A group of wealthy pro-Israel donors in a WhatsApp group coordinated to provide last-minute financial support to Don Samuels’s primary campaign against Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.
This group, which included a consultant working for the Samuels campaign at the time and various political donors, discussed raising significant funds for a political action committee, campaign phone bank strategies, and efforts to mobilize Republican voters to support Samuels in the primary.
“Hi Everybody, My Name is Alexander Minn, I work for the campaign,” Alex Minn, the campaign consultant, wrote to the group on July 24. “WE ALL HAVE THE POWER TO HELP GET RID OF ~the squad~ AND PUBLIC ENEMY #1 TO JEWS, ISRAEL, AND AMERICA- ~ilhan omar~” (Samuels campaign manager Joe Radinovich stated that Minn no longer works for the campaign. Minn was featured as a campaign staffer in an August 4 episode of a YouTube show with Samuels.)
While major pro-Israel groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee did not actively support Samuels in his race against Omar, a diverse group of activists in the WhatsApp group “Zionists for Don Samuels Against Ilhan Omar” stepped in to fill the gap.
Samuels narrowly lost to Omar in 2022, with the focus of that race primarily on policing issues.
For the 2024 race, outside spending in Democratic primaries has shifted to focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. AIPAC has funded political action committees targeting Black incumbent Democrats like Rep. Cori Bush and Rep. Jamaal Bowman.
In contrast, the Samuels campaign has emphasized Omar’s positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including her calls for a ceasefire and allegations of antisemitism.
Samuels has lagged behind Omar in fundraising for the 2024 race, but a late surge in donations followed Wesley Bell’s victory over Bush in a Democratic primary on August 6.
The campaign has denied any coordination with outside spending groups, as prohibited by campaign finance laws.
In a statement, Minn accused Omar of antisemitism and expressed his desire for her defeat.
Big Super PAC Money
Members of the “Zionists for Don Samuels” group come from various locations, with some supporting former President Donald Trump and others expressing disillusionment with the Democratic Party over Israel.
Michael Sinensky, a participant in the WhatsApp group, claimed to have raised over $120,000 for Samuels through Make a Difference MN, a super PAC. Sinensky aims to raise an additional $100,000 for the PAC.
Sinensky stated that he was not affiliated with the Samuels campaign and stepped in to support Samuels when AIPAC did not provide backing.
He accused Omar of antisemitism and cited a specific event on October 7 that changed his political perspective.
Minn, identified as the director of strategic engagement for the Samuels campaign, discussed campaign strategy with donors supporting Make a Difference MN in the WhatsApp group.
In a message, Minn clarified that he could not be involved in decisions made by the PAC regarding funding.
This is for anyone in the group who would use any form of communication for malicious purposes. With an open primary system in Minnesota, members of a chat group discussed targeting registered Republicans to vote against Omar, as shown in screenshots obtained by The Intercept.
On July 25, a participant in the chat suggested obtaining contact details of registered Republicans in the district. Sinensky proposed a call to discuss this idea and mentioned using a voicemail drop as a marketing tactic.
Six days later, Sinensky shared good news of a donor willing to match donations into their PAC, potentially reaching $100,000 for campaign efforts.
There was also discussion about reaching out to conservative friends who support an Omar challenger, with positive responses received. Minn offered assistance and edited texts for activists to send to conservative and Republican contacts.
Additionally, Minn provided campaign assets and talking points via a Google Drive link, which was later made private upon inquiry from The Intercept.
On August 4, Sinensky shared a promotional video made by volunteers, seeking support from influential figures. Minn mentioned ongoing efforts to engage with influencers.
Minn later rallied the group, expressing excitement about making history and referencing a personal anecdote involving his daughter calling Ilhan the “wicked witch” and being part of “getting rid of the squad.”
The group chat had grown to hundreds of activists, showing enthusiasm for their campaign efforts.
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