A Senate seat is vacant in Minnesota, and several political analysts anticipate that Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar will compete for it.
The contentious legislator surprised them by declaring her intention to seek reelection for her existing position in the House rather than pursue a Senate seat.
The representative’s path is considerably easier, since she just needs to secure the votes of her predominantly Somali-American constituency to retain her position, without the necessity of appealing to a wider demographic inside the state to ascend to the Senate.
“At a time when our rights are under attack, it is more important than ever to fight back against the chaos, corruption, and callousness of the Trump Administration,” Omar said in announcing her intention to seek reelection, MPR News reported.
“I am excited to announce I am running for reelection for Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District to keep standing up for our rights in the face of authoritarianism,” she added.
“In Minnesota, we know that organized people will always beat organized money. Our campaign is ready to build on our successful grassroots organizing efforts to have a record turnout for the midterms and help win back the majority,” she said.
The Senate opportunity became available when Democratic Sen. Tina Smith announced that she would be retiring from the chamber.
“I’ve decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 2026. This job has been the honor of a lifetime. For the rest of my term, I’ll work as hard as I can for Minnesotans and our country,” she said in a post on X in February.
“This job has been the honor of a lifetime. For the rest of my term, I’ll work as hard as I can for Minnesotans and our country,” the senator said in a video.
“After 20 years of hard and rewarding work in the public sector, I’m ready to spend more time with my family,” Smith added.
Omar’s announcement occurs amid speculation that her “Squad” colleague, New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, may contest Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer for his Senate position.
A survey by Data for Progress indicates that Ocasio-Cortez is ahead of Schumer by 19 points in a hypothetical 2028 Democratic primary contest. Despite Schumer maintaining his position as the leader of his party in the Senate, his support among the party’s base seems to be swiftly diminishing.
From March 26 to 31, 767 probable Democratic primary voters in New York were surveyed on their support in a hypothetical primary contest between Schumer and Ocasio-Cortez. The findings were notable: 55% supported Ocasio-Cortez, whilst just 36% selected Schumer.
The findings were not aberrations. The poll indicated that Schumer possessed the highest disapproval rating among all evaluated Democratic personalities, while Ocasio-Cortez was among the most favored, behind only Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
The deterioration occurs at a politically precarious juncture. Schumer recently allied with Senate Republicans in endorsing a budget plan negotiated with President Trump, eliciting significant criticism from progressives who contend that Democrats ought to adopt a more assertive position against the president’s increasing political power.
An overwhelming 84% of respondents think that Washington Democrats are insufficiently opposing Trump and the MAGA movement, a stance that acts as a significant warning for establishment Democrats.
Ocasio-Cortez enjoys support from nearly all significant demographic groups. She holds a 50-point advantage among voters under 45 and an 8-point edge among those aged 45 and older, surpassing Schumer in support among white, Black, and Latino voters. She surpasses him in both gender and educational attainment, with Schumer’s sole edge arising from self-identified moderates. Survey participants were presented with biographical information of each candidate.
Ocasio-Cortez’s favorability increased from +59 to +69 following voters’ review of her biography, 2018 primary triumph, and policy stances. Schumer’s favorability rose from +26 to +47; but, this enhancement did not alter the head-to-head contest.
