Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh, a self-described democratic socialist and the first Somali American elected to the Minnesota Senate, has secured the official endorsement of the state’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party in his bid to become the next mayor of Minneapolis. The endorsement marks a significant shift in local political dynamics and underscores the DFL’s increasing alignment with progressive and far-left candidates in key urban races.
Fateh announced the endorsement via a post on X, declaring it a “mandate” from Minneapolis residents tired of “broken promises, vetoes, and politics as usual.” He framed his candidacy as a movement to “build a city that works for all of us,” signaling his intent to advance an aggressive progressive agenda at City Hall.
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. https://t.co/rU6v90TJPp pic.twitter.com/9KX3jSMvcP
— Omar Fateh (@OmarFatehMN) July 20, 2025
Often compared to New York City’s socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, Fateh has built his political profile on highly controversial positions—most notably his support for taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants and his sharp rhetoric against critics. In June 2023, he accused Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) of being a “white supremacist” after she opposed a Minnesota measure that expanded college tuition benefits to undocumented immigrants from households earning under $80,000 annually.
Fateh played a direct role in advancing that provision through the state legislature, defending it as a step toward inclusivity. “We want to make sure that when we’re expanding opportunities for everybody, we’re doing it for all Minnesotans, regardless of background, regardless of their documentation status,” he said at the time.
Illegal aliens will now be eligible for free college tuition in the state of Minnesota.
Democratic state Senate Higher Education Chair Omar Fateh has said, “We’ve been seeing declining enrollment on all campuses. If we don’t do something quick, we’re at risk of shutting down…
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) June 4, 2023
His campaign messaging includes proposals to dramatically reshape Minneapolis’s public safety strategy, pledging to “diversify” the city’s approach while distancing it from federal influence. “We need a mayor that works as hard as you do,” he stated in a campaign video, listing affordable housing, resistance to what he called a “hostile White House,” and changes to public safety as key priorities.
While the DFL’s endorsement gives Fateh institutional backing, it also risks deepening internal divides within the party between traditional Democrats and more radical progressive elements. The endorsement signals that the DFL is willing to prioritize ideological alignment over political moderation—even in a city still grappling with the fallout from public safety controversies and sharp economic disparities.
My name is Omar Fateh, and I’m running for Minneapolis Mayor because for working people, it’s getting harder to build our lives in this city we love. To make an affordable Minneapolis that works for everyone, we need a Mayor that works as hard as we do. I’m ready to get to work. pic.twitter.com/CzYkmgKfxQ
— Omar Fateh (@OmarFatehMN) July 13, 2025
