the GOP to dissent on those same votes

We don't need Democrats doing it. Her excuses are always bullshit.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

10. Lol Don Samuels.

[Ocelot II]

11. Samuels was a good city council member

and he has a solid background for a liberal congressman, including years of work with low-income children. And he's not a grandstander. I'm tired of Omar's voting against Democrats' legislation just to make some pointless point.

[Oopsie Daisy]

12. I feel like Don Samuels will be thoughtful and competent representative *

* and that we need more elected representatives like that. I admire people who are willing to work hard to get things done and who make their decisions based on what's best for OUR country. We get more things accomplished with elected officials who understand that "all or nothing" is a losing philosophy and who are, instead, willing to find common ground; and who are willing to accept incremental progress. After all, any progress is better than no progress and better than going backward out of sheer stubbornness, or a desire to score political points, right? I think he's also smart enough to know that it's important to be loyal to the Democratic party and not to take cheap shots at Democratic leadership, nor sabotage the Biden agenda, for the sake of personal gain, or headlines and notoriety. Not only is it important to be in-touch with the citizens one represents, it's also important for our elected representatives to be in touch with reality.