Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Secures Third Term, Ousting Democratic Socialist Challenger Omar Fateh in Ranked-Choice Vote.
In a closely watched election, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has emerged victorious, defeating Democratic state Senator Omar Fateh and 13 other challengers. The centrist Democrat secured 50.03% of the vote, surpassing the 50%-plus-one threshold required to win outright after the final round of counting in the city's ranked-choice election.
Fateh, a progressive candidate who ran as a democratic socialist, drew parallels with New York City's Zohran Mamdani and drew comparisons with Fateh's own progressive platforms centered on housing, labor rights, and community-led public safety. Despite an effort by his supporters to rank other candidates in hopes of ousting Frey, the incumbent maintained a steady lead through each round of counting.
The outcome marks another test of leadership for a mayor who guided Minneapolis through tumultuous times following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. His administration struck agreements with state and federal officials to overhaul the city's police department, which lost hundreds of officers in the aftermath of Floyd's death.
The high turnout of over 147,000 ballots โ representing 55% of registered voters โ is a testament to the city's renewed engagement with its municipal elections. The Minneapolis City Council is expected to certify the final results on Monday, while neighboring St. Paul saw Democratic state Rep. Kaohly Her emerge victorious in her bid to unseat incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter.
In the aftermath of his victory, Frey plans to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon to outline his priorities for his third term. The democratic socialist challenger, Omar Fateh, conceded the race and congratulated Frey while celebrating the movement his campaign built.
In a closely watched election, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has emerged victorious, defeating Democratic state Senator Omar Fateh and 13 other challengers. The centrist Democrat secured 50.03% of the vote, surpassing the 50%-plus-one threshold required to win outright after the final round of counting in the city's ranked-choice election.
Fateh, a progressive candidate who ran as a democratic socialist, drew parallels with New York City's Zohran Mamdani and drew comparisons with Fateh's own progressive platforms centered on housing, labor rights, and community-led public safety. Despite an effort by his supporters to rank other candidates in hopes of ousting Frey, the incumbent maintained a steady lead through each round of counting.
The outcome marks another test of leadership for a mayor who guided Minneapolis through tumultuous times following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. His administration struck agreements with state and federal officials to overhaul the city's police department, which lost hundreds of officers in the aftermath of Floyd's death.
The high turnout of over 147,000 ballots โ representing 55% of registered voters โ is a testament to the city's renewed engagement with its municipal elections. The Minneapolis City Council is expected to certify the final results on Monday, while neighboring St. Paul saw Democratic state Rep. Kaohly Her emerge victorious in her bid to unseat incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter.
In the aftermath of his victory, Frey plans to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon to outline his priorities for his third term. The democratic socialist challenger, Omar Fateh, conceded the race and congratulated Frey while celebrating the movement his campaign built.