Between centrist-liberal Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar, there is no love lost. Following the congresswoman’s close victory in the primary on Tuesday, the two are now publicly arguing.
Frey gave his support to Don Samuels, Omar’s pro-police opponent, the week before the election. Even though Samuels outperformed what political pundits had predicted, he still lost.
Frey and Omar differ on a number of crucial topics, including public safety.
Omar favored dissolving and replacing the city’s police force after George Floyd was killed by cops in Minneapolis. She supported the unsuccessful ballot initiative that would have done so in 2021.
Omar called for votes to remove Frey from office during the same election cycle, but it too failed to happen.
Omar prevailed on Tuesday by fewer than 2,500 votes. Two years prior, Omar defeated Antone Melton-Meaux in the primary by a margin of 35,011 votes.
According to Frey, the results of this year’s primaries suggest that many voters are dissatisfied with Omar.
“It’s not just about tweeting hateful things and acting cruelly. It involves collaborating with others, “After the results were announced on Tuesday, Frey told FOX 9.
“Nobody is being asked to change their opinions or what they believe in. However, change at least to allow you to collaborate with others on important topics rather than making everything about you.”
On Wednesday, Omar retaliated through Twitter, writing, “Our inept Mayor gets irritated when we talk about his shortcomings, yet as the Mayor he is exclusively in control of our city, it’s police & public safety.”
People are aware that our city is suffering as a result of his terrible leadership and juvenile conduct, regardless of how much media coverage he receives.
Omar and Frey seldom cross paths in a professional setting. While Omar works on a national level on behalf of her constituents, Frey works locally.
However, the struggle between two Minneapolis-area lawmakers serves as an illustration of the persistent differences between progressives and traditionalists within the Democratic Party.
