Congresswoman Omar Joins Minneapolis DFL Elected Officials to Condemn the Revocation of Omar Fateh’s DFL Endorsement
MINNEAPOLIS – Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) joined a group of Minneapolis DFL elected officials to condemn the DFL Constitution, Bylaws & Rules Committee’s decision to revoke the endorsement of Omar Fateh. A full list of signers is included below the statement.
The group wrote: “We strongly condemn the DFL’s Constitution, Bylaws & Rules Committee’s (CBRC) decision to revoke the DFL endorsement from Omar Fateh. Last month, thousands of caucus-goers and delegates across Minneapolis gathered to participate in the Minneapolis DFL Convention. Now, a month later, a small group of DFL board members, a majority living outside Minneapolis, met privately to overturn the will of Minneapolis delegates who volunteered, organized, and participated in a months-long DFL process. It is inexcusable to overturn the results weeks after the convention because board members did not like the outcome. Not only does this decision set an extremely dangerous precedent, it will undermine the DFL endorsing process going forward and fails to center the will of delegates.
“Right now, there is a clear tension between the progressive democrats who are challenging the status quo and moderate democrats. It is extremely disheartening that Omar Fateh, the first Black mayoral candidate to be DFL-endorsed in the last three decades, will have his endorsement revoked. Chair Richard Carlbom campaigned on uniting the DFL; this decision directly runs counter to that effort, to which we are all committed. The DFL Party is a big-tent party and all factions should be fairly represented, not silenced. Minneapolis is the heart of the engine of Democratic turnout in our state. Undoubtedly, this appalling decision will leave many voters feeling discouraged and unwelcome from participating in our party.
“Throughout this mayoral campaign, we have seen the influence of big money in our politics. This should not be how decisions are made in our party. Blatant corruption should be widely condemned, not tolerated. We know organized people beat organized money. Fateh’s campaign organized and won the endorsement. This decision will be a stain on our party for years to come and damage our ability to organize for Democratic wins this year, next year, and beyond.”
Signers:
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar
State Senator Zaynab Mohamed
State Senator Doron Clark
State Rep. Aisha Gomez
State Rep. Fue Lee
State Rep. Mohamud Noor
State Rep. Sydney Jordan
State Rep. Esther Agbaje
Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando
Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene
Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley
City Council President Elliott Payne
City Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai
City Council Member Jamal Osman
City Council Member Jason Chavez
City Council Member Aurin Chowdhury
Minneapolis School Board Member Greta Callahan