Committee to hear appeal, weigh DFL retraction of Fateh’s mayoral endorsement

Committee to hear appeal, weigh DFL retraction of Fateh’s mayoral endorsementCommittee to hear appeal, weigh DFL retraction of Fateh’s mayoral endorsement

Should Sen. Omar Fateh again be recognized as the DFL-endorsed candidate for Minneapolis mayor or was the state party right to vacate the city party’s endorsement?

That is what the DFL State Executive Committee will consider on Monday when the Minneapolis DFL argues its appeal.

Timeline

The controversy all stems from the Minneapolis DFL convention back in July.

RELATED: State Sen. Omar Fateh secures mayoral race endorsement at Minneapolis DFL Convention

Fateh won the party’s endorsement in a late-night vote at the convention, but others raised objections with the process and pointed out flaws and missed votes during the event.

A month later, the Minnesota DFL vacated the city party’s endorsement of Fateh, saying a review panel found “substantial failures.”

RELATED: DFL vacates Fateh’s endorsement for Minneapolis mayor, citing ‘substantial failures’ in process

The Minneapolis DFL officially filed its appeal earlier this month and wants the state party to restore the results from its convention and “respect the will of the delegates.”

It’s unclear how long it might take the state committee to make a decision.

Early voting in Minneapolis is already underway.

Reaction

Fateh’s campaign claims “establishment Democrats, including many Frey supporters,” coordinated an effort to throw out his endorsement.

“Our campaign sees this for what it is: disenfranchisement of thousands of Minneapolis caucus-goers and the delegates who represented all of us on convention day,” said Graham Faulkner, Fateh’s co-campaign manager. “The establishment is threatened by our message. They are scared of a politics that really stands up to corporate interests and with our working class neighbors.”

Mayor Jacob Frey’s campaign says the Minnesota DFL arrived at the right decision.

“I am proud to be a member of a party that believes in correcting our mistakes, and I am glad that this inaccurate and obviously flawed process was set aside,” Frey said. “I look forward to having a full and honest debate with Senator Fateh about our city’s future, with the outcome now resting squarely where it should — with all the people of Minneapolis.”

RELATED: Frey applauds DFL vacating Fateh’s mayoral endorsement; opponents denounce move

“This was the most unfair and procedurally flawed process I have witnessed in my 43 years of attending DFL conventions,” Minnesota DFL Chair Mike Erlandson said of the convention. “It is shameful the chair allowed this to happen and pushed forward with these invalid endorsements. We can and must do better as a party.”

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is among those who condemned the vacating of the endorsement, saying, “Fateh’s campaign organized and won the endorsement. This decision will be a stain on our party for years to come.”

Minneapolis DFL appeals withdrawal of Fateh endorsementIt comes after the state party vacated the endorsement due to alleged flaws in voting at the Minneapolis DFL convention.
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