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Mayoral election in St. Paul, Minnesota (2025)

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2021
2025 St. Paul elections
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
Election dates
Filing deadline: August 12, 2025
General election: November 4, 2025
Election stats
Offices up: Mayor
Total seats up: 1(click here for other city elections)
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2025

Kaohly Her defeated incumbentMelvin Carter III and three other candidates in the general election for mayor ofSt. Paul, Minnesota on November 4, 2025. While mayoral elections in St. Paul arenonpartisan, both candidates wereDemocrats. Her was the first woman and the first Hmong American to be elected mayor of St. Paul. Carter was the city's first Black mayor.[1]

Ahead of the election,Fox 9's Nick Longworth wrote, "St. Paul’s next mayor will be tasked with overseeing the rebound of a downtown that has seen a sluggish recovery for businesses since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with the fallout of an unprecedented cyberattack and a continuing homeless crisis."[2] TheMinnesota Star-Tribune's Josie Albertson-Grove also wrote, "The next mayor will also have to contend with neighborhood-level issues. Some of the biggest include construction on the Summit Avenue bike lanes and the yawning vacancies at malls in the Midway area, especially after the exit of Cub Foods."[3]

Her was a member of theMinnesota House of Representatives. She was first elected to the state House in 2018. Before holding public office, Her worked in the financial services industry for fifteen years, and was the Board Administrator for Saint Paul Public Schools. Her also worked as a policy director for the mayor's office during Carter’s first term.[4] In response toBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, Her said, "I’m running for mayor to be an advocate for our values and to ensure our city runs efficiently and transparently. ... Three major components will help get Saint Paul back on track and out of the trap that ‘ok is good enough.’ These are the main principles I will use to govern our city. We need safe communities, a vibrant economy, and affordable, abundant housing."

Carter was first elected mayor of St. Paul in2017 and was re-elected in2021. Before he was elected mayor, Carter was a member of the St. Paul City Council from 2008 to 2013. Carter's other professional experience included working as the executive director of the Minnesota Children's Cabinet and as director of the Minnesota Department of Education's Office of Early Learning.[5] Carter ran on his record. In response toBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, he said, "We’re set up well for this next phase. That means making our public spaces more accessible, helping people get connected to care, and contributing to hold accountable those who choose to break our social contract. It means seizing our opportunities to grow — cutting red tape, attracting new investments, and making sure the world knows what we know: Saint Paul is one of the best places anywhere to build a family, a business, and a home."

Yan Chen,Adam Dullinger, andMike Hilborn also ran. Her, Carter, and Hillborn all completedBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Clickhere to read their responses.

St. Paul usedranked-choice voting (RCV) for this election, which asked voters to rank candidates by preference on their ballots.Click here to learn more about that process. The filing deadline for this election was August 12, 2025.

As of 2025, St. Paul does not have term limits for the position of mayor. Mayors serve a four-year term.


Elections

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Candidates and results

General election

General election for Mayor of St. Paul

Theranked-choice voting election was won byKaohly Her in round 2 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.

  
Candidate
%
Total Votes
Transfer
Round eliminated
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/kaohlyher.png
Kaohly Her
 
51.5
 
32,2956,411Won (2)
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Melvin_Carter_III.jpg
Melvin Carter III
 
48.5
 
30,4182,8072
Yan Chen
 
0.0
 
0-6,5221
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg
Mike Hilborn
 
0.0
 
0-5,8151
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Adam_Dullinger_20251014_015723.jpg
Adam Dullinger
 
0.0
 
0-1,6191
  
Candidate
%
Total Votes
Transfer
Round eliminated
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/kaohlyher.png
Kaohly Her
 
38.3
 
25,8840Won (2)
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Melvin_Carter_III.jpg
Melvin Carter III
 
40.8
 
27,61102
Yan Chen
 
9.6
 
6,52201
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg
Mike Hilborn
 
8.6
 
5,81501
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Adam_Dullinger_20251014_015723.jpg
Adam Dullinger
 
2.4
 
1,61901
  
Undeclared Write-insUndeclared write-in candidates may advance past the first round in some ranked-choice elections. If the official source reports write-in votes by candidate name, Ballotpedia displays them alongside the ballot-qualified candidates. However, if write-in votes are reported without a name, they will instead be included in the total write-in votes figure in Round 1. Please consult the official elections source for more details about unnamed write-in candidate vote totals past Round 1.
 
