Refugee Announces Bid Against Ilhan Omar: 'I Escaped That World, I Won't Let It Happen Here'

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Dalia al-Aqidi, who has spent the last 25 years working in the United States after first entering the country as an Iraqi refugee, said during a segment on Fox News that she will be the Republican candidate running against Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.
During an interview with Fox News’ Ainsley Earhardt, al-Aqidi said she doesn’t want Omar’s brand of socialism infecting America.
“America is my dream,” al-Aqidi said per the Daily Wire. “I came to the U.S. more than 25 years ago. So basically, I’m not a refugee anymore. I’m not an Iraqi anymore. I am an American, period.”
“The reason why I said that I’m like her because I’m an American and a refugee and I’m a Muslim because that’s what she uses, but she has her ready accusations. If you even criticize her for her not doing her job, she’s ready to say, ‘Oh, you’re Islamophobic, oh, you’re anti-immigrant, oh you’re anti-refugee, anti, anti, anti,’ so do you know what? I’m going to beat you in your own game and let’s talk face to face,” she continued.
“America, for me, is my country. America opened the doors for me. I came as a young adult and I became an international journalist. I’ve covered wars and been through war zones all over the world. I know what I’m talking about. I’ve lived under tyranny and I’ve lived under Saddam Hussein. I know what division does to a country and I will never let it happen in this country,” she concluded.
Fox News reports al-Aqidi “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.”
Check out her campaign ad below:


During the interview, al-Aqidi elaborated on her campaign effort and shared what the American dream means to her.
“I’m running because Ilhan Omar is doing irreparable harm not only to her district, not only to her state, to the whole country. As an American citizen, my duty is to defend my country and my duty is to stand up to her hatred and racism that she’s spreading within her community, within the country, and even worldwide,” al-Aqidi responded to a question of why she is choosing to run for Congress.
“Ilhan Omar is harming every American with her hatred, her standing against what we believe in, against our own Constitution,” she added.
The congressional candidate said she believes she can reach across the aisle and build a “bridge” to voters who might otherwise not support her.
“I believe in building bridges. We are not enemies. We are all Americans and we can fight together, and we can discuss issues together,” she said.
As for what al-Aqidi thinks about Omar’s representation in Congress, the candidate said: “She doesn’t care about her district. She’s done nothing for her district. All she’s done is to harm her district, harm her followers, so many now, they are looking for someone else.”
“She needs to work for her constituents. She needs to represent them,” she added.
“We Americans, we’re not divided. We all love our country, and let’s not take your hate [for] Trump against America. We are all Americans, and we can stand together, defend our country,” she also said.
Check it out: