The mayor of Minneapolis, who was in office during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, has seen a loss of support from the Democratic Party among Somali-American socialists following a contentious vote.
Senator Omar Fate, a Minnesota lawmaker, has gained the backing of the Democratic Party, surpassing Jacob Frey, who’s held the mayoral position since 2018.
Fate, the first Somali-American and Muslim member of the Minnesota Senate, secured over 60% of the votes at the Minneapolis DFL Convention this past Saturday.
As reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, while there were issues with electronic voting, the final vote was ultimately determined through a show of hands.
Supporters of Frey protested by leaving the Target Center Arena, attempting to prevent the assembly from achieving a quorum.
Sam Schlenberg, Frey’s campaign manager, commented, “This election should be decided by the whole city, not just a small group of representatives, especially given the irregularities surrounding this convention.”
Schlenberg also stated, “Voters will have a clear choice between Senator Fate and Mayor Frey’s track record. We’re eager to share our vision with the public in November.”
Frey, who was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021, faced significant challenges during his tenure, particularly during the 2020 riots that erupted after George Floyd’s death at the hands of a police officer.
Despite some support for Frey’s efforts in police reform, many progressives believe he hasn’t gone far enough.
In 2020, Frey faced boos and backlash from the crowd when he expressed his lack of support for defunding the Minneapolis Police Department.
Soon-to-be candidate Fate aligns with progressive agendas similar to those of New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, advocating for rent stabilization, increased affordable housing, and higher taxes for the wealthy.
Fate expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’m incredibly honored to be the DFL candidate for Minneapolis mayor.” He remarked that this support reflects the community’s discontent with broken promises and political maneuvering, emphasizing the need for a city that serves everyone.
“November 4th is approaching. We’re rallying a coalition of voters who envision Minneapolis as a place where housing is a human right, appropriate responders ensure public safety, and the government is accountable to citizens rather than corporate interests,” he concluded.
