Minnesota's House Majority Whip, Tom Emmer, has issued a stern warning to voters about Omar Fateh, a Minneapolis mayoral candidate.
Emmer, a prominent Republican figure, has criticized Fateh's pledge to protect illegal immigrants from deportation, labeling it as a threat to the city's stability. He has urged voters to reject Fateh, a self-proclaimed socialist, in the upcoming November elections.
According to the Daily Caller, Emmer has expressed concern over the possibility of Fateh, a 35-year-old socialist, becoming the mayor of Minnesota's most populous city. He has likened Fateh's political trajectory to that of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic mayoral nominee for New York City, whose sudden rise has sparked a wave of far-left political ambition across the United States.
Emmer has criticized Fateh's promise to shield illegal immigrants from what he terms as "a hostile federal government," arguing that such a socialist vision could wreak havoc on Minneapolis.
Emmer stated, "As if Omar Fatehs radical, communist agenda wasnt enough, hes now vowing to prioritize illegal aliens over the people of Minneapolis." He further criticized Fateh's stance, pointing out that the Trump administration had recently removed 11 illegal alien sex offenders from the city's streets. Emmer argued that Fateh seemed more concerned with protecting these criminals than with the welfare of Minnesotans.
Fateh, a Minnesota state Senator and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is the son of Somali immigrants. His campaign has been marred by controversy due to his pledge to prioritize the wellbeing of illegal immigrants if elected mayor. Fateh has also promised to prevent Minneapolis from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and has previously sponsored legislation to make Minnesota a "sanctuary" state.
During an interview with KARE 11 News in Minnesota, Fateh expressed his concerns about the Trump administration, stating, "The first [priority], I would say, would be a hostile federal government, with not only [President] Donald Trump in office, but he has essentially a trifecta, both chambers of Congress and the Supreme Court. And a lot of our neighbors, especially our undocumented residents, are very concerned."
Emmer has also criticized other aspects of Fateh's socialist platform, arguing that his far-left policies would increase the cost of living, compromise public safety, and drive businesses out of the state. Fateh's platform includes proposals for rent stabilization, a minimum wage increase to $20 per hour by 2028, and a tax hike for some Minneapolis residents.
Despite these controversies, Fateh has gained momentum in the race, securing the endorsement of the Minneapolis DFL, the local division of state Democrats, in July. This endorsement, the first for a mayoral candidate in 16 years, grants Fateh access to party resources during the final months of the campaign.
Emmer views the Minneapolis DFL's endorsement of Fateh as an indication of the growing influence of the Democratic Party's socialist wing, which he believes is pushing the party further from the ideological center.
He stated, "I think the Democrat Party is dead in this country as we know it. It has now become something totally different, and I think youll start to see even Democrats who are left of center, as Donald Trump continues to lead the way, and Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate govern, I think youll see some of them start to literally they wont become Republicans but they will start voting with Republicans."
Emmer's comments reflect a broader sentiment among conservatives, as evidenced by a July Wall Street Journal poll that found the Democratic Party's approval rating at its lowest point in over three decades. As the November elections approach, the fate of Minneapolis hangs in the balance, with voters tasked with choosing between a socialist candidate and the preservation of traditional values.
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