@robingarwood.bsky.social
Absolutely true.
November 10, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Absolutely true.
I do think most of the Davis voters I know ranked Fateh, but there were clearly enough Davis/Frey and Hampton/Frey folks to swamp us. And I think it's pretty incontestable that he ran a superb campaign. That all underscores the question: is this the ceiling for the leftmost candidate citywide?
November 9, 2025 at 11:45 PM
I do think most of the Davis voters I know ranked Fateh, but there were clearly enough Davis/Frey and Hampton/Frey folks to swamp us. And I think it's pretty incontestable that he ran a superb campaign. That all underscores the question: is this the ceiling for the leftmost candidate citywide?
I think this piece is very well written and I wish more Mpls voters had had that perspective. We'd certainly be much better of with Fateh as mayor than Frey. One silver lining of this pretty dark cloud is that Fateh will still be able to accomplish more good work in the Senate.
November 9, 2025 at 10:19 PM
I think this piece is very well written and I wish more Mpls voters had had that perspective. We'd certainly be much better of with Fateh as mayor than Frey. One silver lining of this pretty dark cloud is that Fateh will still be able to accomplish more good work in the Senate.
I don't think that kind of argument works very well, and I think it's easy for those of us on the left to see it when it's coming from the center. "Get over your concerns about Gaza and vote for Kamala" didn't work. I don't think it works very well the other way, either. Votes are earned, not owed.
November 9, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I don't think that kind of argument works very well, and I think it's easy for those of us on the left to see it when it's coming from the center. "Get over your concerns about Gaza and vote for Kamala" didn't work. I don't think it works very well the other way, either. Votes are earned, not owed.
Racial bias is clearly part of it, though a lot of the center-left voters I know who had concerns about Fateh strongly supported Davis, so I don't think it's everything.
I think you're right that there's a similar argument being made by candidates: get over your concerns and get behind me.
I think you're right that there's a similar argument being made by candidates: get over your concerns and get behind me.
November 9, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Racial bias is clearly part of it, though a lot of the center-left voters I know who had concerns about Fateh strongly supported Davis, so I don't think it's everything.
I think you're right that there's a similar argument being made by candidates: get over your concerns and get behind me.
I think you're right that there's a similar argument being made by candidates: get over your concerns and get behind me.
I think you maybe think this is somehow unique to people's take on Fateh, when I don't think it is. I know folks who have exactly the same concerns about, for example, Walz: that he was willing to bargain away stuff they cared about deeply (environment policy, for example) to focus on other things.
November 9, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I think you maybe think this is somehow unique to people's take on Fateh, when I don't think it is. I know folks who have exactly the same concerns about, for example, Walz: that he was willing to bargain away stuff they cared about deeply (environment policy, for example) to focus on other things.
And I think you've put your finger on exactly why the frustration was so great: because they'd seen their progressive priorities fail to pass, forever. And we've had one trifecta in a generation, and it had one last session in which to pass the stuff they cared about.
November 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
And I think you've put your finger on exactly why the frustration was so great: because they'd seen their progressive priorities fail to pass, forever. And we've had one trifecta in a generation, and it had one last session in which to pass the stuff they cared about.
You're making some assumptions that I don't think are accurate. I don't think folks were "more concerned" with Fateh's tactics than GOP tactics. I think they were extremely frustrated by GOP tactics, and called them out vehemently and publicly. But they also expected that kind of shit from the GOP.
November 9, 2025 at 4:29 PM
You're making some assumptions that I don't think are accurate. I don't think folks were "more concerned" with Fateh's tactics than GOP tactics. I think they were extremely frustrated by GOP tactics, and called them out vehemently and publicly. But they also expected that kind of shit from the GOP.
The Saint Paul Loons peeps deserved it this week too.
November 9, 2025 at 3:56 PM
The Saint Paul Loons peeps deserved it this week too.
But an event can have multiple causes. I've spoken to folks who were frustrated by having their priorities not make it through that session. Did they blame GOP obstructionism? Absolutely! Did they also blame Sen. Fateh's tactics for the losses of things they cared about? Yes.
November 9, 2025 at 3:53 PM
But an event can have multiple causes. I've spoken to folks who were frustrated by having their priorities not make it through that session. Did they blame GOP obstructionism? Absolutely! Did they also blame Sen. Fateh's tactics for the losses of things they cared about? Yes.
With respect, this is a bit of a straw man argument. I haven't (on the pod or elsewhere) called for 'civility.' If anything, what I'm advocating for is a more ruthless sort of strategy.
I understand why Hortman framed it the way she did: she was a partisan leader, and the GOP was obstructionist.
I understand why Hortman framed it the way she did: she was a partisan leader, and the GOP was obstructionist.
November 9, 2025 at 3:51 PM
With respect, this is a bit of a straw man argument. I haven't (on the pod or elsewhere) called for 'civility.' If anything, what I'm advocating for is a more ruthless sort of strategy.
