DFL revocation of Minneapolis mayoral endorsement threatens to widen schism within party [View all]

The Minnesota DFL’s historic revocation of a Minneapolis mayoral race endorsement this week threatens to deepen the schism between the party’s more moderate establishment and an emboldened progressive wing.

Mayor Jacob Frey and his supporters celebrated the state party’s findings as a needed correction to a flawed convention process. Supporters of state Sen. Omar Fateh — for a month the DFL-endorsed mayoral candidate — argue that the decision reeks of insider influence. The clash comes a year before elections in which Democrats will be fighting to retain their hold on statewide offices.

Representatives of labor unions and progressive political organizations gathered Friday at City Hall to denounce the state party’s decision. They said the convention’s outcome illustrated the will of the people, namely that they don’t want Frey.

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The revocation of Fateh’s endorsement is only the latest battle between progressives and centrists, a fight that’s lasted through much of Frey’s two terms as mayor. They’ve fought over everything from housing and police reform to homeless encampments and the Hamas-Israel war. The way the endorsement played out — and was then thrown out — has furthered the distrust between the factions.

The Minneapolis DFL convention on July 19 at Target Center was marred by miscounted votes and procedural errors, prompting dozens of challenges. The state party’s Constitution, Bylaws and Rules Committee vacated the mayoral endorsement due to problems with the electronic balloting at the event.

https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-mayor-endorsement-dfl-party-divide/601459401