MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a prominent member of the progressive House Democrats, will face a strong challenge in the upcoming Democratic primary for the 2024 House elections in Minnesota. Former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels announced his candidacy on Sunday, aiming to unseat Omar after coming close to victory in the previous election.

Omar, a Somali American and Muslim, has won reelection twice despite facing criticism for her comments in her first term that were widely seen as invoking antisemitic tropes and suggesting Jewish Americans have divided loyalties. However, her condemnation of the Israeli government's handling of its war against Hamas has renewed criticism against her.

Don Samuels, a Jamaican-born candidate, believes his narrow loss in the previous primary demonstrated Omar's vulnerability. Samuels claims that he could have won if the general election had taken place at a later date. In the 2022 general election, Omar won with 74% of the vote over a relatively unknown Republican candidate.

One of the major issues in the previous election was the future of policing, particularly in light of George Floyd's murder by a former Minneapolis police officer in 2020. Omar, along with other progressives, criticized former President Barack Obama for his stance on the "defund the police" movement. In contrast, Samuels, a centrist candidate, was actively involved in opposing a city ballot proposal in 2021 that aimed to replace the police force with a revamped public safety agency.

Samuels believes that public safety will be a significant issue in the upcoming election, as the impact of the George Floyd tragedy and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the community. He emphasizes the need to address safety concerns in order to attract investment and ensure the well-being of residents.

In response to Samuels' challenge, Omar issued a written statement highlighting her achievements in Congress and for her district, including her work on combating climate change, protecting abortion rights, and securing affordable housing for veterans. She criticized Samuels for allegedly accepting contributions from far-right donors and political action committees.

The war in the Middle East has also become a divisive issue within the Democratic Party and has influenced House primaries. Omar has been critical of both Hamas and Israel's military response, while focusing on the plight of civilians in the Gaza Strip. She has condemned the surge of intimidation and violence against Muslim and Jewish communities in the U.S.

It remains to be seen how the conflict in the Middle East will impact an overwhelmingly Democratic district that encompasses Minneapolis, suburbs, and a sizable Somali Muslim population. St. Louis Park, known for its strong Jewish community, is also part of the district.

Samuels believes that the war will be a significant concern for voters, criticizing Omar for her voting record on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and her support for sanctions against Israel. He argues that Omar's actions have frightened the Jewish community, warning against the rise of antisemitism during times of national crisis.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has actively sought a credible challenger to Omar. However, Samuels claims that he was not recruited by AIPAC. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries publicly showed support for Omar, while a super PAC affiliated with AIPAC spent approximately $350,000 against her in the 2022 election.

Currently, the other declared candidates in the Democratic primary are Sarah Gad, a Minneapolis attorney and daughter of Egyptian immigrants, and military veteran Tim Peterson. The only Republican candidate is Dalia Al-Aqidi, an Iraqi American journalist who identifies as a secular Muslim and accuses Omar of sympathizing with terrorists and supporting Hamas.

The race for the 2024 House elections in Minnesota's Democratic primary is expected to be highly contested, with Rep. Ilhan Omar facing a determined challenge from Don Samuels and other candidates vying for the opportunity to represent the heavily Democratic district. The outcome will shape the future of the district and have implications for the Democratic Party as a whole.