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Kaohly Her Defeats Carter to Become St. Paul’s First Woman and Hmong Mayor

A late-entry, door-to-door campaign culminating in a ranked-choice second-round surge delivered a sub-2,000-vote win.

Overview

  • Her prevailed in the second round of St. Paul’s ranked-choice tabulation by fewer than 2,000 votes after no candidate secured a first-round majority.
  • Incumbent Melvin Carter conceded and congratulated Her, with county canvassers expected to certify the results as Her prepares to take office in January 2026.
  • The state representative ran on revitalizing downtown and the Midway, making the city more business-friendly, streamlining permitting, and addressing housing, taxes and public safety.
  • Entering the race in August, Her built a coalition through intensive fieldwork—saying her team knocked on roughly 40,000 doors—and leveraged local endorsements.
  • Her’s initial term will last three years as the city shifts elections to even-numbered years, and she will lead alongside an all-women City Council.