National and Minnesota Report

Former Minneapolis City Council, School Board member and staunch critic of the Reform the Police Charter Amendment aka Defund the Police, Don Samuels, is preparing to challenge Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN05) for the 5th Congressional seat. We spoke with him and have confirmed his intentions. He is having discussions with community members, engaging them and building support. The most relevant question will be, what does the 5th Congressional District look like. Will the the suburban component of the district be realigned and where will the concentration lie?

Samuels is Jamaican born, and migrant to the US at 20 and has taken a vastly different approach to his integration into American culture than has his presumptive opponent. This will not be the first instance where he has opposed Omar, in 2020 he supported Antone Melton-Meaux, and his opposition to police reform were direct examples. Omar a member of The Squad, has not been the most silent member of the Democratic Conference and has regularly criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA12).

The marriage of Don to his wife Sondra, a power in her own right, is CEO of the Northside Achievement Zone and the dynamic duo, sued the city of Minneapolis three times for failing to meet their required police employment levels.