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high-dollar run

More than $13 million raised in race for Minnesota’s 5th district

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Antone Melton Meaux and Rep. Ilhan Omar


According to the most recent filings from the Federal Election Commission, candidates for Congress in Minnesota’s 5th district have raised over $13 million ahead of the primary, slated for August 11. 

Out of state: Incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has raised more than $4.2 million total, and has just over $700,000 cash on hand. Democratic primary challenger Antone Melton-Meaux has raised just over $4 million total, but has more than $695,000 remaining in his war chest. The campaign lists an unpaid loan of $75,000 from Melton-Meaux personal funds. Lacy Johnson, who is running in the Republican Party primary for the district, has raised more than $4.2 million, and has just over $850,000 cash on hand.

Pay-out: The Washington Free Beacon reported on Thursday that Omar had paid her husband’s consulting firm more than $600,000 in the first weeks of July. The campaign had previously paid Tim Mynett’s firm $1 million.

Prominent backers: Colorado Governor Jared Polis donated $1,000 to Melton-Meaux’s campaign. Other prominent figures backing the Democratic challenger include former Seagrams CEO Charles Bronfman, who gave $6,600; Baupost Capital founder Seth Klarman, who gave $5,600; president of Kraft Family Philanthropies Josh Kraft, who gave $2,800; and Biden campaign Jewish outreach director Aaron Keyak, who gave $250. Melton-Meaux has also received $100,790 donated through NORPAC and $352,648 donated through Pro-Israel America PAC.

On the attack: Omar launched her first negative ad against Melton-Meaux on Thursday, slamming him as being “a partner at one of the worst union-busting law firms” and accusing him of using “non-disclosure agreements to silence women.” Omar and Melton-Meaux, as well as a third Democratic candidate, John Mason (who has raised around $100,000 total) will take part in a debate on WCCO radio at 1 p.m. local time today. 

Public support: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) in her re-election bid, following her endorsement of Omar earlier this month. “Pelosi views both women as an asset to the caucus,” people close to the House leader told The Washington Post.

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