0.2
 
1660 

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Incumbents arebolded and underlinedSource 1 Source 2

Total votes: 67,617
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Additional elections on the ballot

See also:Minnesota elections, 2025

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February 11, 2025
February 25, 2025
March 11, 2025
August 12, 2025
August 26, 2025
November 4, 2025
December 16, 2025

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completedBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Melvin_Carter_III.jpg

Melvin Carter III (Nonpartisan)

A Home for Every Family:

We’re not just building units — we’re building stability, community, and opportunity. That means deeply affordable housing, expanded pathways to homeownership, and new tools to help families stay rooted in the neighborhoods they love. It means deeply through our innovative Inheritance Fund to help families who had homes taken in our Old Rondo and West Side Flats neighborhood build family wealth through home ownership. In this next phase, we’ll focus on cutting red tape, unlocking more places to build, and supporting struggling residents so we can keep growing with intention and care.

A Safer City, Built Together:In the years since the pandemic, we’ve reduced violent crime — and we did so by reimagining what public safety can be. Our Community-First model invests in mental health response, youth outreach, and neighborhood-based teams. But we’re not stopping there. We’ll continue holding people accountable, helping more residents get connected to care, and making every part of our city safer and stronger together.

A 21st Century Downtown:

We are hard at work bringing downtown back to life. We are doing it by converting vacant buildings into housing, launching new festivals and events, and working with small businesses to help them grow. Today, Saint Paul is hosting more major events than ever before — from the Yacht Club music festival to the World Juniors hockey tournament — while attracting new development interest from national investors. Now it’s time to accelerate that growth — and make our downtown a place that generates wealth for our communities, while being a neighborhood people are proud to call home.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/kaohlyher.png

Kaohly Her (Nonpartisan)

Safe Communities

We all deserve to feel safe in our neighborhoods. Non-police emergency calls have doubled in the last year. We face continued challenges with mental health and drug use. I’ll support all of our first responders and build strong partnerships with county and state partners to make all of our neighborhoods safer.

Vibrant economyA thriving economy is essential for our city. Development has stalled — at the Ford site, Midway, and downtown. We are losing critical retailers in our neighborhoods, like grocery stores and restaurants, and our tax base is stretched thin. We must collaborate with residents, community organizations, local unions, developers, and the state to help Saint Paul’s economy thrive.

Affordable, abundant housing

We all deserve a place to call home. I've heard from too many of our neighbors, from students to seniors, that housing is too expensive. As mayor, I’ll work with the county and state to build more public housing, local independent developers to build affordable housing, and large developers to build more market-rate units.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

Lower Taxes

Saint Paul has the highest sales tax and highest property taxes in Minnesota. Saint Paul is the most expensive place to live and most expensive place to run a business. We have to lower taxes and make Saint Paul affordable.

Taxes in St. Paul are increasing faster than our population, suggesting that money isn’t being spent efficiently. The average homeowner here pays $4,168 per year in property taxes, which is $1,768 more than the national average. Since 2021, office property values have dropped by over 15%, while costs for some businesses have risen by 41%. These tax changes directly affect how expensive it is to run a business.

Lower CrimeCrime hurts everyone. Especially the poor. We have to hold our criminals accountable and support our police.

I am a huge supporter of our law enforcement officers. LEOs are the backbone of a safe community. Right now, the St. Paul Police Department (SPPD) is short 18% of its officers, and this has contributed to a sharp rise in crime. St. Paul’s crime rate is 89.5% higher than the state average and 94% higher than the national average—these are troubling statistics!

My office will work to secure funding and resources for the SPPD to recruit and retain more officers, ensuring they have the support needed to protect our city.

HomelessnessAddress severe mental illness and expand access to shelter. No one should sleep outside.

Ramsey County has the highest rate of homelessness in the metro area, with about 10,000 people experiencing homelessness in St. Paul alone. However, there are only 6,200 beds available to shelter them, leaving many without a safe place to stay.

To solve this issue, we need to increase housing options and address the root causes of homelessness, such as job loss, substance abuse, mental health challenges, and the lack of affordable housing. I will work to bring together organizations and resources to tackle these problems and create lasting solutions for our community.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Melvin_Carter_III.jpg

Melvin Carter III (Nonpartisan)

Economic DignityIn Saint Paul, every child starts life with a CollegeBound savings account. We’ve launched guaranteed income pilots, forgiven medical debt, eliminated library late fines, made youth sports free, among many other efforts. We are finding new ways for City Hall to meet people where they are, and help them move forward. We must continue to build on that progress — scaling economic supports, expanding opportunity, and doing even more to set our families up for success.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/kaohlyher.png

