3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Ilhan Omar currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Medicare for All and universal school meals.
Abolishing ICE and being 'a check on this callous administration'.
An end to 'forever wars' and to billionaires buying elections.
Affordable rent, reproductive freedom and action on climate.
Commonsense gun reforms.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Minnesota's 5th District since January 2019.
Won the August 11, 2026 DFL primary with 80.7%; endorsed by Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, the Minnesota DFL and Minnesota AFL-CIO.
A former campaign staffer, Guhaad Hashi Said, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering over a food-programme site, according to Fox News.
Was sprayed with apple cider vinegar by a man at a Minneapolis town hall in January 2026.
Arguments in favor
Voters 'want to vote for something' — Medicare for All, affordable rent, an end to corporate greed — and when ICE targeted the district's communities, she and Minnesotans 'stepped up and organized to protect one another'.
— Ilhan Omar, primary-night statement
She has 'consistently stood up for' her constituents, and her reelection has the backing of Minnesota's senators, governor and attorney general.
— Endorsements from Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, as listed by Wikipedia
Arguments against
'The people of Minnesota have been lied to. They've had their money stolen.' Her district has been the 'epicenter' of the state's fraud scandals and she has done nothing meaningful to stop them.
— John Nagel, Republican opponent, to Fox News Digital
Omar has ties to people implicated in Minnesota's fraud scandals, including a former campaign staffer who pleaded guilty over a food site that billed for far more meals than it served.
— Fox News Digital reporting
What we couldn’t verify
Fox News reported that Omar revised a financial disclosure, but the details were not in the articles read.
No evidence was found in the sources read that Omar was personally involved in any fraud scheme.
Whether the candidates will debate had not been reported.
Eliminating fraud and waste and restoring accountability in Washington.
Cutting taxes and federal spending to fight inflation.
Funding and supporting police and keeping violent criminals off the streets.
Securing the southern border.
Reversing what he calls Democrats' trend toward socialist policies.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Minnesota State Trooper for 30 years; received the State Patrol's Meritorious Service Award.
Former safety consultant to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and instructor at the State Patrol Training Academy.
Ran unsuccessfully for Minnesota House District 46A in 2024, losing to DFL Rep. Larry Kraft.
Won the August 11, 2026 Republican primary with about 52%, defeating Dalia Al-Aqidi, who had been considered the frontrunner.
We found no published arguments for or against this candidate.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Nagel by an opponent, party or established outlet could be found, so no arguments are listed for him (his campaign's case is in his positions). Sources checked: 'Omar campaign responds John Nagel', 'Dalia Al-Aqidi John Nagel primary criticism', Minnesota DFL statements, and Sun Current, Northeaster, Fox News and Arab News coverage. A personal blog post critical of him was found but is not an attributable outlet and was not used.
A comprehensive federal privacy law making privacy the default and restricting surveillance, biometric tracking and data sales.
Term and age limits for Congress and the Supreme Court, tighter insider-trading rules and a ban on partisan gerrymandering.
Higher taxes on billionaires, with the revenue reinvested in housing, health and other public needs.
Stronger unions, more apprenticeships and more housing and domestic production to address affordability.
Universal coverage through a portable public option, and lower drug and out-of-pocket costs.
Restoring pre-viability abortion protections in federal law and opposing near-total bans.
Protecting Social Security without cuts or privatization, and national paid family and medical leave.
Comprehensive gun legislation that preserves Second Amendment rights, and opposition to new large-scale data centres.
Restoring Congress's war powers and conditioning military aid on accountability.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Qualified for the November 3, 2026 ballot by petition.
Has not held elected office.
Publishes a twelve-point platform on his campaign site covering privacy, oversight, anti-corruption, taxes, labour, education, equal opportunity, health care, abortion, Social Security, public safety and foreign policy.
Answered the League of Women Voters' VOTE411 questionnaire and the Scientist Network for Advancing Policy's Stance on Science questionnaire.
Reported no organisational or individual endorsements in his Ballotpedia survey.
Arguments in favor
Jackson brings 'a developed platform' rather than just a personal story, and answered hard questions — including about an earlier Georgia filing — candidly instead of dodging them.
— Tom Akaolisa, editor, MinneapoliMedia candidate interview (September 23, 2026)
Arguments against
His answers 'did not eliminate the question of readiness' for a first-time candidate; his tax proposal does not yet name a threshold or rate, and it is unclear what would make him 'meaningfully Independent rather than functionally another Democrat', since he says he would caucus with House Democrats.
— Tom Akaolisa, editor, MinneapoliMedia candidate interview (September 23, 2026)
What we couldn’t verify
No coverage of his campaign was found in major Minnesota or national news outlets (searched: Star Tribune, MPR News, Sahan Journal, Minnesota Reformer, KSTP, KARE 11, WCCO, FOX 9, Fox News). The community news site MinneapoliMedia published a long interview with him; the Northeaster lists him among the district's candidates.
An earlier 2023 federal filing for a Georgia US Senate seat was amended to this race; MinneapoliMedia reports he says it was never a financed or operating campaign.
His fundraising could not be established: the FEC had no processed financial summary for his committee, and he describes the campaign as mostly self-funded.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Minnesota held its primaries on August 11, 2026; November 3 is the general election, decided by plurality with no runoff. The district uses the map adopted in 2022; no redistricting or map litigation affecting 2026 was found. Three candidates are on the ballot: DFL incumbent Ilhan Omar, who won her primary with 80.7% over Julie Le, Latonya Reeves, Nate Schluter and Abena McKenzie; Republican John Nagel, who won a four-way primary with about 52% over Dalia Al-Aqidi, Angie Windhauser and Abbey Zieska; and independent DeVelle Jackson. Roster from Wikipedia, Ballotpedia, MPR News, ECM Publishers (hometownsource.com) and Fox News primary coverage. The district covers Minneapolis and nearby suburbs including Richfield, Edina, St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope, Brooklyn Center, Columbia Heights and Fridley. It is the most Democratic district in Minnesota; Omar won her last general election by 50 points.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Minnesota ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Minnesota Secretary of State.