Minnesota’s DFL Party revokes endorsement for Omar Fateh after ‘substantial failures’ found in nomination process

Fateh, 35, a Somali American legislator and rising star on the party’s far-left wing, won more than 60 percent of delegate support at the Minneapolis DFL convention in July. But on Thursday, the party’s Constitution, Bylaws & Rules Committee nullified the endorsement after reviewing incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey’s challenge of the results.

DFL Chairman Richard Carlbom said in a statement, “After a thoughtful and transparent review of the challenges, the Constitution, Bylaws & Rules Committee found substantial failures in the Minneapolis Convention’s voting process on July 19th, including an acknowledgement that a mayoral candidate was errantly eliminated from contention.”

According to the DFL’s investigation, the electronic voting system used at the convention was “substantially flawed.” The review found a 176-vote undercount on the first ballot and revealed that candidate DeWayne Davis was improperly removed from the contest. Other irregularities included the loss of a credentials book, an unsecured master check-in sheet, and unauthorized access to the digital spreadsheet used for delegate tracking.

The findings prompted the DFL to strip Fateh of his endorsement, setting up a high-profile contest in November between the progressive state senator and Frey, who has led the city since 2017.

Carlbom added, “With an eye towards the 2026 midterms, the Minnesota DFL will broaden our coalition to elect leaders who will build an affordable economy that works for everyone.”

Fateh slammed the decision in a campaign video, accusing party insiders of overturning the will of Minneapolis delegates.

“Twenty-eight party insiders voted to take away our endorsement behind closed doors,” Fateh said. “This group was comprised of non-Minneapolis residents, Mayor Frey’s supporters and even donors. This is exactly what Minneapolis voters are sick of: the insider games, the backroom decision, and feeling like our voice doesn’t matter in our own city.”

Despite the setback, he vowed to push forward: “Let me be clear. We’re still in this fight, and we’re going to win.”

Frey, who has faced criticism for his leadership during the 2020 George Floyd riots, applauded the DFL for correcting what he called a “deeply flawed” process.

“I am proud to be a member of a party that believes in correcting our mistakes, and I am glad that this inaccurate and obviously flawed process was set aside,” Frey said in a statement. “I look forward to having a full and honest debate with Senator Fateh about our city’s future, with the outcome now resting squarely where it should, with all the people of Minneapolis.”

Fateh’s candidacy has attracted national attention for its similarities to Mamdani’s upset victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary against former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Like Mamdani, Fateh has championed policies such as rent controls, affordable housing expansion, and higher taxes on the wealthy. Both men are young, Muslim, and part of the Democratic Socialists of America’s ascendant wing in urban Democratic politics.