DFL revocation of Minneapolis mayoral endorsement threatens to widen schism within party

The Minnesota DFL’s historic revocation of a Minneapolis mayoral race endorsement this week threatens to deepen the schism between the party’s more moderate establishment and an emboldened progressive wing.

Mayor Jacob Frey and his supporters celebrated the state party’s findings as a needed correction to a flawed convention process. Supporters of state Sen. Omar Fateh — for a month the DFL-endorsed mayoral candidate — argue that the decision reeks of insider influence.

The clash comes a year before elections in which Democrats will be fighting to retain their hold on statewide offices.

Representatives of labor unions and progressive political organizations gathered Friday at City Hall to denounce the state party’s decision. They said the convention’s outcome illustrated the will of the people, namely that they don’t want Frey.

“He is deeply unpopular, and no decision made by party insiders and influenced by wealthy donors will change that,” said Sheigh Freeberg, secretary-treasurer of Unite Here Local 17, the service industry union.

Speaking at his own news conference Friday morning, Frey questioned the convention process.

Asked whether the fallout would do lasting damage to the party brand, Frey said he’s not a pundit: “What I can say is that people need to believe that a process is fair.”

“People are tired of backroom decisions that take away the voice of everyday, working people,” said Graham Faulkner, Fateh’s co-campaign manager.

“They also understand that decisions like these fracture the party, reduce faith in the systems we use and do not support our collective efforts to win in the midterms.”

The consequences of the split are likely to ripple beyond the mayoral race. The fight pits a party establishment worried about the fallout from a having a self-described democratic socialist leading Minnesota’s largest city against some of the party’s most engaged and active voters — with state and national elections fast approaching.

“Minneapolis is the heart of the engine of Democratic turnout in our state,” U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar said in a statement. “Undoubtedly, this appalling decision will leave many voters feeling discouraged and unwelcome from participating in our party.”

Omar has yet to say whether she will make an endorsement in the mayoral race. Other high-profile Democrats have either similarly not said who they plan to endorse or, in the case of Gov. Tim Walz, openly backed Frey.

They’ve fought over everything from housing and police reform to homeless encampments and the Hamas-Israel war.

The way the endorsement played out — and was then thrown out — has furthered the distrust between the factions.

The Minneapolis DFL convention on July 19 at Target Center was marred by miscounted votes and procedural errors, prompting dozens of challenges. The state party’s Constitution, Bylaws and Rules Committee vacated the mayoral endorsement due to problems with the electronic balloting at the event.

Questioning donor influence, some Fateh supporters have pointed to a video clip of former Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman talking about donations she had gathered from several people intending to support candidates in Ward 7, which she used to represent.

Speaking on a conference call with the Frey-supporting “All of Mpls” political action committee, Goodman said she had checks worth nearly $25,000 that wouldn’t be cashed unless Fateh’s endorsement was overturned.

The checks were intended to go to specific Ward 7 candidates as a multicandidate donation; one of the intended beneficiaries was Elizabeth Shaffer, who’s running against Council Member Katie Cashman.

Cashman said she’s deeply unhappy about the donations and what she views as wealthy donors disenfranchising city delegates.

“If they wanted to donate to the DFL, they should do that and support the DFL — not only donate to the DFL if the DFL makes particular political decisions," Cashman said.

“And frankly, they should be putting their money towards gaining ground in swing districts around the state where we’re losing to the far right.”

Goodman declined to comment. Shaffer couldn’t be reached for comment.

“In the moment where we are fighting back against the extremes of Donald Trump, we are not looking at the big picture, which is what happens next and how do we be a party that helps the average American family live a better life,” Winkler said.