Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey wins re-election over Sen. Omar Fateh

Jacob Frey speaks after winning re-election

Mayor Jacob Frey celebrated on Wednesday after winning a third term in office.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Jacob Frey has won re-election as Minneapolis mayor, defeating Sen. Omar Fateh after ranked-choice votes were tabulated on Wednesday.

Minneapolis Mayor election ranked-choice voting

Jacob Frey speaks to election night crowd

Speaking before a crowd of supporters, incumbent Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey saying a near record turnout looks "damn good" as ranked choice voting will go into at least a second round to determine a winner.

What happened:

Mayor Frey was on the ballot with 14 other candidates, including Sen. Omar Fateh. After the first round of voting, Mayor Frey led the race with 42% of votes, while Sen. Fateh secured 32% of the votes. Other challengers, including DeWayne Davis and Jazz Hamptom, received 14% and 10% of votes, respectively.

A candidate needs a majority to win, meaning more than 50% of the vote, so 50% + 1.

Frey wins race

Big picture view:

After ranked-choice votes were tabulated on Wednesday, Frey earned 73,723 final round votes, giving him 50.03 percent of the vote. Fateh finished with 65,377 votes.

Sen. Omar Fateh speech at election party

Minnesota Sen. Omar Fateh talks to an election party crowd about the campaign he ran against incumbent Jacob Frey ahead of a second round of rank choice voting to determine the next mayor of Minneapolis.

Big picture view:

The defeat of Katie Cashman in Ward 7 cut into the veto-proof majority held by the progressive bloc on the council, which has been at odds with Mayor Jacob Frey.

Burnett was thought to align more with the progressive majority on the council and had been endorsed by Ellison and Rep. Ilhan Omar. Warren was backed by All of Minneapolis, the local political organization that supports Mayor Frey and Elizabeth Shaffer – the Ward 7 candidate who defeated Cashman.

Despite Warren's win, the council's progressive bloc retained a seven-vote majority, but will no longer have the votes to override a Frey veto by themselves.

Fateh reacts

What they're saying:

In a statement after votes were counted on Wednesday, Sen. Fateh said:

"Thank you to every single person who believed in this scrappy campaign. Who believed in a vision for Minneapolis that was more affordable, that was more accountable, who showed up and worked and refused to give up on this city. This campaign was about the kind of Minneapolis that gives you every tool to spread your wings and enough support to lift you up if you stumble.

"While we came up short, I am incredibly proud of the campaign we have run, and our team who gave absolutely everything they have. Truth is, from day one, we knew what we were up against. Five PACs. Millions of dollars flooding into our city. I know that I, alongside the renters, the workers, the families, the people of this city who were long left behind, built something money can’t buy: people power. We built a campaign rooted in dignity, in care, and in courage. And nothing can take that away.

"They may have won this race, but we have changed the narrative about what kind of city Minneapolis can be. Because now, truly affordable housing, workers’ rights, and public safety rooted in care are no longer side conversations; they are at the center of the narrative. We'll keep going and believing in the bright future Minneapolis deserves. I love you, Minneapolis, and I am so proud of what we built together."