What Went Down In Elections In Minnesota, Wisconsin, Vermont And Connecticut

It’s a fascinating question, Alex. Omar has had some high-profile gaffes — like last year when she was criticized by fellow Democratic House members for a tweet that appeared to compare the U.S. and Israel to the Taliban and Hamas — but I wonder if it’s also related to the fact that it’s just really hard to be a Muslim woman in elected office in the U.S., particularly one who, like Omar, wears a hijab. Maybe that makes her more vulnerable to challenges generally?

Alex, it’s possible Samuels is a stronger candidate than your average primary challenger — and Omar might be weaker than your average incumbent (thus why she keeps attracting opposition). Samuels has deep ties to the community as a former city councillor and former school board member. And the issue of policing may have given him an opening, as he was a prominent opponent of Question 2, the failed city ballot measure last year that would have replaced the police department in Minneapolis with a Department of Public Safety. Omar backed that measure. She’s also had her controversial moments, such as her past comments about Israel and Palestine.

Does anyone have any theories as to why Omar is performing so poorly when other members of The Squad either 1) don’t have serious or any primary challengers (i.e., Reps. Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley), or 2) have handily defeated their challengers (i.e., Reps. Bush and Tlaib)?