Frey is winning mayoral money race, but his opponents lead in these areas

Mayor Jacob Frey leads the fundraising race for the Minneapolis mayoral election, attracting 552 individual donors, significantly more than his three opponents combined. His closest competitor, state senator Omar Fateh, has 156 donors, primarily from neighborhoods he represents, with an average donation of $186. While Frey enjoys strong support in affluent areas, Fateh focuses on mobilizing working-class voters with a platform that includes rent control and a $20 minimum wage. The dynamics of ranked choice voting play a crucial role, as Frey’s challengers have formed a "mayoral slate for change" to encourage voters to rank them over Frey. Fateh's previous DFL endorsement was revoked, complicating his campaign strategy.

Notably, in rent-burdened neighborhoods, the anti-Frey candidates collectively have more donors than Frey. This suggests that their messaging resonates in areas with higher immigrant populations and housing challenges. Ultimately, the election outcome remains uncertain as voter enthusiasm and fundraising tell different stories.