Ilhan Omar is seeking another term representing the 5th District, and this time she's got four fellow DFLers on the primary ballot trying to stop her. The district runs through Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, St. Louis Park, Richfield, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Golden Valley, New Hope, Fridley and part of Edina, and the primary is set for Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Omar points to roughly $65 million in federal funding she says she's brought home to district projects, and is campaigning on universal school meals, Medicare for All and taking on "corporate greed." She locked up the DFL's own endorsement in May, when delegates at a convention at St. Louis Park High School backed her by acclamation after fellow candidate Latonya Reeves stepped aside from seeking the party nod. Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison both spoke in her favor, along with U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.
That doesn't mean the primary is a formality — Reeves and three others are still on the ballot. Julie Trang Le, an attorney who has worked immigration cases and served as an Assistant City Attorney, is running on the Blue Line Extension, affordable housing and replacing lead water lines; she's also worked as a federal prosecutor, including a stint as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney during Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration enforcement push that ran through the Twin Cities from December 2025 into February 2026. Reeves is a probation officer and union president for an AFSCME Council 5 local. Abena A. McKenzie, a licensed practical nurse who specializes in trach care, is campaigning on STEM apprenticeships and family counseling programs. Nate Schluter rounds out the DFL field.
On the Republican side, John Nagel, a 30-year Minnesota State Patrol veteran from St. Louis Park, is pitching infrastructure repair over new projects, tax relief and a property tax freeze for seniors. Dalia Al-Aqidi is also on the GOP primary ballot.
One more name will show up on the November ballot no matter what happens in August: independent candidate DeVelle L. Jackson faces no primary opponent and advances automatically to the general election.