Minneapolis Mayoral Race Heads to Ranked Choice Voting Round Two
The Minneapolis mayoral election has entered a tense and closely watched stage, as results from Tuesday’s vote revealed that no candidate secured a majority of first-choice votes. Incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey led the field with roughly 42% of the first-choice votes, but because a candidate needs more than 50% to win outright, the race will now move into a second round of ranked choice vote tabulations.
Frey, who is seeking a third term, faced off against 14 other candidates, though the contest quickly narrowed to a showdown between him and State Senator Omar Fateh, who earned about 32% of first-choice votes. Both men identify as Democrats, yet their campaigns have taken distinctly different approaches. Frey, the better-funded candidate, has leveraged support from political heavyweights such as Governor Tim Walz and Senator Amy Klobuchar, along with a political action committee that has funded digital ads critical of Fateh. Fateh, in contrast, framed his campaign as a push against the “status quo,” appealing to progressive voters and seeking to mobilize Minneapolis’ sizable Somali American community, particularly in neighborhoods like Cedar-Riverside. Fateh also received an endorsement from Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.
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The ranked choice voting system in Minneapolis, implemented in 2009, allows voters to rank up to three candidates in order of preference. If no candidate reaches a majority in the first round, votes from the lowest-ranking candidates are redistributed based on voters’ next choices. This process will continue until one candidate surpasses the 50% threshold. Historically, every mayoral race since 2013 has required at least a second round of tabulation, and in some cases, multiple rounds were needed to declare a winner.
Other candidates in the race, including Pastor DeWayne Davis and attorney Jazz Hampton, received smaller shares of the vote, roughly 14% and 10% respectively, keeping their paths to victory technically alive but unlikely. On election night, Frey addressed supporters with cautious optimism, praising a near-record voter turnout and emphasizing the city’s resilience and ongoing recovery. Fateh, speaking to his own supporters, urged patience and pride, noting that the campaign had already shifted the conversation about the future of Minneapolis.
With second-choice votes set to be counted on Wednesday—and a potential third round if necessary—the outcome of this highly competitive election remains uncertain. Minneapolis residents, alongside political observers, will be watching closely as the ranked choice process unfolds, determining whether Frey will secure another term or if Fateh will make history as the city’s first Somali American mayor.
The race is more than a contest for the mayor’s office; it is seen as a reflection of Minneapolis’ evolving political landscape and a test of how the city’s diverse communities will shape its leadership in the coming years.
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