Overview

• Mayor Melvin Carter filed for re-election on August 4, aiming for a third term after securing around 62% of first-choice votes in 2021.
• State Rep. Kaohly Vang Her announced her candidacy the same day, becoming the first prominent DFL challenger to Carter’s tenure.
• Republican Mike Hilborn and community advocate Yan Chen also filed this week, expanding a diverse field ahead of the November 4, 2025 ranked-choice election.
• Carter’s campaign emphasizes combating the fentanyl crisis, improving public safety, boosting union pay and driving downtown revitalization with new housing, while Vang Her centers her platform on renters’ rights and economic empowerment.
• City leaders continue to grapple with a cyberattack that has disrupted electronic services even as candidates address growing concerns over property taxes and housing affordability.