Minneapolis Mayor Frey Addresses Somali Community in Native Language Amidst Demographic Realities

Minneapolis, Minnesota – Mayor Jacob Frey has been observed addressing the city's significant Somali community in their native language, a practice highlighted in a recent tweet by Ian Miles Cheong. This engagement comes as Minneapolis continues to be home to one of the largest Somali diasporas in the United States, a community that plays an increasingly influential role in the city's political and cultural landscape.

The tweet, which stated, > "There are so many Somalians living in Minnesomalia, outnumbering other ethnicities, that Mayor Frey now addresses them in the Somali language," makes a claim about population demographics that is not supported by recent data. According to 2023 and 2024 demographic reports, White (Non-Hispanic) residents constitute the largest ethnic group in Minneapolis, at approximately 59.5% to 61.59% of the population. Black or African American residents form the second-largest group, at around 18.1% to 18.25%.

While the Somali population is substantial, with around 43,000 Somalia-born individuals in Minnesota by 2018 and approximately 94,000 Minnesotans speaking Somali at home, they do not outnumber other ethnicities in Minneapolis. Somali is spoken by 3.7% of Minneapolis residents, underscoring its presence but not a majority status. The city's overall population was estimated at 427,000 people in 2023.

Mayor Frey's use of the Somali language in public addresses, including campaign ads, has been documented across various platforms. This outreach reflects a strategic effort to connect with a key demographic, particularly as he faces re-election challenges from prominent Somali-American politicians like State Senator Omar Fateh, who recently secured the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party's endorsement for mayor. The engagement with the Somali community highlights its growing political influence and cultural integration within Minneapolis.