The Mayor of Minneapolis is reacting to the resolution of the DFL party endorsement that went to his political opponent.
Mayor Jacob Frey says the state DFL's decision to revoke the endorsement of opponent, state Sen. Omar Fatah, was the right move.
"One of the things that really separates us as Democrats is that we recognize when mistakes were made," Frey said Friday. "And that's exactly what happened. I'm appreciative of the state party that they conducted a thorough investigation that was based not on politics, but on evidence and facts."
Frey says since there won't be an endorsement by the DFL, all candidates for Minneapolis mayor will be treated equally.
DFL Party Chairman Richard Carlbom released a statement Thursday afternoon saying the convention's rules and bylaws were not followed at Minneapolis' DFL Convention in July, and they are vacating the endorsement of Fateh.
Fateh released a statement by video Thursday evening blasting that decision.
"Frey's team used every tactic they could, including delay and confusion on convention day because they didn't have the votes," Fateh said. "We see this for what it is, disenfranchisement of thousands of Minneapolis caucus-goers and the delegates who represented all of us on convention day. Let me be clear, we're still in this fight and we're going to win."
Support for Fateh also came from Minnesota Fifth District Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who represents Minneapolis in Washington. Omar led other DFL supporters of Fateh in a letter announcing they "strongly condemn" the move.
"Right now, there is a clear tension between the progressive Democrats who are challenging the status quo and moderate Democrats," Omar says. "It is extremely disheartening that Omar Fateh, the first Black mayoral candidate to be DFL-endorsed in the last three decades, will have his endorsement revoked."
Supporters of Fateh spoke out Friday about the decision Friday with Minneapolis delegate and Co-Executive Director of Take Action Minnesota Amanda Otero admitting there were issues with the balloting process.
But Otero also says Fateh would have received the endorsement regardless.
"If we were getting, as delegates in that room, transparent information about the vote counts and the ballots and what was happening with the system, and then having people propose solutions and voting on those as to the next step, that to me is a democratic process that should withstand the party's oversight," says Otero.
She adds that this is the type of thing that could keep people from participating in local politics.
"Our members are clearer than ever what is at stake in this country right now, and what it's gonna take to have a big, united front, and really confront the authority of the rising authoritarianism in this country," says Otero. "And when folks take that risk and raise their hand and engage, it's really concerning when that the will of those grassroots volunteers and delegates is being undermined by a state party."
WCCO Political Analyst Blois Olson says going back to the convention, there were several issues that cropped up. The party has also told the Minneapolis DFL that they are not permitted to hold another endorsing convention in 2025.
"So this changes what the party can do on behalf of Fateh for the rest of the election," says Olson. "And obviously, I think creates some deeper issues of trust between the Democratic socialists and traditional Democrats within the DFL."
This means there won't be an endorsement in the race for mayor in Minneapolis.
"It means that the party cannot spend money on any mayoral candidate's behalf, where had Fateh kept the endorsement, they would have been able to use party resources for his campaign," Olson adds.