In the highly anticipated Democratic primary race for Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, a group of disparate activists has emerged, using a WhatsApp group called "Zionists for Don Samuels Against Ilhan Omar" to fill the void left by national pro-Israel groups. This comes as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has taken center stage in outside spending during Democratic primaries.

In the 2022 showdown between Don Samuels and Ilhan Omar, Samuels lost by a slim margin of just 2 percentage points, with the focus primarily on policing. However, this year, the debate has shifted to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While major pro-Israel groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) have yet to engage in the Samuels-Omar race, activists within the WhatsApp group have taken on the task.

Campaign finance laws prohibit coordination between candidates' campaigns and outside spending groups like super PACs. Nevertheless, members of the "Zionists for Don Samuels" group, who are spread across various locations including Minneapolis, New York, and Puerto Rico, have rallied together to raise funds for Samuels' campaign.

One prominent participant in the WhatsApp group, Michael Sinensky, has reportedly worked with Make a Difference MN to raise over $120,000 for Samuels since July 31. Sinensky, who justifies support for "alt right Christian Neo-Nazis", claimed to have stepped in to fill the void left by AIPAC's lack of support for Samuels. He accused Omar of antisemitism and expressed a strong commitment to fighting threats against Israel and Jewish communities.

While Samuels' campaign fundraising has trailed behind Omar's, his recent surge in donations following Rep. Cori Bush's primary defeat has provided a much-needed boost. In just 24 hours after Bush's loss, almost $100,000 was raised for the Samuels campaign, according to a screenshot shared in the WhatsApp chat.

Samuels' campaign manager, Chris Radinovich, emphasized that the campaign has no involvement with any outside groups, noting that coordination between campaigns and such organizations is prohibited under campaign finance laws. Furthermore, Sinensky clarified that he himself is not affiliated with the Samuels campaign but rather rallied friends and family to donate.

The WhatsApp group's origins can be traced back to October 2023 when it was initially formed as "Jews for Ritchie Torres," a group supporting the Democratic representative known for his staunch support of Israel. However, the group name changed during the summer to "Jews Against the Squad" and eventually to "Zionists for Don Samuels Against Ilhan Omar."

It is important to note that while some participants in the WhatsApp group have shown support for former President Donald Trump and other Republicans, others are regular Democratic donors who express disillusionment with the party's stance on Israel.

As the race for Minnesota's 5th Congressional District heats up, the activism and financial support from this diverse group are bringing attention to the clash between Samuels and Omar. While pro-Israel groups have yet to intervene, this grassroots movement is determined to make its mark in the Democratic primary with hopes of defeating the incumbent and ushering in a new era for the district's representation.