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Dalia al-Aqidi

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Dalia al-Aqidi
Image of Dalia al-Aqidi

Republican Party

Candidate, U.S. House Minnesota District 5

Elections and appointments
Next election

November 3, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

Institute of Fine Arts, Baghdad, 1988

Personal
Religion
Muslim
Profession
Advocacy
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Dalia al-Aqidi (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. She declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]

Biography

Dalia al-Aqidi was born in Baghdad, Iraq. She earned an undergraduate degree from the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1987. Her career experience includes working as a journalist, advocate, activist, and geopolitical analyst.[1] Al-Aqidi has been affiliated with the American Center for Counter Extremism and the Center for Security Policy.[2]

Elections

2026

See also: Minnesota's 5th Congressional District election, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 5

Incumbent Ilhan Omar and Dalia al-Aqidi are running in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 5 on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Omar (D)
Image of Dalia al-Aqidi
Dalia al-Aqidi (R)

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

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2024

See also: Minnesota's 5th Congressional District election, 2024

Minnesota's 5th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Democratic primary)

Minnesota's 5th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 5

Incumbent Ilhan Omar defeated Dalia al-Aqidi in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 5 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Omar (D)
 
74.4
 
261,066
Image of Dalia al-Aqidi
Dalia al-Aqidi (R) Candidate Connection
 
24.6
 
86,213
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.1
 
3,768

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 351,047
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 5

Incumbent Ilhan Omar defeated Don Samuels, Nate Schluter, and Abena McKenzie in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 5 on August 13, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Omar
 
56.2
 
67,926
Image of Don Samuels
Don Samuels
 
42.9
 
51,839
Image of Nate Schluter
Nate Schluter
 
0.5
 
575
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Abena McKenzie
 
0.4
 
461

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 120,801
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 5

Dalia al-Aqidi advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 5 on August 13, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dalia al-Aqidi
Dalia al-Aqidi Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
3,380

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 3,380
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for al-Aqidi in this election.

2020

See also: Minnesota's 5th Congressional District election, 2020

Minnesota's 5th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 11 Democratic primary)

Minnesota's 5th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 11 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 5

Incumbent Ilhan Omar defeated Lacy Johnson, Mickey Moore, Toya Woodland, and Ervan Katari Miller in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 5 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Omar (D)
 
64.3
 
255,924
Image of Lacy Johnson
Lacy Johnson (R) Candidate Connection
 
25.8
 
102,878
Image of Mickey Moore
Mickey Moore (Legal Marijuana Now Party) Candidate Connection
 
9.5
 
37,979
Image of Toya Woodland
Toya Woodland (G) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
34
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Ervan Katari Miller (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
0
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.4
 
1,448

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 398,263
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 5

Incumbent Ilhan Omar defeated Antone Melton-Meaux, John Mason, Daniel Patrick McCarthy, and Les Lester in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 5 on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Omar
 
58.2
 
103,535
Image of Antone Melton-Meaux
Antone Melton-Meaux
 
38.5
 
68,524
Image of John Mason
John Mason Candidate Connection
 
1.5
 
2,721
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Daniel Patrick McCarthy
 
1.1
 
1,901
Image of Les Lester
Les Lester Candidate Connection
 
0.7
 
1,267

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 177,948
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 5

Lacy Johnson defeated Danielle Stella and Dalia al-Aqidi in the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 5 on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Lacy Johnson
Lacy Johnson Candidate Connection
 
76.6
 
9,188
Image of Danielle Stella
Danielle Stella
 
18.6
 
2,236
Image of Dalia al-Aqidi
Dalia al-Aqidi Candidate Connection
 
4.7
 
568

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 11,992
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 5

Mickey Moore advanced from the Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 5 on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Mickey Moore
Mickey Moore Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
940

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 940
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Dalia al-Aqidi has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Dalia al-Aqidi asking her to fill out the survey. If you are Dalia al-Aqidi, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

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You can ask Dalia al-Aqidi to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing info@daliaforcongress.org.

Twitter
Email

2024

Candidate Connection

Dalia al-Aqidi completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by al-Aqidi's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I'm a born fighter, a freedom activist, geopolitical analyst, and award-winning journalist and I've been been proactive in fighting terrorism and oppression my entire adult life—whether it be through my reporting or through my work with U.S. forces in Iraq. I'm currently the Executive Director of the nonprofit American Center for Counter Extremism, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Security Policy, and the Minnesota GOP-endorsed candidate for U.S. Congress in MN-5
  • I'll work to LOWER inflation, government spending, and taxes.
  • I'll work to MAKE Minneapolis a safe place to live, work, and visit by standing with law enforcement.
  • I'll work to SECURE our border.
Inflation & Cost of Living

Public Safety & Crime
Educational Freedom & School Choice
Trade & Energy
Border Security & Immigration

