Following an election on Tuesday, the Minneapolis mayoral race has advanced to a ranked choice voting phase after no candidate secured 50% of the first-choice votes, according to The Associated Press. This marks the third time since 2013 that the city’s mayoral race will require multiple rounds of voting to determine a winner, with the process continuing until a majority is achieved.
Among the most prominent candidates was Omar Fateh, a democratic socialist who ran on a platform emphasizing social equity for a rapidly changing society. Fateh, a 35-year-old son of Somali immigrants, made waves nationally after his campaign, led by the Democratic Socialists of America and endorsed by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., drew comparisons to Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign in New York City. While initially endorsed by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in July, the endorsement was later rescinded due to procedural disputes within the party, a move that drew significant public attention from Fateh and his supporters.
Incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey, who has previously won re-election in 2021 after two rounds of ranked choice voting, now faces a challenging race against Fateh and a diverse field of other candidates. The race in Minneapolis is nonpartisan by law, though candidates can still choose to identify with a political party. The race’s outcomes are expected to significantly influence the direction of the city’s policies, particularly as it comes in the wake of the 2020 killing of George Floyd and the recent mass shooting at a back-to-school Mass in August.
Prior to these events, the city had already been in the national spotlight due to the intense protests that followed the death of George Floyd, which were part of a broader nationwide movement against racial injustice and police brutality. The situation has added a layer of national significance to this election, with political figures like Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar publicly endorsing Frey, indicating the race’s potential impact beyond city hall.
While the election’s resolution remains uncertain, the outcome of the mayoral race is likely to shape the future of Minneapolis in terms of governance, race relations, and economic policies. The process of ranked choice voting, which has been utilized in the city since its inception, will determine the final outcome, with voters expected to have their rankings in place to help guide the decision-making process.