Minneapolis Election Results

Omar Fateh, a candidate known for his far-left democratic socialist views, lost the race for mayor of Minneapolis to the incumbent, Jacob Frey, who secured a third term.

Fateh made history as the first Somali-American and Muslim elected to the Minnesota State Senate and was initially the official candidate for the Minneapolis Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party. This was after a controversial DFL City Convention in July. However, the Minnesota DFL retracted its support later, citing procedural issues, leaving Fateh without official backing for the November election.

In a ranked-choice voting general election, Frey ultimately defeated Fateh along with several other contenders. As a moderate Democrat, Frey faced criticism from the more progressive wing of the party, particularly regarding his stance on police reform in the wake of the George Floyd incident.

Frey’s campaign was strengthened, in part, by the DFL’s withdrawal of support for Fateh, which leveled the playing field. Moreover, Frey raised significantly more funds—$538,000 compared to Fateh’s $213,000—by the end of July. He also received endorsements, including one from Governor Tim Walz, who had run for vice president in 2024. Frey has pledged to maintain Minneapolis as a “safe haven” for undocumented immigrants amid governmental deportation efforts.

Fateh, recognized as a close ally of the far-left “Squad” within the Democratic Party, shared similar ideologies with New York Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani. Fateh had championed various progressive causes, including calls to defund the police and advocate for raising taxes to finance social programs.

“Thank you, Minneapolis! Although this was not the result we wanted, we are grateful to everyone who supported our grassroots movement. We will continue to fight alongside you to build the city we deserve,” he stated after his loss.

Meanwhile, Frey has also embraced progressive causes. In August, he spoke against hate directed at the transgender community following a school shooting incident that involved a transgender individual.

“I’ve heard a lot of hate directed at our trans community. Anyone using this as an opportunity to demonize any community is losing their common humanity,” Frey remarked.

In the lead-up to the election, a video of Fateh at an August rally drew considerable attention. He waved a Somali flag while addressing attendees in Somali, chanting phrases like “Somalia is Nura Art,” which means “Long Live Somalia.” He implored community members to vote for him.

Fateh has previously stated that American capitalism must be “dismantled” and received support from the Democratic Socialists of America, who notably helped elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Congress.

Interestingly, Frey’s victory, despite his progressive leanings, indicated a resistance to full-fledged socialism and overly progressive policies, especially in comparison to Fateh’s platform.