Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D., Minn.) Republican challenger slammed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for supporting and aligning with the far-left "Squad" member.
"He's behind her 100 percent," Minnesota’s fifth district GOP congressional candidate Dalia Al-Aqidi told Fox News in reference to Walz’s support of Omar. "Look at the ‘Squad,’ the first people, the first politicians who supported his nomination were the far-left, with the progressives posting on social media the photos of Walz."
Al-Aqidi’s remarks come as the Harris campaign tries to paint its vice president as a middle-of-the-road pick, as it leans on his history as football "coach Walz" and public school teacher "Mr. Walz." Al-Aqidi balked at that message, saying he’s "far from a moderate."
"Saying Walz is moderate is just like saying Ilhan Omar is pro-Israel," Al-Aqidi said. Omar has been a longtime detractor of Israel, throwing her support behind a pro-Hamas rally days after the terrorist group's brutal October attack on the Jewish state.
"I think that this is the first time in American history that we have two very far-left progressives on the ticket. This is very dangerous," Al-Aqidi added, echoing widespread Republican sentiments that the Harris-Walz ticket is an ultra-progressive pairing.
During the George Floyd riots of 2020, when Omar and Walz were both holding Minnesota offices, Omar became a vocal supporter of the "defund the police" movement, and Walz delayed the deployment of the National Guard, allowing protesters to brutally vandalize Minneapolis.
"If we look at what happened in our district in Minneapolis, or at least for the past three years, it's because of Governor Walz's policies. It was on his watch when the whole world watched our city being burned, and he didn't do anything."
Omar and Walz have praised each other over the years, and Omar was quick to celebrate her governor’s selection as the vice presidential candidate.
"Our North Star state Governor has signed universal school meals, paid family and sick leave, marijuana legalization, and protections for reproductive rights into law," she posted on X. "Bringing Minnesota nice to the ticket."
Walz’s associations with the "Squad" could spell trouble for the Harris-Walz campaign as "Squad" members lose favor with voters. Two "Squad" members—Rep. Cori Bush (D., Mo.) and Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D., N.Y.)—lost their Democratic primary races this election cycle to pro-Israel challengers.
"It's Walz, baby, let's go!" Bowman shouted in a video posted on social media the day Harris announced Walz as her running mate.
Omar is the last "Squad" member facing a contested primary race this cycle. Before Omar and Al-Aqidi can battle it out for Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District, Omar will have to win her primary on Tuesday against Don Samuels, who she narrowly defeated in 2022.
Fellow "Squad" member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) also came out in support of Walz joining Harris’s campaign, calling the governor a "uniter."
"They were celebrating this, thinking that this is good for our country," Al-Aqidi said. "No, we don't want socialism in our country. It failed in its origins. It's not going to help here."