Incumbent Ilhan Omar (D) defeated four other candidates in the Democratic primary for Minnesota's 5th Congressional District on Aug. 11. In addition to Omar, Julie Le (D) and Latonya Reeves (D) led in media attention.

Major race forecasters rated the general election Solid/Safe Democratic. Before the election, the Cook Political Report wrote, "Progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar remains a top target of the pro-Israel lobby. But after a close call in 2022, when former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels came just two points away from beating her in the primary, she put together a stronger campaign operation and won her 2024 rematch against Samuels by double digits."

Omar was a member of a progressive group of lawmakers commonly referred to as the Squad. According to the New York Times, Le, a former federal prosecutor, said she would be a more moderate lawmaker than Omar. Le's campaign website called for comprehensive immigration reform, while Omar had called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On ICE, Reeves' campaign website said, "We must work to hold federal agents accountable, and trim their budget back to previous levels."

Upon her election in 2018, Omar became the first Somali-American member of Congress. In 2024, she won the Democratic primary with 56.2% of the vote and the general election with 74.4% of the vote. Before she was elected to Congress, Omar represented District 60B in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019. Her previous work experience included working as a teacher, as a nonprofit executive, and as a staffer for the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minneapolis City Council. In her response to Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection Survey, Omar wrote, "I’m running for reelection to Congress because working people deserve a government that fights for them—not for billionaires or corporate interests." Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), Attorney General Keith Ellison (D), and both of Minnesota's U.S. senators endorsed Omar.

Le was an attorney and former federal prosecutor who was an Assistant Chief Counsel at Homeland Security and a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney during Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration enforcement effort that took place in Minnesota between December 2025 and February 2026. In her response to Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection Survey, Le said, "I've seen the shortcomings of our immigration system from the inside. ... We need a leader who not only understands the law but knows how to reform it so it works for everyone." As of June 2026, Le's campaign website did not include a list of endorsements.

Reeves was a probation officer and the union president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 5 Local 552 Probation and Parole Bargaining Unit. She was also president of the Minnesota Corrections Association and a member of the Democratic National Committee. In her response to Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, Reeves said, "Whether it's access to quality education, affordable healthcare, economic opportunities, or public safety, the community deserves a representative who listens, acts, and delivers real results to protect the Democratic platform—not personal agendas that do not serve our community." Reeves campaign website included a list of endorsements from local labor leaders, activists, and business owners.

Abena McKenzie (D) and Nate Schluter (D) also ran.