National Defense & Foreign Affairs
I admire quite a few Members of Congress who are honest, forthright, and unafraid to challenge the media.
Red Dawn. It shows the best of America - resourcefulness, patriotism, and never giving up.
Most of all, integrity. I believe, also, that elected officials have a responsibility to be patriots - that is, to love and revere the principles of America's founding. If you are in government and you're at war with these principles, or you think they're unjust or bigoted, you should not be serving in office.
Leadership, Commitment, Intelligence, Courage.
To represent their constituents in Congress, and to reflect their concerns.
I would like to leave a legacy of supporting America, and the values and principles that made it great. I would also like to be a positive example of a patriotic, grateful immigrant fighting for these values.
I was 13 when Egyptian President Awar el-Sadat was assassinated by the Muslim Brotherhood on October 6th, 1981. The terrorist group killed him for his vision for a better future by seeking peace with Israel. That's when I realized that the forces of radicalism are against freedom and peace. We must never let them win.
Until more recently, I've never done anything other than journalism. It remains my passion.
Samuel Huntington's much misunderstood Clash of Civilizations. It points to the fact that, contrary to the soothing things the media likes to tell us, there are many differences when it comes to the fault-lines of culture.
President Biden - as portrayed by mainstream media until recently. [/sarc]

Or Iron Man: smart, strong, witty, and with a great heart.
Covering the world of international politics, it takes all the strength you can muster sometimes to not become jaded and cynical. In addition to so much corruption, there is ideological extremism. I feel blessed to be an immigrant, because I never take America for granted - it's so much more difficult, and more cynical outside this country. When I say that I'm fighting for the American dream, it's because I have never taken it granted.
Because of its small voting districts and turnover every two years, the House is the chamber that's always been the closest to the people. It is responsive to the way Americans feel politically.
Yes, but one doesn't necessarily have to have experience being an office-holder as a profession. The worlds of policy or media are inter-connected with politics.
Over the next decade, we will be dealing with ever-worsening political discourse. The civility in politics comes at times when there's relative agreement about the most fundamental things. Now, we're in a period where there's far less agreement about the nature of America than there used to be.
Yes. While it seems that the election never stops, it's important to maintain the 2-year term because it keeps the House responsive to voters.
I support them. Our Founders didn't imagine a use for professional politicians. The more time they spend in office, the less they can relate to their voters.
I admire quite a few Members of Congress who are honest, forthright, and unafraid to challenge the media.
I'm constantly meeting voters on the street and, especially, the Uber drivers. The thing I hear most often is disgust about the ideological extremism of Ilhan Omar. People are disappointed at her divisiveness, more than anything.
Yes, compromise is often necessary in politics.
The U.S. Congress controls our country's purse strings. I will watch our spending like an hawk and I'd like to see every dollar spent offset by a dollar cut, when possible.
The Minnesota Republican Party
Foreign Affairs

Homeland Security

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

al-Aqidi’s campaign website stated the following:

“

Issues
INFLATION & COST OF LIVING
With inflation at a 40-year high, the dollar is worth less, buys little, and is stretched too thin. The burden of these price increases is falling on the backs of the American people—middle America. We need smaller government, less spending, and lower taxes. We have to make it easier for individuals and small businesses to compete and succeed, rather than punishing success and stifling innovation in pursuit of a Marxist or socialist vision of equity. We also can’t keep printing money and pretend it won’t drive up inflation. The federal government must learn to live within its means.

PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIME
We cannot allow crime, violence, and carjackings to become commonplace as they are now. I will work to re-build our police force, provide common sense solutions to crime, support first responders, and commit to making CD-5 and Minneapolis a safe place to live, work, and visit. I will also fight to end the two-tiered politicization of our justice system.

EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM
No investment is more important than our children. When it comes to our youngest generation, the only special interest group that matters are the children and their parents. I’m for school choice, increasing graduation rates, and eliminating Critical Race Theory from classrooms. We can’t continue to produce new generations of kids that are taught to hate America, which begins early in too many classrooms. Parents should also have a say on what their children are taught. Our children need quality education to prepare them to compete and build a promising future.

TRADE & ENERGY
Energy security is national security and the more stable and independent America is, the stronger we are on the world stage. I will work to regain America’s position as a net total energy exporter to the rest of the world, allow the Keystone XL pipeline to be completed, and end the bureaucratic freeze the government has on drilling on federal lands.

BORDER SECURITY & IMMIGRATION<br. Secure borders don’t just allow us to take care of our own citizens—they allow citizens, through their votes, to have a voice in how they are governed. When the United States allows a vetted, legal immigrant to pass through its secure border, that is a gift, and a great privilege. I would know. I came here legally. Illegal immigration is an affront to the rule of law, a slap in the face to those of us who follow the rules, a threat to our nation’s security, and an invitation to an ever-more balkanized society. This has to stop.

