Overview
- In a Monday debate hosted by Minnesota Public Radio and the Star Tribune, Jacob Frey, Omar Fateh, DeWayne Davis and Jazz Hampton set out sharply different approaches to public safety, wages and downtown transit.
- Frey argued the city needs more police officers and called for moving buses off Nicollet Mall to make the corridor more pedestrian-focused.
- Fateh alone backed a $20 citywide minimum wage by 2028, urged exploring a local wealth or income tax, and promoted expanding alternative responders rather than hiring more officers.
- Davis and Hampton opposed relocating buses from Nicollet Mall, declined to commit to a $20 wage without further analysis, and emphasized targeted safety strategies and community partnerships.
- With 15 candidates on the ballot and ranked-choice voting allowing three selections, early voting is underway as endorsements such as Gov. Tim Walz’s backing of Frey factor into voter decisions.