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CNN
5 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Democratic socialists fresh off Mamdani victory see opportunity in Minneapolis
State & local racesFacebookTweetLink Follow Less than a month after Zohran Mamdani's victory in New York City's mayoral primary, some of Mamdani's allies are coalescing around another democratic socialist challenging the incumbent Democratic mayor of Minneapolis. Minnesota State Sen. Omar Fateh has proposed enacting rent stabilization if elected mayor, disciplining and firing local police who work with immigration officers, and increasing access to affordable housing. Fateh on Saturday won the endorsement of the Minneapolis Democrats at a convention that supporters of incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey have challenged, arguing the results were tainted by issues with the voting system. It's a setback for Frey, though one decided by several hundred delegates on the final ballot rather than the larger electorate in November. Still, Fateh's emergence shows democratic socialism is on the upswing well beyond New York City, powered by record-low approval ratings for the Democratic Party and as many elected Democrats face criticism from the party's left flank. 'We are 2-for-2 with socialist mayors of major American cities,' exclaimed Aru Shiney-Ajay, executive director of the Sunrise Movement, a national climate justice group that also endorsed Mamdani, in a video she posted after Fateh's victory. Fateh is the first Somali-American and first Muslim to serve in the Minnesota State Senate. In the state legislature, he has pursued funding free college tuition and securing a statewide living wage for ride-share drivers. He told CNN that he already has more than 1,000 volunteers knocking on doors and making calls. He sees Mamdani's win as proof that progressives can lead with their values and still win. 'I think nationally the Democratic establishment has not done a great job speaking to the needs of working people for far too long,' he said. Frey is a two-term incumbent who led Minneapolis during the COVID-19 pandemic and the protests and unrest following George Floyd's murder by a White police officer. He has positioned himself as a 'pragmatic progressive.' He maintains that under his leadership, he's made important investments in affordable housing like through the Stable Homes, Stable Schools program aimed at getting Minneapolis public school students experiencing homelessness into housing or providing them with housing assistance. 'We have a chance right now to make Minneapolis a national model for how major cities that are run by Democrats can work, how they can deliver for people on everything from affordability to public safety,' Frey told CNN. Frey has alienated some of the city's progressives with the use of his veto power. Last year, he vetoed a council-backed resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, a Minneapolis minimum ride-share pay law and a carbon emission fees ordinance. But he argues the issues are more complicated than they appear on the surface and he had good reason to try to block some of what's come out of the city council. 'Occasionally, you do have to tell people what they don't want to hear when that in fact is the truth. I won't sign on to things like defunding the police or rent control, when those policies have been shown very clearly to not work,' Frey said. Shiney-Ajay told CNN that her group and allies relied on the same sort of grassroots organizing as in New York to deliver Fateh's victory at the Minneapolis convention of what is formally known as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. 'We had a large, organized push towards getting people to go to the ward gatherings and then be able to get elected as delegates,' Shiney-Ajay said. It was the first time in 16 years city Democrats made an endorsement for a mayoral candidate. 'I think this is really a sign of a seismic shift happening in the country right now of young people in particular, just calling for policies that actually improve the lives of everyday people and being sick of the status quo,' Shiney-Ajay added. The endorsement means Fateh will get resources from the state DFL party like volunteers and access to the voter access network, the database that is given to endorsed candidates. Frey noted that he came in second place at the nominating convention in his last two successful runs for mayor. His campaign has challenged the convention results, alleging hundreds of votes were missing or uncounted in mayoral balloting. Local reports suggest the endorsing convention was chaotic, the party's online delegate voting system malfunctioned and at one point, some of Frey's supporters left the arena. Minneapolis DFL Chair John Maraist says while Frey is well within his right to ask the state party for a review, the convention ran in accordance with the rules. 'I think when a lot of people see a vibrant and very participatory discussion, a debate over the rules, they see chaos but really this was very tightly organized,' Maraist told CNN. Just as in New York, a final verdict on the Democrats' intra-party struggle in Minneapolis will come in the fall. Many of Frey's supporters are also shrugging off the impact of the endorsement and believe he will ultimately win a third term. 