State Sen. Omar Fateh is one step closer to making history as Minneapolis’ first Muslim mayor after winning the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party’s endorsement on Saturday. He would also be only the second Black person to hold the city’s top office.
The endorsement came during the Minneapolis DFL convention at Target Center, marking the first time in 16 years the party has endorsed a mayoral candidate. Previous conventions had ended without a clear nominee, The Guardian reported.
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Fateh clinched the required 60 percent of delegate votes to win the endorsement over incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey, who was among the top two vote-getters before Fateh prevailed.
“I am incredibly honored to be the DFL endorsed candidate for Minneapolis Mayor,” Fateh said in a post on X after the convention.
“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.”
History Maker
Fateh, who was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2020, became the first Somali American and the first Muslim to serve in the state’s upper legislative chamber. He represents District 42, which includes the Phillips and Powderhorn neighborhoods of Minneapolis.
His 2020 victory shocked many, as he unseated a long-standing Democratic incumbent, Sen. Jeff Hayden, one of only two Black state senators at the time. As with that race, Saturday’s endorsement was a critical early step in his current campaign.
When he launched his mayoral bid in December, Fateh said the city needs a mayor who works “with the residents instead of against us.”
Despite losing the endorsement, Frey’s campaign announced plans to remain in the race.
“This election should be decided by the entire city rather than the small group of people who became delegates,” the campaign stated.
It continued, “Voters will now have a clear choice between the records and the leadership of Sen. Fateh and Mayor Frey. We look forward to taking our vision to the voters in November.”
Three other candidates have also announced their intentions to stay in the race: Jazz Hampton, Rev. DeWayne Davis, and Brenda Short.
As Minneapolis uses Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), there will be no primary ahead of the general election next November 4.