Ilhan Omar responds to 2026 Senate run rumors with a different announcement

High-profile “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar effectively closed nan doorway connected rumors she would activity Minnesota’s unfastened Senate spot successful 2026, pinch an announcement launching a House re-election bid.

“At a clip erstwhile our authorities are nether attack, it is much important than ever to conflict backmost against nan chaos, corruption, and callousness of nan Trump Administration,” nan Minneapolis Democrat told Minnesota Public Radio.

“In Minnesota, we cognize that organized group will ever hit organized money. Our run is fresh to build connected our successful grassroots organizing efforts to person a grounds turnout for nan midterms and thief triumph backmost nan majority,” she said.

She won her past race for nan 5th Congressional District spot handily, defeating Iraq-born Republican journalist Dalia al-Aqidi by astir 50 points.

Omar had been 1 of respective names bandied astir arsenic imaginable successors to Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., who announced past period she would not activity re-election.

Almost immediately, chap Democrat Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan threw her chapeau successful nan ring, while Omar and different apical imaginable candidates remained silent.

One of Omar’s chap “Squad” members, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has been rumored arsenic a imaginable 2028 superior force to Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer.

Ilhan Omar announced that she would not beryllium moving for nan Senate successful 2026. Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire / SplashNews.com

In February, Smith – who was primitively appointed by then-Gov. Mark Dayton to win Sen. Al Franken aft his resignation complete intersexual misconduct allegations – said successful February that she was fresh to walk much clip pinch her family.

“This determination is not political, it is wholly personal, but it’s not mislaid connected maine that our state is successful request of beardown progressive activity correct now, possibly much than ever,” Smith said.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz besides declined to activity Smith’s seat, leaving his lawman – Flanagan – arsenic nan highest-profile Democrat successful nan title to date.

Omar had been 1 of respective names bandied astir arsenic imaginable successors to Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., who announced past period she would not activity re-election. Getty Images

“At this constituent successful time, I don’t want to person my thumb connected nan standard successful immoderate way,” Walz said successful February.

“I conscionable cognize we’ve sewage a heavy bench. We’ve sewage bully folks,” said Walz, who whitethorn instead consider a 3rd term in St. Paul.

If elected, Flanagan – who is Ojibwe – would beryllium only nan 5th U.S. legislator of Native American practice and nan 2nd presently successful office, alongside Oklahoma Republican Markwayne Mullin.

On nan Republican side, retired Marine and Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze announced a bid and called it his “most important ngo of them all.”

Additionally, erstwhile Sacramento Kings subordinate Royce White announced his ain bid. White antecedently mislaid nan 2024 GOP Senate primary.

The title to win Smith will beryllium nan Land of 10,000 Lakes’ first unfastened Senate title since 2006 – erstwhile Dayton declined to tally for re-election and Sen. Amy Klobuchar defeated then-Rep. Mark Kennedy, R-Minn., by astir 19 points.