Minneapolis moderates and progressives both spun election results in their favor, but the real winner might be the status quo.
Mayor Jacob Frey’s election victory at the polls on Tuesday suggests Minneapolis voters opted for a known quantity in City Hall over the more progressive priorities promised by his lead challenger, Democratic Socialists of America-endorsed Omar Fateh.
Like it or not, Frey will find a known quantity in the City Council, too. Voters returned a progressive majority to power, setting up the possibility of continuing acrimony between the city’s executive and legislative branches.
“I’m humbled by the support and trust that the people of Minneapolis have placed in me,” Frey said in a statement Wednesday, promising to work for a city where residents “can build a brilliant life in an affordable home and a safe neighborhood.”
Conceding defeat, Fateh said the relatively close race had reframed public debate in Minnesota’s largest city.
“We have changed the narrative about what kind of city Minneapolis can be,” Fateh said. “Because now, truly affordable housing, workers’ rights, and public safety rooted in care are no longer side conversations; they are at the center of the narrative.”
A mixed picture downballot complicated efforts by either side to claim a win for their version of events — though not for lack of trying.
Despite an overwhelming fundraising advantage, Frey-aligned groups unseated only one City Council progressive: Ward 7’s Katie Cashman, who was heavily outspent by Park Board member Elizabeth Shaffer.
Brian Martucci is a Twin Cities-based freelance journalist covering the Twin Cities elections for MinnPost.
This article first appeared on MinnPost and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
