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R Republican · U.S. House 5, Minnesota · Nov 3, 2026

John
Nagel

Republican nominee challenging Rep. Ilhan Omar in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, 2026

Researched checked 6 d ago
sources
6
positions
11
endorsements
1
nagelforcongress.com ↗(opens in a new tab) X(opens in a new tab)Facebook(opens in a new tab)Instagram(opens in a new tab)
Opponents Ilhan Omar D+ 1 more Compare race →

Background

John Nagel is a Republican candidate for U.S. House in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District in the 2026 election, challenging incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar. He is a lifelong resident of Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, and holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of St. Thomas (1979). 24

Nagel joined the Minnesota State Patrol Academy in 1981, served as a trooper, worked as a safety consultant for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and retired as a Field Lieutenant in 2011. After retirement, he taught defensive driving and college courses, served on the Minnesota Twins' security team, and worked as a Minnesota DNR youth firearm instructor. 2

He won the Republican primary on August 11, 2026, with 7,777 votes (52.16%) to advance to the general election on November 3, 2026. 1416 He previously ran as the Republican nominee for Minnesota House District 46A in 2024, receiving 6,168 votes compared to incumbent Larry Kraft's 18,627. 7

No prior elected office held was identified in the sources reviewed. 210

At a glance

Party
Republican
Running for
U.S. House · District 5, Minnesota
Election
Nov 3, 2026
Website
nagelforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)

Where they stand

Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.

Timeline

  1. Oct 10
    news
    Nagel criticizes Omar and Democrats over Twin Cities gang violence in Fox News interview

    In an interview with Fox News Digital, Nagel criticized Omar and Democrats over gang-related violence in the Twin Cities. He called for a 'gang task force' and said, 'We need enforcement, we need arrests and we need incarceration. Otherwise, this is going to continue to spiral.' These are Nagel's claims and proposals; the article does not establish that Omar was responsible for the violence.

    Minnesota trooper blames Ilhan Omar for Twin Cities gang ... · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  2. Sep 26
    news
    The Political Group publishes analysis of what it would take for Nagel to win MN-05

    The Political Group published a race analysis describing Rep. Omar as starting far ahead based on recent results, and estimating that Nagel would need 164,191 net votes to win under its model. This is the publisher's analysis, not a poll.

    What It Would Take for John Nagel to Win MN-05 in 2026 · Sep 26, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sep 17
    news
    MinnPost reports Nagel's campaign themes and fundraising figures

    MinnPost described Nagel's campaign as focused on fraud, violent crime, and public safety. Nagel said, 'I am running because people in the district deserve to be safe,' and acknowledged he was running in 'probably the bluest district in the country.' MinnPost characterized the contest as a longshot, citing a 2024 district result of 79% for Kamala Harris and 18% for Donald Trump, and a Cook Political Report rating of 'Solid Democratic.' The article also reported Nagel had raised $747,000 as of July 22 ($747,046 raised, $700,125 spent, $46,922 cash on hand).

    Why it will be difficult to oust Minnesota's congressional incumbents · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Endorsements

  • Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) organization
    Listed in Nagel's iVoterGuide candidate profile and reported by Smarter.Vote. Exact endorsement date not stated in sources reviewed. ivoterguide.com

Campaign finance

Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.

Raised
$747K
Spent
$700K
Cash on hand
$47K

As of Jul 22, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6MN05357(opens in a new tab)

Sources 6

  1. [1] Minnesota trooper blames Ilhan Omar for Twin Cities gang ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
  2. [2] John Nagel — official campaign website(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
  3. [3] John Nagel(opens in a new tab) Sep 27, 2026
  4. [4] John Nagel - iVoterGuide(opens in a new tab) Sep 27, 2026
  5. [5] What It Would Take for John Nagel to Win MN-05 in 2026(opens in a new tab) Sep 26, 2026
  6. [6] Why it will be difficult to oust Minnesota's congressional incumbents(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
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