Ilhan Omar wins fifth term in US House despite election controversy
US Representative Ilhan Omar has secured a fifth consecutive term in Congress, defeating Republican challenger John Nagel in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, according to projections, as she overcame a campaign marked by political scrutiny and controversy.
Omar, a Democrat who first entered Congress in 2019, has represented the district since winning the 2018 midterm elections. Her latest victory extends her tenure in a constituency that has consistently supported her.
Omar was born in Somalia and arrived in the United States as a refugee. She made history in 2018 as one of the first two Muslim women elected to the US House of Representatives and has since become a prominent voice on immigration and progressive issues.
Her re-election campaign came amid renewed attention over federal investigations into her immigration history and financial disclosures.
The supplied account says federal agents searched her Washington, DC, residence on October 12, 2026, as part of an investigation into questions surrounding her immigration documentation.
Omar has denied wrongdoing and described the allegations as politically motivated. She has not been charged with a crime, and the allegations remain unproven.
In an interview with The Nation, Omar described herself as a woman, immigrant, refugee and Muslim who would not be intimidated into silence.
During the campaign, she returned to Minnesota and engaged with voters, including members of the Somali-American community in Minneapolis. She also maintained an active online campaign and sought financial support from her supporters.
In the final week before the election, Omar campaigned alongside progressive political commentator Hasan Piker during his visit to Minneapolis.
Her projected victory marks another term for the Minnesota Democrat, who will continue representing the district as she advances her political priorities in Congress.
CBS News projected Omar’s victory on November 3, while the Minnesota Star Tribune also reported that she had won a fifth term.