Kaohly Her (Nonpartisan)

I have shown leadership in a number of areas in my career in Saint Paul City Hall and at the Minnesota Legislature, including:

- Gun Violence Prevention- Tenants Rights and Housing Availability- Public Pensions and Retirement Policy- Reproductive Health Care- Equal Rights Amendment- Investments in Renewable Energy Technology - Public Education Funding for English Language Learners- Minimum Wage Increases- Affordability of Health Care

- Protecting Workers' Rights
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

Downtown Saint Paul

Saint Paul is our Minnesota capitol. Our downtown should be a clear reflection of our beautiful state. We are going to make downtown Saint Paul a beautiful and safe destination for businesses, families and visitors.

Live…work…play! From our beloved Minnesota Wild and St. Paul Saints, to multiple museums, numerous performing arts theaters and a teeming restaurant scene, downtown Saint Paul is the heartbeat of our state! My administration will immediately implement policies to restore Saint Paul to the thriving city we know it to be. We aim to bolster our tourism industry and attract new residents and businesses by reminding everyone of Saint Paul’s unrivaled vibrancy!
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

My dad was a very hard worker. He worked at the Saint Paul Ford Assembly Plant during the day and worked part time evenings at the Met Stadium for Twins and Vikings games and the Met Center for North Star games. On evenings when he wasn't working, my dad would take me door to door to sell candy, wreaths, and fertilizer for Cub Scouts and Boys Scouts, and newspaper subscriptions for the Star Tribune. He made sure I won every selling contest I was involved with. It taught me a lot about perseverance. You never quit.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

Founding Fathers by Captivating History is a good book to read to understand how our country and constitutional republic was formed and by who.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/kaohlyher.png

Kaohly Her (Nonpartisan)

Integrity and Determination are two key qualities for an elected official.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

1. Integrity: honesty, trustworthiness, and ethical behavior in all aspects of life. Personally, professionally, and politically.

2. Transparency: open and honest in decision making processes. Public needs to see how and why decisions are made.3. Accountability: must take responsibility for their actions and decisions.4. Leadership: effectively guide their staff and their constituents. Be able to make difficult decisions.5. Listening and communication: listen to their constituents and effectively communicate with a wide range of people.6. Empathy: understand the needs and concerns of a diverse population.

7. Commitment to public service: prioritize the best interest of the public over personal gain.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

I live with integrity and honesty. My company has four core values:

Show UpGet Things DoneDo the Right ThingGrow or Die

These four core values are why my business has been so successful. My company and I live these core values every day.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/kaohlyher.png

Kaohly Her (Nonpartisan)

One of the Mayor's most important roles is to be the biggest cheerleader and advocate for the city. We need a mayor who can attract businesses and investments in the city by recruiting them directly and highlighting our world-class workforce. The Mayor of Saint Paul is the person in charge of making the city run effectively. This means that garbage gets picked up on time, this means that businesses receive permits in a timely manor, and this means that residents across all parts of the city feel safe.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

1. Representing constituents: the interests, needs, and concerns of the individuals they serve.

2. Making policy decisions: develop policies, laws and regulations that promote freedom and liberty.3. Budgeting and financial oversight: allocate resources and provide oversight to ensure public funds are used responsibly.4. Collaborating with other officials: work with government officials, citizens, and organizations to address community needs.5. Ensuring transparency and accountability: ensure that government actions are transparent, accountable and responsive to the public.

6. Promoting public welfare: promote the welfare, safety, and prosperity of their communities by addressing social issues and promoting economic development.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

My company is a second chance employer. Some of the men and women we hire have either been incarcerated or are in recovery. We don't throw people away. I have been blessed to have met and worked with some of the most amazing people. I want my legacy to be that I gave people a chance to be a part of something great.I would also like my sons to believe I was a great dad.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Melvin_Carter_III.jpg

Melvin Carter III (Nonpartisan)

My first time voting for president was in the election of 2000 while in college at Florida A&M. I later found out that hundreds of my classmates, at Florida's largest HBCU, were disenfranchised at the polls that year. That, for me, was the most profound sense of powerlessness I'd ever felt. But even more than that, you're taught in school that what makes America, America is that if you want a say, you get a say. I couldn't figure out how to reconcile that, with this experience that we had had of having to argue the right to vote in the United States to open the 21st century. That experience informs a lot of the work that I do today. It's why we're so insistent on public engagement and why every member of my cabinet is hired through a community hiring process.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

I vaguely remember the moon landing. I was 6.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

