Minnesota’s Democratic Farmer-Labor Party has endorsed far‑left radical democratic socialist State Sen. Omar Fateh for mayor of Minneapolis, signaling a sharp turn in the city’s political direction. Fateh announced the endorsement on social media Saturday after defeating incumbent Democrat Mayor Jacob Frey at the party convention.
“I am incredibly honored to be the DFL endorsed candidate for Minneapolis Mayor,” Fateh wrote on X. “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.”
Fateh, a self-described Democratic socialist and son of Somali immigrants, has promised to raise the minimum wage, expand affordable housing, and confront what he calls “police violence.” His platform aligns with national far‑left figures and reflects policies that critics warn would further destabilize a city already reeling from rising crime and economic struggles.
Mayor Frey’s campaign quickly denounced the party’s decision, pointing to major problems with the process. “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,” campaign spokesperson Sam Schulenberg said.
The endorsement puts Minneapolis on a collision course with its own political identity as voters face a stark choice in November. Schulenberg emphasized, “Voters will now have a clear choice between the records and leadership of Sen. Fateh and Mayor Frey.”
