State DFL chair's text fueled tension after Fateh endorsement reversal
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A text message sent by Minnesota DFL chair Richard Carlbom to Minneapolis convention organizer Michael Abramson. Screenshot: Courtesy of Abramson
Shortly after the Minneapolis DFL endorsed Omar Fateh for mayor at its controversial July convention, state party chair Richard Carlbom texted a local party organizer that he was "sad that this convention ended the way it did."
Why it matters: For some Fateh supporters, the message reinforces a belief that top party officials were eager to intervene on incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey's behalf after his convention defeat.
- That suspicion is at the heart of an intra-party feud that has erupted since the state party's rules committee revoked Fateh's endorsement.
Yes, but: Carlbom told Axios the text "was purely about procedural mistakes that we would need to address, not a preference for or against any candidate."
- "These were honest mistakes and … there was no misconduct by anyone involved," he added in a written statement.
Catch up quick: State party officials pulled the endorsement after the Minneapolis DFL admitted its electronic voting system failed to register nearly one-quarter of delegates' votes — a mix-up that erroneously eliminated a mayoral candidate from consideration.
- At 9:30pm July 19, about 15 minutes after Frey delegates walked out, Fateh was endorsed by a show of hands.
What happened: As the event was adjourning, Carlbom texted Michael Abramson, who led the Minneapolis DFL's convention arrangements committee.
- "I'm sad that this convention ended the way it did. You may be happy, but the result is in question, and the party will investigate the actions of this body," Carlbom wrote.
- Carlbom also sent a screenshot of the DFL's boilerplate convention rules saying that voting in contested endorsements "shall be by written paper ballot."
What they're saying: "I think what [Carlbom] was doing was sending me one of Frey's talking points that day," Abramson told Axios.
- Fateh allies have questioned how Carlbom could know an investigation was warranted before any formal challenges were filed, or definitive proof emerged that ballots went uncounted. He wasn't there for the convention's final hours.
The other side: By the time Carlbom texted, allegations of an undercount on the first ballot had been circulating for hours.
Friction points: With the Minneapolis DFL now on probation, Carlbom's message stirs deeper frustrations for local party organizers: They feel the state party officials are now punishing them after either neglecting or ignoring their needs.
- After struggling to secure a venue for the July convention, the volunteers who run the Minneapolis DFL say the state party could have chipped in more — including by connecting them to electronic voting software.
- "We've known we need help," Abramson said. "We've asked for help, and we've been told to kick rocks."
The bottom line: "I do think this is a sad situation," Carlbom's statement to Axios said.
- "I especially feel for every volunteer who was part of this process: caucus goers who gave their time, convention organizers who stepped up to lead, CBRC [rules committee] members who engaged in a thorough review …"
- Carlbom also feels "for the campaigns, who have had to spend time talking about the convention when they would rather spend 100% of their time talking to voters about their candidate's vision for Minneapolis."