Republican ex-trooper John Nagel vows to oust Ilhan Omar over fraud claims

John Nagel, a lifelong Minnesotan and former state trooper, won the Republican primary for the heavily Democratic 5th Congressional District and is now challenging Rep. Ilhan Omar. In interviews, Nagel argues that Minnesotans feel deceived and financially harmed, and he pledges to restore accountability by targeting fraud that he says has flourished in the district. He points to the guilty plea of former Omar staffer Guhaad Hashi Said for a $3 million food-program fraud and the conviction of Safari Restaurant co-owner Salim Said for receiving over $16 million in fraudulent child-nutrition funds.

Omar has called these accusations “flat-out false.” Nagel also seeks to attract voters beyond the GOP base, including members of the Somali community who he claims are growing disillusioned. He emphasizes issues such as declining jobs, poor schools, and high taxes, framing his campaign as a bid for normalcy. Despite the challenge, the Cook Political Report continues to label the race as “Solid D.”