'I think he's well positioned because both his record and his policy priorities are more closely aligned with the Minneapolis electorate than that of the city council, who is significantly to his left on issues like defunding the police and allowing homeless encampments,' said Jacob Hill, Executive Director of All of Minneapolis, a PAC that endorsed Frey. Hill argues Fateh is too extreme. 'Omar Fateh makes Bernie Sanders look conservative,' he said. Like New York City, Minneapolis has ranked-choice voting, but in the general election rather than the primary. Some of Fateh's supporters are wary of deploying an 'anyone but Frey' strategy in the fall's ranked-choice general election contest, like what was used against Andrew Cuomo in New York, as they say that has not worked against Frey in the past. 'There were challenges to Mayor Frey in 2021 that used a 'don't rank Frey' strategy and that failed monumentally so just using that same terminology is not something we want to do, but there are three viable candidates that are opposing Mayor Frey,' said Chelsea McFarren, chair of Minneapolis for the Many, a progressive political action committee founded in 2023. The group has not yet endorsed a mayoral candidate but would like to see Frey ousted in favor of a more progressive leader.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Explained: Who is Somalian-American Omar Fateh - and how he won Democratic nomination of Mayor of Minneapolis
TL;DR: Somali-American State Senator Omar Fateh , a 35-year-old democratic socialist, has won the DFL ( Democratic Party ) endorsement for Mayor of Minneapolis, defeating two-term incumbent Jacob Frey at a chaotic party convention. While Frey remains in the race for the November general election, Fateh's victory signals a growing shift toward progressive and minority-led leadership in urban Democratic strongholds. What happened? Over the weekend, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, Minnesota's branch of the US Democratic Party, held its Minneapolis convention to decide who it would endorse for mayor. After a tumultuous day marked by technical glitches, paper ballots, and a dramatic walkout by Frey supporters, Omar Fateh emerged with the endorsement, receiving over 60% of delegate support by a show-of-hands vote. Why does it matter? This is the first time the Minneapolis DFL has endorsed a candidate in a contested mayoral race since at least 1997. Fateh's win over a well-funded incumbent reflects a growing progressive insurgency within Democratic politics, with young, diverse, left-leaning candidates challenging establishment figures. It's also a sign that Minneapolis voters, especially those involved in party activism, want a break from the status quo. Who is Omar Fateh? A 35-year-old State Senator from District 62 in Minneapolis. First Somali-American and first Muslim elected to the Minnesota State Senate . Member of the Democratic Socialists of America, running on a platform of housing justice, rent stabilisation, police reform, and taxing the wealthy. Often compared to Zohran Mamdani , the New York socialist legislator of similar background and ideology. What happened at the convention? Delegates initially voted via smartphones at the Target Center arena. Technical failures and slow tabulation caused long delays. Frey's campaign claimed the digital voting system broke down. As confusion mounted, Frey supporters walked out, allegedly to deny quorum. Party officials proceeded with a manual badge-raising vote, which Fateh won clearly. Final paper ballots were collected but not fully counted before the convention adjourned. What were the vote numbers? In the only full round of digital voting: Omar Fateh: 43.8% Jacob Frey: 31.5% DeWayne Davis: 19.9% (just shy of advancing) Jazz Hampton: 4% Brenda Short: <1% Fateh gained momentum from second-choice support and crossed the 60% threshold in the in-person vote. Does this mean Fateh is the next mayor? Not yet. The DFL endorsement gives Fateh the backing of the city's dominant political party, but Minneapolis uses ranked-choice voting, and all candidates can still run in the November 4 general election. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Frey, who lost past DFL endorsements in 2017 and 2021, went on to win both times — thanks in part to high name recognition and fundraising. How did Frey respond? Frey's campaign slammed the convention as 'extremely flawed and irregular' and is expected to appeal to the state-level DFL. His team questioned the legitimacy of the process and has vowed to take their case to city voters, not just party delegates. What's next? Fateh will now try to build momentum from the endorsement, while Frey will likely use his cash advantage and broader electorate appeal to stage a comeback. The stage is set for a classic establishment-vs-progressive battle in one of America's most politically watched cities — still grappling with the legacy of George Floyd, police reform, and economic inequality. And just to be clear — what is the DFL? The Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party is the Minnesota affiliate of the US Democratic Party. Formed in 1944 from a merger between the Democrats and the progressive Farmer–Labor Party, the DFL functions as the Democratic Party in Minnesota. So when Fateh wins the DFL endorsement, it means he is now the Democratic Party's chosen candidate — though not the only one on the ballot in November.
