Omar Fateh, a Minnesota state senator and the first Somali-American and Muslim elected to the state legislature, has emerged as a controversial figure as he runs for mayor of Minneapolis in 2025. Since announcing his campaign in late 2024 and launching it in mid-2025, Fateh has drawn national attention for his aggressive policy agenda and the backlash it has sparked.
A self-described democratic socialist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Fateh has proposed a sharp shift in city policy. His platform includes raising the minimum wage to $20 by 2028, freezing rent prices, and preventing the Minneapolis Police Department from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
A Radical Progressive Agenda
Fateh’s platform prioritizes expansive government intervention, including a wage hike many business owners warn could lead to job losses and bankruptcies. His rent freeze proposal has drawn criticism from property owners and economists who say it would worsen housing shortages. His pledge to block MPD collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement has raised public safety concerns, especially in light of rising crime in urban areas.
Additional proposals, such as legalizing fentanyl test strips, shifting police funding to social services, and investing in controversial city-sponsored events, have fueled accusations that his agenda prioritizes ideology over practical governance. Many social media users have voiced concerns about his rhetoric and past comments, including his references to Somalia as “our home,” which have led some to question his priorities and loyalty.
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Political Lapses
Fateh’s political record has also come under renewed scrutiny. In 2023, a Senate ethics complaint was filed after he likened Republican colleagues to violent extremists. He later underwent campaign finance training after failing to disclose payments to a media outlet tied to his constituency. He also returned $11,000 in donations linked to a widespread fraud investigation involving Feeding Our Future, though he accepted the funds in the first place. In 2021, Fateh supported replacing the Minneapolis Police Department with a Department of Public Safety, a proposal soundly rejected by voters. Despite his Marxist rhetoric, Fateh continues to campaign on a far-left platform to reshape the city.
