Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has endorsed State Senator Omar Fateh to be the next mayor of Minneapolis. In a statement released Monday morning, the DFL congresswoman said she will rank Fateh as her first choice for mayor in the city’s ranked-choice voting system.
“Minneapolis deserves a champion for working people,” said Omar. “This is our opportunity to build a city where every single resident can thrive. I can’t wait to cast my ballot for my friend and colleague, [Omar Fateh], as my first choice for mayor by November 4th, and I hope you will join me.”
In a video released by the Fateh campaign, the pair spoke glowingly of each other as they walked around the city and talked about the state senator’s campaign.
“I’m so excited to have my Congresswoman and friend, [Ilhan Omar], on board with my candidacy for Mayor!” said Fateh in a statement. “She fights hard for the working people of Minneapolis. As Mayor, I’ll partner with leaders like her to build an affordable city that’s accountable to us.”
The 2025 Minneapolis mayoral election is viewed primarily as a contest between incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey and Fateh. A former city councilor, Frey is seeking his third term as mayor after winning the office in 2017 and 2021. Fateh is in his second term as a senator.
Both candidates are decidedly left-wing, but Frey is viewed as more mainstream given his clashes with the far-left members of the Minneapolis City Council. Meanwhile, Fateh has drawn comparisons to Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City. Like Mamdani, Fateh is Muslim and aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America.
Frey has received endorsements from Gov. Tim Walz, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt. Likewise, Fateh has been endorsed by a collection of state legislators, city officials, and left-wing organizations.
This year’s general election in Minneapolis will take place on Nov. 4. Early voting began on Sept. 19 and runs through Nov. 3.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
