In a move that mirrors the political trajectory of New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, Minnesota State Sen. Omar Fateh, a self-identified democratic socialist and the first Somali American and Muslim to serve in the Minnesota Senate, has announced his candidacy for the mayoralty of Minneapolis.
His campaign is built on a platform that champions pro-illegal immigration, anti-police, and anti-Israel policies.
According to Breitbart, Fateh, a Democrat, has previously accused Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado, of white supremacy due to her opposition to taxpayer-funded college for illegal aliens. His mayoral campaign is underpinned by a series of progressive legislative proposals, including offering free college tuition to households with an annual income of less than $80,000, irrespective of their immigration status. Fateh justifies this as a necessary measure to broaden opportunities for "all Minnesotans."
In a campaign video, Fateh outlined a platform that mirrors the socialist policies seen in New York. He pledged to "protect our city from a hostile White House" and to resist cooperation with federal immigration authorities. "Protecting all of our communities from Donald Trump means not letting MPD interact with ICE, whether it's for an immigration raid or not," Fateh stated. "Our residents deserve a mayor that will stand up to Donald Trump and say 'No, not in our community.'"
Fateh's campaign also advocates for the implementation of carbon fees approved by the City Council, investment in programs that prioritize the transition of the city's vehicle fleet to electric vehicles, and the expansion of "alternative" public safety initiatives. These include the Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) team, which provides non-police responses in certain emergency situations.
The candidate has also committed to increasing the city's minimum wage to $20 per hour by 2028. Furthermore, he proposed lobbying the State of Minnesota to permit Minneapolis to introduce a local income tax targeting higher earners. "I will lobby the State of Minnesota to allow the City of Minneapolis to institute a local option income tax to ensure the wealthy pay their fair share," his campaign website states.
In 2022, a campaign volunteer for Fateh's primary bid, Muse Mohamud Mohamed, was found guilty of perjury during a voter fraud investigation. Despite the conviction, Fateh expressed his concern and reaffirmed his commitment to "organizing and governing to strengthen a fair and free democracy."
In March 2024, Fateh joined other progressive Democrats in casting a protest vote against President Joe Biden in Minnesotas Super Tuesday primary. He described his uncommitted vote as a warning to the Biden administration over its support for Israel in the war against Hamas. He stated that unless they are to take immediate and dramatic action to stop Israel from continuing the genocide, they cannot expect support from progressives.
Fateh's appeal to the city's sizable Somali Muslim population, a key constituency for him, is evident in his campaign materials. In one promotional video aimed at Somali voters, the only English-language phrase that Fateh used, apart from his congressional district, was rental assistance program. This suggests that Fateh's campaign is not only focused on broader progressive policies but also on addressing the specific needs of his core constituents.
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