MINNEAPOLIS — A state lawmaker who represents a portion of Minneapolis now wants the city's top job, working for all its residents.
State Senator Omar Fateh (DFL-District 62) on Monday launched his 2025 campaign for mayor of Minneapolis. Fateh was elected to the legislature in 2020, and is the first Somali American elected to the state senate.
Fateh is wasting no time targeting incumbent mayor Jacob Frey, saying Frey has failed city residents on issues ranging from public safety and housing to environmental justice. The state senator highlighted his work on the new law boosting the pay of rideshare drivers, helping secure free college tuition for families making less than $80,000, and increasing funding for local public safety agencies across Minnesota.
"Mayor Frey and the status quo are failing Minneapolis residents. We deserve leadership that makes it so people want to continue to live here, raise families here, and start businesses here," Fateh said when explaining why he is running for the mayor's office.
"I’m committed to building a city that works for everyone. Serving in the Minnesota Senate, I’ve seen firsthand what a progressive legislature can do with the right executive. As mayor, I will work with the progressive City Council to achieve tangible wins for our neighbors and uplift those of us who are struggling to get by."
Following Fateh's announcement, the Frey campaign sent a statement welcoming him to the race, while criticizing his positions as "extreme."
"We welcome Senator Fateh to the mayoral race and look forward to presenting voters with a clear choice between two contrasting visions for the future of Minneapolis. Mayor Frey's responsible leadership has helped the city recover while making critical progress toward rebuilding the police department, leading the nation in affordable housing, and supporting workers and local businesses. Senator Fateh, a Democratic Socialists of America member who supports removing the police department from the city charter, would jeopardize that progress by rubber-stamping the most extreme voices on the City Council," said a Frey campaign spokesperson.
Frey's job, along with all 13 city council seats, is up for election in 2025.
The 41-year-old Frey was first elected to the Minneapolis City Council in 2013 and then chosen as mayor in 2017.