Jacob Frey Secures Third Term in Minneapolis After Final Ranked-Choice Count

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey won a third consecutive term on Wednesday, prevailing over State Sen. Omar Fateh in the last round of the city’s ranked-choice voting tally. The final but unofficial results, released by the Minneapolis elections office, show Frey with 50.03 percent of the vote to Fateh’s 44.37 percent. The margin came after the elimination of 13 other candidates whose lower totals triggered redistribution of second- and third-choice preferences.

The contest began with 15 contenders. During the initial count late Tuesday, Frey led by roughly 10 percentage points yet fell short of the 50-percent-plus-one threshold required for an outright victory. Under Minneapolis’s ranked-choice system, when no candidate surpasses that mark, the lowest-finishing hopeful is removed sequentially, and ballots are reallocated according to subsequent rankings until a candidate crosses the majority line.

Field and alliances

Frey, a mainstream Democrat first elected in 2017, faced his strongest challenge from Fateh, a democratic socialist and member of the Minnesota Senate. Two additional candidates—Rev. DeWayne Davis and technology entrepreneur Jazz Hampton—garnered notable but smaller shares of first-choice votes. Fateh, Davis, and Hampton publicly urged supporters to rank each other and exclude Frey in an effort to block the incumbent; the strategy proved insufficient once lower-ranking competitors were eliminated.

Turnout sets municipal record

City officials reported that more than 147,000 residents cast ballots, the highest total ever recorded in a Minneapolis municipal election. With approximately 55 percent of registered voters participating, turnout edged past the previous record of 54 percent set in 2021. The City Council is scheduled to certify the results on Monday.

Campaign themes

Public safety, housing affordability, and economic recovery dominated the race. Minneapolis has been under national scrutiny since the 2020 death of George Floyd, which led to widespread protests and significant changes within the city’s police department. Frey’s administration negotiated agreements with both state and federal authorities to overhaul policing practices after hundreds of officers left the force. Fateh, aiming to become Minneapolis’s first Muslim and first Somali American mayor, emphasized expanded tenants’ protections, a larger role for non-police crisis responders, and labor rights initiatives.

Throughout the campaign, Frey pointed to ongoing efforts to recruit new officers, implement consent-decree reforms, and speed up housing construction permits. Fateh argued that these steps were not keeping pace with community needs and highlighted the rising cost of living, particularly for renters.

Outcome and statements

After the final distribution of rankings, Frey barely surpassed the majority requirement, improving slightly from the 49.1 percent share he recorded in 2021. In a written statement released moments after results were posted, he pledged to “work tirelessly” over the next four years to ensure all residents can “build a life in an affordable home and a safe neighborhood.”

Fateh conceded the election and remarked that the campaign had shifted the city’s policy conversation toward affordable housing, worker protections, and community-based safety alternatives. He vowed to continue advancing those priorities in the state legislature.

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Regional ripple effect

The Minneapolis outcome arrived one day after Zohran Mamdani, also a democratic socialist, won the New York City mayoral race, prompting national attention on progressive campaigns. Fateh’s bid drew parallels because of ideological alignment and shared immigrant-family backgrounds, though Fateh was born in the United States.

Across the Mississippi River in neighboring St. Paul, voters produced an upset of their own. Democratic state Rep. Kaohly Her defeated incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter during the early hours of Wednesday’s count. Her will become both the first woman and the first Hmong American to lead Minnesota’s capital, which holds the largest Hmong community in the United States. All seven seats on the St. Paul City Council were also won by women, setting up an all-female governing body for the coming term.

Ranked-choice voting in context

Minneapolis adopted ranked-choice voting in 2006 and first used it in 2009. Advocates argue that the system eliminates costly runoffs and encourages coalition building, while critics contend it can confuse voters. According to research compiled by the Pew Research Center, jurisdictions employing ranked-choice elections have recorded mixed effects on turnout but modestly higher voter satisfaction with campaign tone.

With the certification vote pending, Frey prepares to begin his new term amid continued scrutiny of police reform benchmarks and mounting demand for affordable housing solutions. City staff indicated that budget negotiations, scheduled for later this month, will test how efficiently the administration can translate campaign pledges into policy during a period of heightened public engagement.

Crédito da imagem: Associated Press