Minneapolis Mayoral Race Heads to Ranked-Choice Runoff: Frey vs. Fateh
Minneapolis is in the midst of a ranked-choice mayoral race as no candidate secured over 50% of the votes in the initial round. Incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey faced off against numerous other candidates, with voters able to rank up to three choices. Frey initially held a lead over state Sen. Omar Fateh but fell short of the majority needed to win outright.
The mayoral election now moves to a second round of counting, where the candidate with the fewest votes in each round is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the next-ranked candidates. This process continues until one candidate secures a majority. Minneapolis mayoral races have gone to at least a second round of tabulations since 2013, with Frey winning in 2017 after six rounds and in 2021 after two rounds.
Fateh, a progressive Democrat and Muslim Somali American, initially secured the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's endorsement but had it rescinded due to voting process issues. He was endorsed by Rep. Ilhan Omar and aimed to address disparities in the city. Frey, on the other hand, received endorsements from Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, maintaining a lead in the race.
While Fateh still has a chance to overtake Frey, the incumbent mayor remains in a strong position. Frey expressed optimism about the turnout and results, indicating a positive outlook for his campaign. The final outcome of the Minneapolis mayoral race will be determined through the ongoing ranked-choice counting process.