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 incumbentJacob 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. 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.
