Cicely Davis received the GOP endorsement to challenge Rep. Ilhan Omar in Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District, defeating two other Republican candidates at a Saturday convention.
“The people of our district and our Party have spoken. I’m honored and grateful that they have put their faith in me to carry our banner forward,” Davis said. “When I declared my candidacy more than half a year ago, I pledged that I would run a tireless campaign. I have kept my word but the best is yet to come.”
Davis was competing against Shukri Abdirahman and Royce White for the endorsement. Abdirahman suspended her campaign and vowed to work with Davis to defeat Omar.
Congratulations @CicelyDavisMN on your nomination for CD5. I look forward to working together and supporting you to defeat Ilhan Omar and taking our city back! #MN05
— Shukri Abdirahman (@ShuForCongress) April 3, 2022
White, however, said he has “no choice” but to run in the Republican primary against Davis and was booed by some delegates.
Royce White loses the endorsement and gets booed by delegates when he told them they weren’t ready for a real candidate to win against Ilhan Omar.
“I have no choice but to primary.”#MNGOP #CD5 pic.twitter.com/SASDqtaSFi
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) April 2, 2022
“Now is the time to close ranks as a party,” Davis said. “I’m grateful for Shukri Abdirahman’s endorsement and support, who pledged to work with my campaign. I sincerely hope that my other Republican challenger who fell short on votes today will suspend his campaign and work with me and the people of this district to build the movement necessary to win in November.”
In addition to the Republican Party endorsement, Davis has also been endorsed by Stand for Health Freedom, the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, and Jack Brewer, a former Minnesota Vikings captain and presidential appointee.
“We need leaders, strong conservative voices that stand up for righteousness across that district, and I think Cicely Davis is going to do exactly that,” Brewer said in his video endorsement. “She’s going to stand with our law enforcement, protecting the streets. It’s about keeping folks safe. The innocent people across that entire district deserve that. And we need someone in Washington who is going to represent the interests of the good folks of Minnesota.”
Brewer also voiced his support for Davis’ education policy stances, saying “we need real education that goes through to touch the most underserved in that district and across the state.”
“That starts with allowing folks to have a voice on the education of their kids … Cicely Davis will represent that and I know she’ll do an amazing job,” he said.
Brewer was appointed to the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys by President Donald Trump in 2020. Brewer works as the founder and executive director of The Jack Brewer Foundation, a nonprofit that offers economic development and educational opportunities to underserved individuals.
On the DFL side, Don Samuels, a former Minneapolis City Council Member, stepped up to primary Congresswoman Omar.
Megan Olson
Megan Olson is a 2020 graduate of the University of Minnesota with degrees in political science and history. She works in public affairs in addition to serving on the Legislative Advisory Council for School District 196. She is also on the school board for FIT academy, a charter school in Apple Valley.
