Minnesota 5th District
Ilhan Omar (D) holds this seat and is running again. 3 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Ilhan Omar
Democrat · holds this seat today
FLiberty Score FOn the liberty side in 17 of 123 votes and bills.
Raised $8,247,982 since January 2025: 96% from people, 3% transfers and other income, 1% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
John Nagel
Republican · retired Minnesota State Patrol lieutenant
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 5 principles. Graded on what Nagel has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Nagel.
Raised $1,126,115 since January 2025: 100% from people. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: John Nagel. John Nagel: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Ilhan Omar: F, 10 out of 100 from recorded votes.
Voting in Minnesota: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
John Nagel, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Nagel, so the grade above comes from this list: what Nagel has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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In a campaign statement he calls Hasan Piker a Hamas-supporting terrorist booster and criticises Ilhan Omar for appearing with him.
“Hasan Piker, the Hamas-supporting terrorist booster”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Condemning a supporter of Hamas and the people who appear with him is with liberty on tyranny.
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Says he will support allies and deter enemies, without naming a country or alliance.
“supporting our allies, deterring our enemies, and restoring strong leadership on the world stage”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No ally, Ukraine, Taiwan or NATO is named, so it does not settle the measure.
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Asked whether the US relationship with Israel is important, he called Israel an ally and the only stable democracy in the Middle East.
“Yes, Israel is first an Aly, they are the only stable democratic country in the Middle east.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating Israel as an ally follows the with-liberty side of the free nations test.
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Says rights including free speech are under attack and he will stand up for constitutional freedoms, without naming censorship or a policy.
“From the Second Amendment to free speech, our rights are under attack.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No censorship, platform pressure or speech law is named, so it does not settle the measure.
-
Says the Democratic trend toward socialist policies is dangerous and must be reversed.
“The current Democrat trend toward socialist policies rooted in Marxist ideals is dangerous and must be reversed.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
He says no to socialism.
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Says he will cut taxes, without naming a tax.
“I will cut taxes, fight inflation, eliminate fraud and waste, and restore accountability in Washington.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Lower taxes with no tax named is unclear for anyone.
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He said biological men have no place in women's locker rooms.
“Biological Men have no place in woman's locker rooms.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's spaces female follows the with-liberty side of the equal rights test.
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Defends federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota against a comparison to the Holocaust.
“Governor Tim Walz's decision to compare federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota to Anne Frank and the Holocaust is dangerous, disgusting, and profoundly irresponsible,”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Defending enforcement of immigration law against attack is with liberty on borders.
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Says he will fight to lock down the border and supports legal immigration.
“I will fight to make sure our border is locked down so tightly that Democrats can never tear it open again.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
He calls for securing the border, which is the with side.
Also on the ballot
DeVelle Jackson (Independent).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
Minnesota 5th District
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