I understand why Hortman framed it the way she did: she was a partisan leader, and the GOP was obstructionist.
I understand why Hortman framed it the way she did: she was a partisan leader, and the GOP was obstructionist.
I don't think there's anything 'wrong' with doing politics that way: Fateh had a priority, and used his leverage to achieve it. That priority centered workers who have clearly been exploited. And there were meaningful trade-offs - other priorities suffered. And not everyone was thrilled about that.
November 9, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I don't think there's anything 'wrong' with doing politics that way: Fateh had a priority, and used his leverage to achieve it. That priority centered workers who have clearly been exploited. And there were meaningful trade-offs - other priorities suffered. And not everyone was thrilled about that.
Yes, to be clear: I think the rideshare law was a progressive win and definitely worth doing. I was sharing that there are folks who felt/feel that important work was left undone because of the way it impacted that last trifecta end of session.
minnesotareformer.com/2024/05/20/c...
minnesotareformer.com/2024/05/20/c...
Chaotic end leaves Democratic Legislature with a few wins • Minnesota Reformer
House Speaker Melissa Hortman said she’s not worried about the spectacle, while Lisa Demuth countered that the tumultuous end illustrates why Minnesota needs new leadership.
minnesotareformer.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Yes, to be clear: I think the rideshare law was a progressive win and definitely worth doing. I was sharing that there are folks who felt/feel that important work was left undone because of the way it impacted that last trifecta end of session.
minnesotareformer.com/2024/05/20/c...
minnesotareformer.com/2024/05/20/c...
And is Andrea staying on?
Seriously, what a strange photo to use.
Seriously, what a strange photo to use.
November 9, 2025 at 3:04 PM
And is Andrea staying on?
Seriously, what a strange photo to use.
Seriously, what a strange photo to use.
The next [shudder] Darwin Forsyth.
November 6, 2025 at 4:13 AM
The next [shudder] Darwin Forsyth.
Should note here too: Ward 12 handed Frey-aligned Becka Thompson a well-deserved shellacking and handily reelected progressive Aurin Chowdhury. So yeah, not the best territory for him to be scrounging around for votes.
November 5, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Should note here too: Ward 12 handed Frey-aligned Becka Thompson a well-deserved shellacking and handily reelected progressive Aurin Chowdhury. So yeah, not the best territory for him to be scrounging around for votes.
Jacob has been an accidental beneficiary of Ranked Choice Voting, something I fought for and believe in. He's benefited from a divided left that couldn't build a coalition through RCV to beat him. This could be the election that changes that.
Or not! We'll see.
Or not! We'll see.
November 5, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Jacob has been an accidental beneficiary of Ranked Choice Voting, something I fought for and believe in. He's benefited from a divided left that couldn't build a coalition through RCV to beat him. This could be the election that changes that.
Or not! We'll see.
Or not! We'll see.
The real prize is the 35,000+ voters who ranked Davis or Hampton first. I'm guessing that more than two thirds of those votes go to Fateh.
Three quarters? Fateh wins.
Less than that? Tossup territory.
Three quarters? Fateh wins.
Less than that? Tossup territory.
November 5, 2025 at 4:25 AM
The real prize is the 35,000+ voters who ranked Davis or Hampton first. I'm guessing that more than two thirds of those votes go to Fateh.
Three quarters? Fateh wins.
Less than that? Tossup territory.
Three quarters? Fateh wins.
Less than that? Tossup territory.
Drop-offs also need to be considered, of course: folks who don't choose a second (or subsequent) ranking.
But that cuts both ways. The also-ran vote has helped Jacob in the past, and there are around 3300 votes there. How many made any ranking after first choice?
But that cuts both ways. The also-ran vote has helped Jacob in the past, and there are around 3300 votes there. How many made any ranking after first choice?
November 5, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Drop-offs also need to be considered, of course: folks who don't choose a second (or subsequent) ranking.
But that cuts both ways. The also-ran vote has helped Jacob in the past, and there are around 3300 votes there. How many made any ranking after first choice?
But that cuts both ways. The also-ran vote has helped Jacob in the past, and there are around 3300 votes there. How many made any ranking after first choice?
So yeah, the big question in the mayor's race: of the people who went into the voting booth and voted for someone other than the incumbent mayor, will a third of them rank him second? Or will less than a third of them rank him second?
November 5, 2025 at 4:21 AM
So yeah, the big question in the mayor's race: of the people who went into the voting booth and voted for someone other than the incumbent mayor, will a third of them rank him second? Or will less than a third of them rank him second?
12-2 would not be my favorite precinct to still be out if I was Jacob. Its northern and southern neighbors (12-1 and 12-6) had non-Frey candidates up more than 600 votes over Frey. It's not likely to be a particularly good precinct for him.
November 5, 2025 at 4:19 AM
12-2 would not be my favorite precinct to still be out if I was Jacob. Its northern and southern neighbors (12-1 and 12-6) had non-Frey candidates up more than 600 votes over Frey. It's not likely to be a particularly good precinct for him.