A Muslim Iraqi refugee is challenging Representative Ilhan Omar in what should be on of the most talked about congressional races of 2020.
Dalia al-Aqidi believes that Rep. Omar has continuously used “divisive” rhetoric, and her time in office needs to end.
“She needs to be stopped,” al-Aqidi told Fox News in a phone interview. “I truly believe that I’m strong enough to beat her at her own game.”
Ms. al-Aqidi says that, since she comes from nearly the same background as Rep. Omar, neither candidate would be able to run on the position of “I’m representing all refugees.”
The GOP candidate also called out Ilhan Omar for her anti-American sentiments.
“Muslims, Christians, Jews are all Americans,” she said.
“Every time she opens her mouth she says something either anti-U.S. or anti-Semitic.”
Al-Aqidi, who has 31 years of experience as a journalist, including as a White House correspondent for Alhurra, a U.S.-based Arabic channel that airs in the Middle East, says that one thing she has learned is that regularly attacking your opponents is not an effective strategy in politics.
“Conflict resolution is an art. You cannot do anything without a conversation. You talk to the other side and try to figure out something that will be acceptable,” she said.
“Trashing the other side will get you nowhere.”
As for her own platform, al-Aqidi says her main concerns are security at home and abroad, the economy – where she says President Trump is “doing great” – and education.
While al-Aqidi joins a list of other GOP primary challengers, Rep. Omar is facing a primary challenger of her own.
Democratic community organizer John Mason and attorney Antone Melton-Meaux are both running for the party’s nomination, hoping to beat the incumbent Omar. On the GOP side, al-Aqidi joins businessman Lacy Johnson, special-education professional Danielle Stella, minister and missionary Lucia Vogel, activist Alley Waterbury, and former auto sales manager Brent Whaley.
“I’m ready to fight and I believe that I could win,” al-Aqidi said.
Conservative Daily Update 