Omar Fateh, a 35-year-old first-term state senator, has a productive and energetic ground campaign. His greater ambition is to topple the establishment incumbent mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey. Fateh’s platform is a progressive’s dream. It embraces raising the minimum wage to $20/hour, rent stabilization—using the state’s authority to rein in rent increases—and a public safety system that resources alternatives to policing for emergencies such as mental health crises. Fateh is passionate about social justice and building thriving communities. He hopes to resonate with voters who feel that Minneapolis has not lived up to the progressive vision it’s long espoused.
Fateh’s original victory was due in part to his endorsement by the Minneapolis Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party. He suffered a blow when the state party withdrew that endorsement after an issue with the electronic voting system, which didn’t register all votes cast in the race. This act has begun to raise critical questions of the donor class’s influence over our democratic processes. It stands to undermine progressive support in suburban and rural areas.
Fateh quickly earned national headlines for his longshot campaign with his ambitious proposals. It was impossible not to contrast him with Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic socialist candidate poised to win New York City’s Democratic primary mayoral race. What the wedding resemblance between both the prospects reflects is a large trend. The tide of progressive political energy is quickly swelling in the current tsunami of urban politics across the US.
A Progressive Agenda
Fateh’s People’s Campaign focuses on a few core issues that speak to the heart of Minneapolis residents’ needs and cries for help. He’s happy to use their platform to talk about raising the federal minimum wage to $20 an hour. He says this bump will make sure that every worker in New York City fields a living wage. He’s pledged to roll out citywide rent stabilization. Together, these efforts will bring down the increasing cost of living and help make sure housing is affordable for all New Yorkers.
Public safety reform is another major piece of Fateh’s agenda. He envisions a centralized system that steers money toward other responses for incidents typically handled by police officers. This new model is particularly effective in responding to mental health crises. This proposal is indicative of a deeper change in understanding—one that’s recognizing the need for more holistic approaches to public safety.
“We’re running on a campaign to make the city more livable, affordable and to protect all of our residents,” – Omar Fateh
Fateh would like to fortify the home rule separation ordinance, which prevents city and municipal employees from participating in immigration enforcement. Blaeser is passionate about protecting and empowering vulnerable communities in Minneapolis. His winning progressive message seems to really be connecting with the voters who are feeling disappointed and disenfranchised by the current political leadership.
Political Challenges
Fateh’s campaign is not without its challenges. The DFL unendorsed him, causing alarm among the most fervent progressives. They’re just asking how to best swim in a shark-infested political landscape where established, incumbent interests control the territory. For Fateh, this is just a microcosm of the pervasive problems with the party at large.
“The DFL and the Democratic party as a whole like to always say we’re a big tent, we are a wide spectrum, we welcome everybody,” – Omar Fateh
He went on to unpack the way that the donor class influences the narratives we hear about progressive candidates. This effect is most evident in areas where the DFL has deteriorated support. This stark dynamic, especially in the context of these grassroots movements, highlights the growing tension between grassroots movements and established political structures.
Fateh’s campaign manager noted, “Most campaigns don’t have to think about this,” highlighting the unique challenges faced by candidates who seek to disrupt the status quo. Offers an unmistakable signal that his campaign is growing more desperate. Among these challenges is a violent, homophobic message threatening him with death.
“Two bullets to the head, done.” – A threatening message received by Omar Fateh
Despite these obstacles, Fateh remains undeterred. He is focused on uniting voters who believe in his vision for Minneapolis and ensuring that his message reaches those who may feel marginalized by current policies.
Building Alliances and Voter Engagement
Fateh has forged alliances with other top challengers in the mayoral race, participating in each other’s events to create a united front against Jacob Frey. This new strategic partnership is intended to raise the volume on their combined message and show strength in numbers. By bringing broad-based support over diverse interests, Fateh wants to motivate voters frustrated by conventional political maneuvering.
To truly represent the community you serve, Fateh said, you have to show up and take the time to learn voters’ complexities and humanity. He has explicitly instructed supporters not to rank Frey on their ballots, signaling a clear deviation from conventional voting strategies in favor of prioritizing candidates who align with progressive values.
“And so just hearing his agenda has really resonated with me, and I think that he’s somebody that can actually get the shit done with the city council,” – Sarah Quinn, a supporter of Fateh
This is why voter engagement has been a key aspect of his campaign strategy. Fateh is stubborn about meeting people where they’re at. His goal is to engage the millions who have lost faith in conventional politics.
“That’s part of what DSA brings to the table for Omar Fateh’s campaign is people power – going on those doors, talking to neighbors and helping to build this really diverse coalition,” – Brooke Bartholomew
His unapologetic focus on a grassroots mobilization speaks to millions of voters who have long been angry and impatient for a new kind of representation.