Over the weekend, a small army of DFL delegates in the Twin Cities quietly handed out some big political prizes. Rep. Ilhan Omar in Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District and former state senator Matt Little in the Second both walked away with DFL endorsements, giving their campaigns the formal party stamp of approval as they head toward the state convention and an August primary. For voters in these heavily Democratic seats, it is a reminder that a relatively small group of activists can heavily influence which campaigns get institutional backing.
Local television coverage bundled the news into a weekend political roundup. FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul reported that both Omar and Little secured DFL endorsements at their respective district conventions.
Little Wins Second District Backing
In the Second District, Matt Little, a former Lakeville mayor and state senator, locked down the DFL endorsement at the Burnsville convention. He won on the first ballot with about 63 percent of delegate support, a result that instantly put him in the top tier of the race. The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that rivals Matt Klein and Kaela Berg say they are pressing ahead to the August primary despite Little’s early edge.
Omar Holds Off Challenges In The Fifth
In the Fifth Congressional District, delegates gathered at the CD5 endorsing convention in St. Louis Park and once again backed incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar, preserving the organizational support she has leaned on in previous cycles. The CD5 DFL’s convention information lists the endorsing meeting at St. Louis Park High School, where delegates come together to debate, consider, and vote on congressional endorsements. CD5 DFL
What An Endorsement Does - And Does Not
A DFL endorsement typically comes with party resources - access to volunteer lists, coordinated field work and an official nod that matters in safe DFL territory - but it does not block other Democrats from running in the primary. The party’s caucus-and-convention process lays out how endorsements are chosen and how those delegate votes get cast. DFL explains the role of conventions in deciding endorsements, while Minnesota’s statewide primary is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, according to the state’s election calendar. Minnesota Secretary of State
What Comes Next
Omar’s renewed DFL backing helps consolidate party machinery behind an incumbent who is still favored in a strongly Democratic district, but the race is far from a formality. Challengers, including Latonya Reeves and former Department of Justice attorney Julie Le, among others listed in 2026 candidate rundowns, keep the August contest very much alive. Public candidate rosters and local reporting indicate that the field is still taking shape as campaigns gear up for filing deadlines and the primary calendar. Candidate trackers
For activists and everyday voters, this weekend’s endorsements help sketch the early map of party support, but the primary will still ultimately choose the DFL nominees this summer. Expect more organizing, targeted mail, and door-knocking across Minneapolis and the south metro as both endorsed candidates and their primary challengers chase votes ahead of Aug. 11. Star Tribune
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