Squad Stands with MPLS Mamdani-Like Omar Fateh in Mayoral Showdown
Minnesota state Sen. Omar Fateh is receiving high-profile support from current and former team members Ilhan Omar and Jamaal Bowman as he campaigns for mayor of Minneapolis, marking a show of unity among progressive Democrats after months of internal party divisions.
Omar Fateh, a Democratic senator and self-described democratic socialist, gained public support from Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) in his bid to become mayor of Minneapolis. This show of support underscores the progressive “Squad” coalition’s continued influence within Democratic politics, even as some of its members have faced backlash and electoral setbacks.
In a video filmed Together, Omar and Fateh appeared to discuss the city’s rising costs, housing challenges and the need for what they described as “bold new leadership.” Omar said Minneapolis residents are “struggling to make ends meet” and “are tired of broken promises and vetoes,” while Fateh emphasized her goal of “building an affordable city that working families can live in.”
Fatah’s campaign platform understand raising the city’s minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2028, instituting rent stabilization, expanding non-police emergency response teams, and pushing for a local income tax on high earners. He also pledged to resist cooperation between local police and federal immigration agencies, saying Minneapolis should “stand up to Donald Trump” and “protect all communities.”
Fatah follow up with a graphic quoting Omar’s statement, which read, “Minneapolis deserves a champion for working people” and expressed his intention to list Fateh as his “top choice for mayor.” Friday, Fatah announcement an upcoming “Northside Doorknock” event with Jamaal Bowman, calling the former congressman “an inspiration to so many across the country.”
Bowman lost his bid for re-election in 2024 after a series of controversies, including setting off a fire alarm at the Capitol during a government funding vote and later pleading guilty to a misdemeanor. Capitol Police and the House Administration Committee investigation the incident after cameras showed Bowman removing warning signs and setting off the alarm just before a critical vote to avoid a government shutdown. He was fined $1,000 and required to write an apology to the Capitol Police.
Bowman was later defeated by Westchester County Executive George Latimer in what became the most Dear Primary house in American history, with over $23 million spent. The race ended his one-term congressional run and was seen as a major setback for the progressive “Squad.” Before leaving office, he called for the United States to accept Palestinian refugees and was among the few Democrats to refuse to support additional military aid to Israel.
Omar, for his part, remains one of Fatah’s strongest allies. The MP has already faced criticism over her own record, particularly over her personal finances – which grew up from about $51,000 to $30 million in one year — and a federal election complaint involved nearly $230,000 in campaign payments to her husband’s consulting firm. She also gained attention for her remarks call the United States, a “police state” under President Trump and suggesting the country was becoming “one of the worst in the world.”
Fatah’s campaign was marked by a series of conflicts and investigations. Earlier this year, the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party revoked his support for his candidacy for mayor after citing voting irregularities during the municipal convention, a decision Fatah called “backstage politics.” In previous reports, Breitbart News detailed Fateh’s ties to individuals linked to a federal food fraud investigation, his advocacy for taxpayer-funded college for illegal immigrants, and his support of George Floyd protesters during the 2020 riots.
