Minnesota state Sen. Omar Fateh is receiving widespread support from current and former squad members Ilhan Omar and Jamaal Bowman in his campaign for mayor of Minneapolis, marking a show of unity among progressive Democrats after months of intraparty divisions.
Omar Fateh, a Democratic state senator and self-described democratic socialist, has garnered public support from Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) in his bid for mayor of Minneapolis. The show of support underscores the continued influence of the progressive “Squad” coalition in Democratic politics, even as some of its members have faced backlash and electoral setbacks.
In the video removed Together, Omar and Fateh appeared to discuss the city's rising costs, housing problems and the need for what they called “new, bold leadership.” Omar said Minneapolis residents are “struggling to make ends meet” and are “tired of broken promises and vetoes,” while Fateh emphasized his goal of “building an affordable city that working families can call home.”
Fateh's election platform includes raising the city's minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2028, enacting rent stabilization, expanding non-police emergency response teams and lobbying for a local income tax on high earners. He also vowed to oppose cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities, saying Minneapolis must “stand up to Donald Trump” and “protect all communities.”
Fateh signed posted a graphic quoting Omar's statement saying, “Minneapolis deserves a champion for working people” and expressing its intention to name Fateh as its “first choice for mayor.” On Friday Fateh announced upcoming “Northside Doorknock” event with Jamaal Bowman, calling the former congressman “an inspiration to so many people across the country.”
Bowman lost his bid for re-election in 2024 over a series of controversies, including activating the Capitol's fire alarm during a vote on government funding and later pleading guilty to misdemeanors. Capitol Police and House Administration Committee investigated The incident after cameras showed Bowman removing warning signs and setting off alarms just before a critical vote to avoid a government shutdown. He was fined $1,000 and required to write an apology to Capitol Police.
Bowman was later defeated by Westchester County Executive George Latimer. Expensive The first house in American history to cost over $23 million. The race ended his tenure in Congress after one term and was seen as a major setback for the progressive “Squad”. Before leaving his post, he called advocated for the United States to accept Palestinian refugees, and was among the few Democrats who refused to support additional military aid to Israel.
Meanwhile, Omar remains one of Fateh's strongest allies. The congresswoman has previously faced criticism over her own record, including questions about her personal finances, which grew up from about $51,000 to $30 million a year, and the federal election complaint involved nearly $230,000 in campaign payments to her husband's consulting firm. She also attracted attention with her statements I'm calling The United States has become a “police state” under President Trump and offering the country was becoming “one of the worst in the world.”
Fateh's election campaign was marked by a series of controversies and investigations. Earlier this year, the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party withdrawn support for his candidacy for mayor after citing voting irregularities at the city convention, a move Fateh denounced as “backroom politics.” In past Breitbart News reporting detailed Fateh's connections to people involved in a federal food fraud investigation, his support for a taxpayer-funded college for undocumented immigrants, and his support for George Floyd protesters during the 2020 riots.
