Don Samuels announces key endorsements in rematch with Rep. Ilhan Omar in Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District

Don Samuels announces key endorsements in rematch with Rep. Ilhan Omar in Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District

MINNEAPOLIS, June 17, 2024–Today, Don Samuels, a candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District, announced two key union endorsements in the lead-up to his Aug.13th Democratic primary contest with Rep. Ilhan Omar. The United Steelworkers and the International Union of Operating Engineers are now officially backing the Samuels campaign.

“Our campaign is not just about winning an election, it’s about making a real difference in the lives of working families. I’m deeply honored to have the support of these unions and their members as we gather momentum for the August 13th primary. Unlike my opponent, who was one of only six Democrats to oppose Joe Biden’s historic infrastructure bill, I’m committed to going to Washington to collaborate with the president and my colleagues in Congress. Together, we can pass legislation that creates jobs and opportunities, not just make a point,” said Samuels.

The United Steelworkers, a union representing 1.2 million members and retirees across the country, play a crucial role in various sectors from traditional industry to education, healthcare, service, and the public sector. This includes District 11, which encompasses all of Minnesota and surrounding states. The International Union of Operating Engineers, with over 400,000 workers in the United States and Canada, including 14,000 members in Local 49, covering Minnesota and the Dakotas, is equally significant. Its members are the backbone of our transportation systems, commercial and housing buildings, and the public sector, ensuring the maintenance of our roads and streets, among other vital roles.

Business manager Jason George with the Operating Engineers’ Local 49, said “We support Don because our members deserve and expect representation that is focused on improving the lives of working people instead of political grandstanding and division. When Rep. Omar voted against President Biden’s historic infrastructure package, it sent a clear message to our members that it was time for new leadership in the Fifth District.”

Samuels, a Jamaican immigrant, spent three terms on the Minneapolis City Council and one on the Minneapolis Public Schools Board. He’s in a rematch with Omar after his 2022 challenge made history by coming within just 2.1% of upsetting a party-endorsed incumbent. Samuels and his wife, Sondra, have committed their lives to living in north Minneapolis’s Jordan neighborhood, where they’ve worked shoulder-to-shoulder with their neighbors for improved public safety and opportunity for everyone in their community. For more information, visit www.donsamuels.com. 

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PO Box 50024 Minneapolis, MN 55405

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