Minnesota state Senator Omar Fateh has won the endorsement of the Minneapolis Democratic Party for the city’s upcoming mayoral election, becoming the latest progressive candidate to gain traction within the party.

Fateh has drawn comparisons to New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who won the party’s nomination for New York City mayor last month.

Newsweek contacted Fateh’s campaign for comment via email on Monday.

Fateh has become the latest candidate to the left of the Democratic Party’s mainstream to rise within the party’s ranks, which could be seen as a growing willingness among Democrats to support more progressive viewpoints.

What to Know

Fateh won the endorsement for the mayoral election from the Minneapolis Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) Party—a branch of the statewide Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party—at the group’s convention on Saturday.

The result was a surprise upset over two-term incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey, and it marked the first time in 16 years that the Minneapolis DFL backed a candidate in a mayoral race.

Fateh, a self-described democratic socialist and the son of Somali immigrants, is running on a platform that includes introducing rent control, raising minimum wage and combating police violence.

The lawmaker’s policies have sparked criticism from conservatives and moderates, including former New York Giants player Carter Coughlin, who wrote on X: “In a city that has experienced unimaginable destruction and racial tension, these policies would send the city another 10 steps back. MPLS needs to be rebuilt, this will do the opposite.”

Fateh’s platform is considered left of the party’s mainstream, similarly to Mamdani’s. The latter won the New York mayoral primary in a decisive win over former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Mamdani’s success, which has been powered by grassroots organizing and youth support, suggests that voters are increasingly willing to back progressive candidates.

It is unusual for candidates on the party’s left wing to secure institutional backing, and internal dynamics could have played a role in Fateh’s endorsement victory, which followed a chaotic DFL convention marked by internal disputes.

The ascent of these candidates suggests the Democratic Party is grappling with the growing power of its left flank.

Young progressives such as David Hogg, who recently criticized Democratic leadership for being “asleep at the wheel,” have expressed growing frustration with the party and have called for primarying incumbents to reshape its direction.

What People Are Saying

Minnesota state Senator Omar Fateh wrote on X: “I am incredibly honored to be the DFL endorsed candidate for Minneapolis Mayor. 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.”

Incumbent Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey wrote on X: “I want to thank everyone who showed up to support my campaign. This election should be decided by our entire city, not by a handful of delegates. I look forward to a full debate with Sen. Fateh about our records and visions for our Minneapolis’s future.”

What Happens Next

The mayoral election is scheduled for November 4. While Fateh’s winning of the Minneapolis DFL’s endorsement does not guarantee his victory, support from the party infrastructure could give him a significant boost.

Source: Newsweek