Squad member Ilhan Omar faces VERY tight race to keep her seat: Democratic Rep. who has heavily criticized Israel is tied with her Minnesota primary challenger, new poll shows

Rep. Ilhan Omar's Democratic primary challenger is tied with the progressive squad member in a rematch race in the latest poll and is campaigning as a progressive who can work with President Joe Biden.

Former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels is again challenging squad member Omar in the primary election on August 13 after coming within just 2.1 percent of the congresswoman in 2022.

It comes as Omar and other so-called squad members face backlash for their push for constituents to protest vote against Biden in the Democratic primary for backing Israel in its war with Hamas terrorists operating out of Palestinian enclave of Gaza. 

Both Omar and Samuels earned 41 percent support among 519 Democratic voters in Minnesota's 5th congressional district, according to the Victoria Research poll released by Samuels' campaign.

A new poll shows Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is tied at 41 percent against Democratic primary challenger Don Samuels – who came within 3,000 votes of the congresswoman in their match-up in 2022

Former Minneapolis City Council Member Don Samuels (left) came within nearly 2 percent of Rep. Ilhan Omar (right) in his primary challenge against her in 2022

The other 18 percent are those who are either undecided or are planning to vote for an option other than Omar or Samuels in the primary over the summer.

The campaign for Samuels, who says he is a progressive alternative who can actually work with Democratic President Biden, released the polling data on Monday after it was taken February 20-27.

'This poll supports what we already know: We can beat Rep. Ilhan Omar,' Samuels said in a statement on the results. 'We talk to exhausted voters around the district every day on the campaign trail, and we hear over and over again how sick and tired they are of the division and dysfunction that define Washington today.'

'Sadly, many feel that the congresswoman is contributing to this dysfunction and are ready for new leadership focused on building common ground to deliver results for families and working people in the Fifth Congressional District and around the country.'

Samuels' campaign notes that Omar 'encouraged an uncommitted vote in Minnesota's Presidential primary and did not even bother to vote' on Super Tuesday last month.

In the 2022 Democratic House primary, Samuels lost to Omar by just 2,466 votes – or just over 2 percent.

Omar is the first Somali-American elected to Congress and the first woman to wear a hijab on the House floor. She is also part of the so-called squad of progressive lawmakers first elected to Congress in the 2018 midterm elections, which includes Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.).

Reps. Omar and Tlaib, who is Palestinian-American, both pushed for progressive voters in their states to vote 'uncommitted' in their respective Democratic presidential primaries last month. 

The effort was in protest of President Biden's backing for Israel in its war with Hamas terrorists operating out of Palestinian enclave of Gaza. 

Omar has faced backlash for her staunch pro-Palestine stance and her push for voters to protest Joe Biden's pro-Israel policies by voting 'uncommitted' in the 2024 presidential primary. Pictured: Omar talks with fellow progressive squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who is Palestinian

'If Don gets his message out - that he is a progressive and pragmatic alternative to Rep. Omar without the divisive comments and history of taking unpopular votes - Don starts this race tied, 41% Samuels to 41% Omar,' the candidate's Campaign Manager Joe Radinovich explained.

'These results outline Rep. Omar's vulnerability with her Democratic base in the Fifth Congressional District,' he added.

Radinovich said: 'CD5 voters are frustrated by Rep. Omar's tendency to vote against legislation our district supports and align herself with the most extreme voices in Congress who stall needed progress.'

Omar was one of the six Democrats who voted against Biden's bipartisan infrastructure deal.

The Victoria Research poll has a margin of error of 4.4 percent, but in a poll just two weeks before the 2022 election the survey correctly predicted the outcome within 3 percent.