Minnesota state Sen. Omar Fateh, who is running for mayor of Minneapolis, is speaking out after his campaign office was vandalized with a threatening message earlier this week. According to his campaign, the message left at the scene read: “Somali Muslim — this warning is no joke.” The incident was reported to police on Wednesday, and an investigation is underway.
In a statement, Fateh, 35, condemned the act, calling it an attempt to intimidate him and his supporters. He said neither he nor his team will back down in the face of Islamophobia or threats. “We will not be deterred by hate speech and vandalism. I will not be bullied or intimidated. The people of Minneapolis are demanding change, and I will continue fighting for it. My team and I are dedicated to connecting with residents and winning this election. We will not be stopped,” he said.
The act of vandalism comes at a tense time in Fateh’s campaign. Just last month, the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party revoked its endorsement of him following a dispute over the Minneapolis DFL convention. The controversy arose after incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey challenged the results of the July endorsement vote, claiming the electronic voting system used at the convention was flawed and unreliable. State party officials agreed, pointing to what they called an “extraordinarily high” number of uncounted votes, and decided to strip the endorsement.
The Minneapolis DFL itself faced consequences from the state party. It was placed on a two-year probation and barred from making endorsements in this year’s mayoral race. The local party has since appealed the decision, but the dispute has left many Democrats divided over how the process was handled.
Several prominent figures in the DFL criticized the state party’s actions, arguing that stripping Fateh of his endorsement undermined local democracy. Among those speaking out in his defense was U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, who represents Minnesota’s 5th District in Congress. Omar herself has been the subject of repeated racist and anti-Somali attacks, most recently from Republican President Donald Trump, who made disparaging remarks about her background while his allies in Congress pushed to censure her over comments critical of a conservative activist.
Fateh’s candidacy carries historic significance in Minnesota politics. Born in Washington, D.C., to Somali parents, he made history as the first Somali American and Muslim elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. He is now in his second term, representing District 62, which includes much of south Minneapolis. His campaign for mayor has drawn support from progressives across the city, with many seeing him as a fresh alternative to the current leadership.
For Fateh and his team, the recent act of vandalism is more than just a campaign setback — it is a reminder of the challenges faced by immigrant and Muslim communities in public life. Fateh has vowed to continue engaging with voters and to keep the focus on the issues that matter most to Minneapolis residents, such as affordable housing, police accountability, and equitable development. Despite the threats, he says he is determined to keep pushing forward.
As the mayoral race intensifies, Fateh’s campaign is likely to remain under close watch, both for the political battles ahead and for the resilience it shows in the face of hate-driven intimidation. For Fateh, the message to his supporters and to the city is clear: his campaign will not be silenced.