UPI
4 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
Minneapolis mayor loses party endorsement for November election
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, right, pictured in 2023 during a press conference about an investigation into police conduct in the 2020 murder of George Floyd, lost the the Democratic party's backing in this November's mayoral election to state Sen. Omar Fateh. Photo by Craig Lassig/EPA July 20 (UPI) -- The Minneapolis mayor during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests has lost the backing of the Democratic party to a Somali-American after a contested vote by members of the party. Omar Fateh, 35, a state Senator, won the mayoral endorsement over Jacob Frey, who has held the office since 2018. Fateh is the first Somali-American to serve in the state legislature since 2018 and received 60% of the delegates at the Minneapolis DFL convention Saturday, despite complaints from the Frey campaign about the election process. Frey took issue with electronic balloting at the convention, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and said he would appeal the vote. "This election should be decided by the entire city rather than the small group of people who became delegates, particularly in light of the extremely flawed and irregular conduct of this convention," Frey's campaign manager office said in a statement. "Voters will now have a clear choice between the records and leadership of Sen. Fateh and Mayor Frey. We look forward to taking our vision to the voters in November." Frey was elected mayor in 2017 and again in 2021, and was in charge of Minneapolis during the 2020 BLM riots after George Floyd died at the hands of a white police officer.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Minneapolis mayor who oversaw BLM riots loses Dem backing to Somali-American socialist
The mayor of Minneapolis — who oversaw the city during the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots — has lost the backing of the Dem party to a Somali-American socialist following a contested vote by party members. Omar Fateh, 35, a Minnesota state Senator, won the endorsement of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party for Minneapolis mayor over Jacob Frey, who has been in office since 2018. Fateh (MN-62), who is the first Somali American and Muslim to serve in the Minnesota state Senate, received more than 60% of the vote from delegates at the Minneapolis DFL convention late Saturday — despite complaints from the Frey campaign over the election process. 3 Somali American Omar Fateh has been endorsed as the Dem candidate to be Mayor of Minneapolis. Facebook/Omar Fateh Issues with electronic balloting at the convention saw paper ballots brought in, while the final vote was taken via a show of raised badges, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Frey's supporters left the Target Center arena in protest in an attempt to deny the convention a quorum. 'This election should be decided by the entire city rather than the small group of people who became delegates, particularly in light of the extremely flawed and irregular conduct of this convention,' Frey's campaign manager Sam Schulenberg said. 3 Fateh, 35, is the first Muslim to serve in the Minnesota State Senate. Facebook/Omar Fateh 'Voters will now have a clear choice between the records and leadership of Sen. Fateh and Mayor Frey. We look forward to taking our vision to the voters in November,' he said. Frey, who was elected mayor in 2017 and reelected in 2021, was in charge of Minneapolis while the city burned during 2020's BLM riots in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of a white police officer in the city. Despite Frey's sops to the left on police reform, his words and actions didn't go far enough for many progressives in the city. 3 Incumbent mayor Jacob Frey's family has slammed the vote. The Washington Post via Getty Images In 2020, Frey was booed and heckled at a demonstration after saying he didn't support defunding the Minneapolis Police Department. Fateh, a Democratic Socialist, ran on a campaign similar to that of New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, calling for rent stabilization, more affordable housing, and higher taxes on the wealthy. 'I am incredibly honored to be the DFL endorsed candidate for Minneapolis Mayor,' he said on X following his victory.. This endorsement is a message that Minneapolis residents are done with broken promises, vetoes, and politics as usual. It's a mandate to build a city that works for all of us. 'November 4 is around the corner. Join our coalition of voters who share our vision for a Minneapolis where housing is a human right, public safety means sending the right responders, and city government stands for working people, not corporate donors,' he added.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Omar Fateh: Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh compared to actor Barkhad Abdi's pirate character in Captain Phillips on social media
The Twin Cities' mayoral race is heating up and not just with policy debates. Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh, a Somali-American running for mayor of Minneapolis, is facing a flood of online hate that has veered sharply into racist territory. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Critics have hurled slurs, accused him of being a terrorist, and even told him to 'go back to Mogadishu.' And in one of the most bizarre and offensive moments, some on social media are comparing him to Barkhad Abdi's pirate character in Captain Phillips as if his Somali heritage makes him synonymous with hijackers and villains. It's not just tasteless. It's textbook racism. This isn't a minor smear campaign. It's part of a broader and much uglier conversation about what leadership should look like in America. And it's making a lot of people ask: what does it really take to run for office as a Black Muslim immigrant in 2025? Fateh isn't just some fringe hopeful. He's a sitting state senator known for bold, progressive ideas. His platform includes raising the minimum wage in Minneapolis to $20 by 2028, protecting city authority against federal interference, and keeping local police from collaborating with ICE. It's a platform rooted in equity and justice. But that hasn't stopped trolls from turning his identity into a punchline. On X (formerly Twitter), he's been targeted with everything from 'you look like a terrorist' to 'what's wrong with your head shape?' And yes, more than a few users have called him 'the Captain Phillips guy,' reducing a serious candidate to a Hollywood caricature. Never mind that Barkhad Abdi is a talented actor—or that he, too, is Somali-American. The reference isn't about admiration. It's a racialized dig meant to dehumanize, to say: 'You're foreign. You don't belong.' Why it's bigger than just social media Some defenders argue, 'It's just the internet. People joke.' But let's not kid ourselves. These aren't jokes. They're racialized attempts to discredit a man based on his ethnicity and religion. And they don't stay online. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They shape narratives, influence voters, and embolden extremists. When a mayoral candidate is told he looks like a movie pirate instead of being discussed for his policies, something's gone seriously wrong with our discourse. These online attacks seep into real-life conversations, showing up at town halls, campaign stops, and coffee shop debates. They chip away at public trust. And worse—they discourage others from stepping into public service. In times like this, social media becomes both the battlefield and the amplifier. Trolls throw their punches behind anonymous profiles. These attacks aren't about harmless memes or quirky movie references. They're an attempt to reduce a man to a stereotype. They're about denying a community its right to representation. Minneapolis voters have a choice: fall for the distractions or focus on the issues. Ignore the pirate memes and Somali jokes—and ask: What are the candidates actually saying? Who's working to improve lives? Who's showing up for the city?
