Heading into DNC, Rep. Ilhan Omar expresses need for unity in Democratic Party

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar survived a primary challenge Tuesday from Don Samuels. Two years ago, Samuels came close to an upset, losing by only two points. This year, Omar prevailed by about 13 percentage points. She joined Tom Crann on All Things Considered to talk about her campaign and the election ahead.

This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity. Click on the audio player above to listen to the whole interview.

You won pretty handily and survived when other progressive members of ‘The Squad’ lost. What was behind your win?

First of all, I want to thank the voters for this election. I believe it was really about us being out there, talking about the incredible work that we’ve done on their behalf and making the case why we should remain fighting for them.

What do you think was different about your campaign compared to the others, such as Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, where the incumbent lost?

I do believe it’s just the conversations about the work that we’ve done, and reminding them the urgency of coming out to vote. Summer primaries are tough, especially when it’s late in summer.

Support Local News

When breaking news happens, MPR News provides the context you need. Help us meet the significant demands of these newsgathering efforts.

People are not really in tune, especially in a presidential election year. Everybody’s thinking about the November election. We found that at doors quite often — people being like, “I’m so ready to vote in November.” We’re like, “No, there is an election happening right now.” And so I think it is just utilizing every tool that you have to remind people to vote and why it’s important.

Would you say you changed your door-knocking approach in the suburban parts of your district leading up to this primary?

In 2022, we wanted to preserve our resources to help with the trifecta that was so successful. This time, we didn’t have that problem, so we had more resources to do outreach.

The other night in your speech, you mentioned ‘the politics of joy.’ That’s been a Democratic theme. How do you define politics of joy and why is that important?

The politics of joy is important because I think campaigning positively — inviting people to participate in our democracy, making sure that there is enthusiasm about the policies that you’re going to champion — that’s going to make a difference in their lives.

I think this is what our democracy needs more of, rather than, you know, how much you hate the other person and creating divisiveness and hateful messaging. The politics of joy, I believe, really is one that is of encouragement, of unity, of prosperity and of making sure all of us are included.

As you were out on the campaign trail door-knocking and such, what were the big issues you were hearing from voters?

The top issues people were talking to us about were making life affordable. We were hearing a lot of conversations about housing and the instability that is in the market right now. We heard a lot about education.

I happen to serve on the House Education and Workforce Committee, so we talked a lot about getting resources to our schools. We talked a lot about the climate crisis. We are having an unusual summer, and so we can feel the impact. And obviously we talked a lot about what it means for us to fight for a more peaceful world.

What do you want to hear from Vice President Harris when it comes to affordability and inflation?

I think there was some good news today with inflation, where we are seeing prices come down. Obviously, corporate greed has been a big part of that. I introduced legislation called the Shrinkflation Reduction Act to deal with the fact that packages are smaller and the prices are higher.

I know that the Biden-Harris Administration has been working on some policies, and I hope to hear from her on the campaign trail about the implementation of some of those policies.

People are still waiting for what the Harris policy on Gaza will be. What do you want to hear from the vice president on this issue?

The one thing that we’ve wanted from the Biden-Harris Administration, and the thing that I hope Vice President Harris outlines, is the fact that we do have leverage to make sure [Israel Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu does see the seriousness of the destruction that he’s caused, the seriousness and the urgency of getting the hostages home and the necessity of ending this war right now.

And I think there is more that can be done than what we are seeing to exert some of that leverage, and that’s what I’m hoping to hear from Vice President Harris.

You say you want to see an end to the war now. You’ve called for a ceasefire. Are you also in the camp that wants to see an arms embargo as well? And do you think that would bring things to a stop more quickly?

Yes, that is part of the leverage that we have. We can’t continue to supply them with weapons, and then say, you have to end the war. We have to stop supplying the weapons so that the war can end now.

Minnesota had a sizable uncommitted vote in the presidential primary, as did Michigan. What do you say to those voters who may not be convinced by the Harris-Walz ticket, who say they may vote third party or sit it out because the Harris campaign may need them in states like Michigan?

Yeah, and I hope that they know that they need them and try to win their votes by hearing them out. These are people that I represent that lost, you know, 13, 14, some have lost 100 members of their family to this war, and they want to vote for a Democrat.

They don’t want a Trump presidency again. Many of us have suffered through that presidency, and so I do hope that the Harris-Walz ticket does make the case to them and tries to win their votes.

Vice President Harris had a rejoinder at a campaign event to protesters who interrupted her on this issue, basically warning against a Donald Trump presidency. Do you agree with her?

Well, I do agree that we cannot afford to play around and get a Trump presidency. But I do also hope that there is more of an effort to make the case on why they should support the Harris-Walz ticket.

What role will you play in that leading up to the election? Because some would say you’ve had the hardest part of your election season already.

Well, I am going to do everything and anything that I can to make sure that they are successful, not just in Minnesota, but across the country. I have participated as a speaker in multiple campaign events so far, and I look forward to making the case for them to be our next president and vice president.

Going into the Democratic National Convention next week, do you see the Democratic Party unifying when it comes to this issue?

That is my hope. It is going to take unity for us to defeat Trump.