State Sen. Omar Fateh kicked off his mayoral campaign Monday at city hall where he attacked Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s tenure.

Fateh said under Frey, it has become “harder to build our lives” and accused the current mayor of being a part of the failing status quo.

“Minneapolis residents are working hard for the city that they love, and they deserve a mayor that works as hard as they do,” Omar said. 

Fateh has represented the Phillips and Powderhorn neighborhoods in the state senate since 2020. At the event Monday, Fateh highlighted his work that guaranteed free college tuition for students whose families had a yearly income of $80,000 or less and secured around $19 million in public safety funding for Minneapolis.

If elected, Fateh promised a progressive tenure.

“As mayor, I’ll work with the progressive city council to achieve real wins for our neighbors and uplift those who are struggling to get by,” Fateh said.

Frey, first elected as mayor in 2017, said in a press release that Fateh is too radical for Minneapolis and would undo progress made under Frey.

“Mayor Frey’s responsible leadership has helped the city recover while making critical progress toward rebuilding the police department, leading the nation in affordable housing, and supporting workers and local businesses,” Frey said in the press release. “Senator Fateh, a Democratic Socialists of America member who supports removing the police department from the city charter, would jeopardize that progress by rubber-stamping the most extreme voices on the City Council.”

Fateh joins a crowded mayoral race as Rev. DeWayne Davis and former City Council Member Brenda Short (Ward 9) have already announced their campaigns.

City Council Member Emily Koski (Ward 11) said she is interested in a mayoral race and is expected to officially announce her run at a campaign event on Wednesday.

While Frey has not officially announced his campaign, he said on a radio podcast that he would seek a third term.