Minneapolis Mayoral Race Highlights Ideological Divide
Minneapolis is witnessing a significant political showdown as Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey faces a formidable challenge from state Sen. Omar Fateh, a democratic socialist. This race has become a focal point for contrasting visions on governance in a city grappling with ongoing issues related to policing, crime, and homelessness.
Frey, seeking his third term, is under pressure from the left, particularly from Fateh, who aims to make history as the city's first Muslim and Somali American mayor. Fateh's campaign has drawn comparisons to Zohran Mamdani, the socialist winner of New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, due to their shared backgrounds and ideological similarities. Both candidates come from immigrant families, though Fateh was born in the United States and is part of Minneapolis' large Somali American community.
With 15 candidates on the ballot, only a few have managed to raise substantial funds. These include Rev. DeWayne Davis and businessman Jazz Hampton, who are considered left of Frey but right of Fateh. While no candidates identify as Republicans in this heavily Democratic city, Laverne Turner, who has a GOP background, is running a low-key campaign as an independent.
Minneapolis utilizes ranked-choice voting instead of traditional primaries. If no candidate secures an outright majority in the initial vote count, election officials will begin eliminating lower-performing candidates and redistributing second- and third-choice votes in subsequent rounds until a winner is determined.
Fateh, Davis, and Hampton have formed an alliance, encouraging their supporters to rank one another rather than Frey. This strategy aims to make it more difficult for the incumbent mayor to reach the 50% threshold needed for victory.
Frey led Minneapolis through the turmoil following the 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white officer used his knee to pin his neck to the pavement for 9 1/2 minutes. His administration later negotiated agreements with the state and federal governments to reform the police department, which had lost hundreds of officers after Floyd's death.
Despite his earlier support for the "defund the police" movement, Fateh has since scaled back his backing. He supported a ballot measure that was opposed by Frey and ultimately rejected by voters in 2021, which aimed to reimagine public safety in the city. Fateh continues to emphasize the need for alternatives to conventional policing, while Frey claims the city is already implementing such measures.
The ideological divide is also evident in their approaches to housing and other issues. Frey opposes rent control, whereas Fateh advocates for some form of rent stabilization, though he hasn't specified the details. Fateh is critical of how the Frey administration has moved to shut down homeless camps.
Fateh has long championed the cause of Uber and Lyft drivers at the Legislature. Frey vetoed an attempt by the City Council to raise their wages after the companies threatened to pull out of the city. Fateh later used his influence to force a compromise at the state level.
Like Mamdani in New York, Fateh is a strong opponent of how Israel conducted the war in Gaza. Frey, who is Jewish, vetoed a City Council ceasefire resolution that he considered one-sided.
All leading candidates have pledged to stand firm against President Donald Trump and resist any efforts he might make to undermine Minneapolis' status as a sanctuary city for immigrants or to send federal troops into the city. This race reflects not just a contest for the mayor's office, but a broader debate over the future direction of a city navigating complex social and political challenges.
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