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The Minnesota DFL is rescinding its endorsement of a candidate in the Minneapolis Mayor’s race after a committee found problems with the endorsement process held earlier this summer.

In a statement, the DFL’s Constitution, Bylaws and Rules Committee, after an investigation, found that there was clear evidence that the endorsement of State Sen. Omar Fateh for mayor “was facilitated by use of a flawed electronic voting system” which they say led to a substantial undercount on the first ballot and led to a candidate being dropped from consideration after that first ballot.

Because of the ruling, the party will not endorse any candidate for the mayoral race.

In a statement, DFL Party Chairman Richard Carlbom said, “Now it’s time to turn our focus to unity and our common goal: electing DFL leaders focused on making life more affordable for Minnesotans and holding Republicans accountable for the chaos and confusion they’ve unleashed on Minnesotans.”

A draft of the findings of fact showed that an Excel spreadsheet used to tabulate votes had several broken formulas, that one candidate who was later found to have reached the 20 percent threshold in the first vote was dropped, the spreadsheet was unsecured and accessed by non-members of the credentials committee, including by campaigns, among other problems. 

In their decision, they found those flaws were enough that the first and second ballots of the mayoral endorsement votes should be disregarded and that Fateh’s endorsement should be revoked.

Fateh’s campaign says they are actively exploring an appeal of the decision.

In a statement from Fateh’s co-campaign manager Graham Faulkner, he said the challenge was pushed by “party insiders and establishment Democrats” who pushed to “overturn the will of Minneapolis residents.”

“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,” Graham said in an emailed statement. “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.”

Fateh’s supporters condemned the decision, including union and progressive political organizers. They said at a press conference Friday the state party’s decision is undemocratic and divisive.

Rod Adams, executive director of New Justice Project Action, said the Minnesota DFL’s decision disenfranchises Minneapolis voters at a time when voters are already distrustful of the political process. 

“All over the country, people are questioning, should I engage in democracy? One of the reasons it’s under attack is because people don't believe it works,” Adams said. “And the reason people do not believe that democracy works is because of moments like this.”

Fateh’s opponent, current Mayor Jacob Frey, praised the decision to vacate the mayoral endorsement, arguing now mayoral candidates will be treated fairly by the DFL in the November election.

“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,” said Frey in an emailed statement. “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.”

Going further, he argued the convention process itself is “exclusive” in the best of circumstances and deserves a second look.

“I believe that the decision about who should be the next mayor should not be based on a few hundred people at a party convention where a couple hundred didn’t get the chance to vote when they should have,” Frey said.

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The Minnesota DFL is rescinding its endorsement of State Sen. Omar Fateh in the Minneapolis Mayor’s race after a committee found problems with the endorsement process held earlier this summer. The party will not endorse a candidate in the race.

Minnesota DFL rescinds Minneapolis mayoral endorsement

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