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Kaohly Her Defeats St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter in Ranked-Choice Upset

The late-entering state lawmaker leveraged discontent with city management to unseat her former boss.

Overview

  • Election officials determined the result through ranked-choice tabulation after no candidate secured a first-round majority.
  • Initial unofficial totals showed Carter just above 40 percent and Her just above 38 percent before lower-ranked ballots were reallocated.
  • Mayor Carter conceded early Wednesday as Her became the city’s first Hmong-American and first woman to lead City Hall, alongside an all-women council.
  • Her will serve a three-year term through 2028 because St. Paul is moving municipal elections to even-numbered years.
  • She entered the race in August, previously worked as Carter’s policy aide and served in the Minnesota House, and campaigned on downtown and Midway revitalization, a more business-friendly approach, and addressing housing and property tax pressures.