The gymnasium at the Brian Coyle Center was packed with people on an icy and cold Dec. 14 to support Minnesota District 62 Sen. Omar Fateh’s Minneapolis mayoral campaign.

“Serving in the Minnesota Senate, I've seen what we can accomplish when the Legislature can work with the right executive,” Fateh said at the kick-off event, promising to work with the “progressive City Council” to  “achieve real wins for our neighbors and uplift all of those that are struggling.”  

The Fateh campaign estimates that close to 300 people attended the event, during which Councilmembers Jason Chavez (Ward 9), Robin Wonsley (Ward 2), and Jamal Osman (Ward 6) vocalized their support.

“It’s been very challenging to work with the government structure and mayor’s power,” Osman said. “Things are super divided.”

Fateh’s event came after an intense City budget cycle where Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed the City’s 2025 budget because of councilmembers’ amendments. The City Council overrode the mayor’s veto on Dec. 12.  The next day Frey vetoed the Council’s denial of raises to the highest paid City staff in an attempt to save $1.1 million in the now-set tax levy.

“I had a conversation with Jacob,” Osman told the crowd, referring to the mayor of Minneapolis. “I told him, the City of Minneapolis and my community has elected you twice. But today, we have Omar Fateh.”

Osman described Fateh as someone who gets along with everyone and understands the youth.

Park & Recreation Board Commissioner Becky Alper and Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education Director Adriana Cerrillo also spoke in support of Fateh’s mayoral campaign at the event.

“It is time that Minneapolis is led by a man of integrity that represents immigrant communities,” Cerrillo said. “Because we have been left out by the status quo system.”

Sen. Omar Fateh has represented District 62 since 2021 and was the first Somali American to serve in the Minnesota Senate. Fateh hopes to also become the first Somali American elected mayor of Minneapolis.