NATIONAL DEFENSE & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
We should always be guided by what is in America’s interest. We benefitted from the world order we helped shape since the end of World War II and the end of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. We were the world’s defense against fascism and dictatorships. The global challenges have shifted since then.

The world order we helped ensure requires our allies to do their part and not duck their responsibility, believing that we put their priorities first. We must have that conversation with our allies without losing sight of the fact that they are our friends and we share common values. We must embrace our global position and act as a leader, rather than shrink the responsibility our leadership bestowed. [3]

”
—Dalia al-Aqidi’s campaign website (2024)[4]

2020

Candidate Connection

Dalia al-Aqidi completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by al-Aqidi's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I am an award-winning international journalist, for over three decades ago, covering foreign affairs, terrorism, radical Islamism, and terrorist groups. I was born in Iraq, and my family and I fled the country in 1988 due to harsh persecution by Saddam Hussein. When I took my citizenship oath, I took it seriously and try to live it out every day. I've been fighting terrorism and oppression my entire adult life-whether it be through reporting, often putting me in war zones and terrorist attacks locations, or through my work with U.S. forces in Iraq. Being a Muslim, I believe that dangerous Islamists wishing to do harm to the U.S. are entering our country every day and that it is Congress' responsibility to stop them.
  • To challenge and stop Islamism, anti-Semitism, and anti-Americanism.
  • To represent all the constituents of the 5th District, regardless of their gender, race, or politics.
  • To ensure safety, a vibrant and growing economy, affordable health care and education for the post Covid-19 era.
Intelligence and counter-terrorism.

Foreign affairs.
Homeland security.
Public housing.

Economy.
President Ronald Reagan was the voice of modern conservatism. I'm inspired by his presidency, speeches, and his dreams of how America should be. He knew the foreign threats and stood strong against tyrannies and oppression.
Red Dawn. It shows the best of America - resourcefulness, patriotism, and never giving up.
Most of all, integrity. I believe, also, that elected officials have a responsibility to be patriots - that is, to love and revere the principles of America's founding. If you are in government and you're at war with these principles, or you think they're unjust or bigoted, you should not be serving in office.
I have intellectual curiosity, as well as an empathetic way of relating to people.
To represent their constituents in Congress, and to reflect their concerns.
I would like to leave a legacy of supporting America, and the values and principles that made it great. I would also like to be a positive example of a patriotic, grateful immigrant fighting for these values.
I was 13 when Egyptian President Awar el-Sadat was assassinated by the Muslim Brotherhood on October 6th, 1981. The terrorist group killed him for his vision for a better future by seeking peace with Israel. That's when I realized that the forces of radicalism are against freedom and peace. Sadat was, and still is, one of my heroes.
I've never done anything other than journalism. It is my passion.
Samuel Huntington's much misunderstood Clash of Civilizations. It points to the fact that, contrary to the soothing things the media likes to tell us, there are many differences when it comes to the fault-lines of culture.
I'd like to be Iron Man: smart, strong, witty, and with a great heart.
Prince's "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" from 1999.
Covering the world of international politics, it takes all the strength you can muster sometimes to not become jaded and cynical. In addition to so much corruption, there is ideological extremism. I feel blessed to be an immigrant, because I never take America for granted - it's so much more difficult, and more cynical outside this country.
Because of its small voting districts and turnover every two years, the House is the chamber that's always been the closest to the people. It is responsive to the way Americans feel politically.
Yes, but one doesn't necessarily have to have experience being an office-holder as a profession. The worlds of policy or media are inter-connected with politics.
Over the next decade, we will be dealing with ever-worsening political discourse. The civility in politics comes at times when there's relative agreement about the most fundamental things. Now, we're in a period where there's far less agreement about the nature of America than there used to be.
Foreign Affairs

Homeland Security

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Yes. While it seems that the election never stops, it's important to maintain the 2-year term because it keeps the House responsive to voters.
I support them. Our Founders didn't imagine a use for professional politicians. The more time they spend in office, the less they can relate to their voters.
No. I want to be free to be vocal with my message, and to represent the people of my district.
I admire quite a few Members of Congress who are honest, forthright, and unafraid to challenge the media.
I'm constantly meeting voters on the street and, especially, the Uber drivers. The thing I hear most often is disgust about the ideological extremism of Ilhan Omar. People are disappointed at her divisiveness, more than anything.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Dalia al-Aqidi campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2026* U.S. House Minnesota District 5Candidacy Declared general$292,744 $300,444
2024* U.S. House Minnesota District 5Lost general$2,270,919 $2,232,000
2020U.S. House Minnesota District 5Lost primary$184,493 $184,242
Grand total$2,748,155 $2,716,686
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

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External links

Candidate

U.S. House Minnesota District 5
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 16, 2020
    2. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 14, 2024
    3. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    4. ↑ Dalia al-Aqidi’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed August 1, 2024


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