My brother and I had a paper route with the Minneapolis Tribune starting in elementary school. Up by 5:00 AM so the papers were delivered 6:00 AM. My dad made sure that we had our paper route for 5 years. Part of having a paper route was selling newspaper subscriptions. I sold enough newspaper subscriptions to earn trips to Florida, Texas, California, Hawaii and the US Virgin Islands. I sold a lot of newspaper subscriptions.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

Traction by Gino Wickman. It is the greatest business book I've ever read. I recommend this book to everyone, every opportunity I get. If you follow its instructions, you will have a truly great company. I only wish I had read it years ago.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

Captain America. Champion of Freedom and Free Speech.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

As Mayor of Saint Paul my role is to be a leader who takes action to address pressing community issues with a common-sense approach. Prioritizing the needs of families, fostering safer streets, reducing taxes, and promoting accountability in city government. Restoring opportunity and supporting businesses to create a thriving economy, drawing from my experience as a business owner and second-chance employer. I see leadership as stepping up to tackle challenges like rising crime, high taxes, and business closures, not for personal gain but to make a tangible difference for the city’s residents. My vision is rooted in practical solutions and collaboration, particularly with businesses, to ensure Saint Paul moves in a direction that benefits all its citizens
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

In Saint Paul the mayor is not a member of the city council but serves as the city's chief executive, while the city council acts as the legislative body. The mayor is elected citywide, separately from the council, and has significant executive powers, including veto authority over council decisions and responsibility for appointing key administrative officials, such as the city attorney, with council approval. The city operates under a "strong mayor" system, where the mayor oversees day-to-day administration, not a city manager.

The ideal relationship between the mayor and the city council should be one of collaboration, mutual respect, and clear delineation of roles. The mayor, as the executive, should set a strategic vision for Saint Paul, propose budgets, and execute policies while keeping the council informed and engaged. The city council, as the legislative body, should focus on passing ordinances, approving budgets, and representing the diverse interests of Saint Paul’s residents. Regular communication—through meetings, briefings, or joint planning sessions—helps align priorities and avoid conflicts.

The mayor should respect the council’s legislative authority, ensuring their input shapes major decisions, while the council should avoid micromanaging executive functions, trusting the mayor to implement policies effectively. When disagreements arise, such as over budget priorities or vetoes, both sides should prioritize transparent dialogue and compromise to serve the city’s best interests. For example, addressing shared goals like public safety or economic development requires the mayor to propose actionable plans and the council to provide legislative support, ensuring checks and balances without gridlock.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/kaohlyher.png

Kaohly Her (Nonpartisan)

The Mayor should be a collaborative partner with the City Council, especially as they all consider the individual sections of the city, we need to count on the mayor to provide bold vision rooted in what can get done for the entire city. If elected mayor, I will hold city departments accountable and ensure that they work with our residents to achieve the goals of the city - which are for a vibrant economy, affordable and abundant housing, and safe communities.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/kaohlyher.png

Kaohly Her (Nonpartisan)

I love this city. Thanks to the opportunities afforded my family, we have been able to break the cycle of poverty in one generation.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

I've lived in Saint Paul since 1983. For 42 years Saint Paul has been my home. I love the Mississippi River. I love the bike trails. I love Mears Park, Rice Park, Kellogg Park, Como Park, Mounds Park, Crosby Farm Park, Harriet Island and especially Irvine Park. I love the many restaurants of Saint Paul. Holman's Table, McGovern's, Downtowner Woodfire Grill, Cossettas, and Saint Paul Grill are among my favorites. I wish Saint Dinette was still in business. I love how close Saint Paul is to the international airport. I love walking to a Saints baseball game. I live just down the hill from the Minnesota Wild. I love that Saint Paul is our state capitol. That the Saint Paul Cathedral is just up the hill. I love it that we have so many colleges. College of Saint Catherine, Saint Thomas, Hamline, Concordia, Macalester, Saint Paul College, Metropolitan State University, Saint Scholastica, Mitchell Hamline College of Law. And, the University of Minnesota. That we have so many great hospitals. Of course, I love our Saint Paul neighborhoods and my neighbors. All the people of this amazing city. I love Saint Paul. One Saint Paul. I don't want to live anywhere else.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Melvin_Carter_III.jpg

Melvin Carter III (Nonpartisan)

The growing fentanyl crisis will require everything from us. This is why my 2026 budget includes $1 million for opioid and drug response work to support outreach teams that work with unhoused people and expand the city's care-based responses. It is my intention to make Saint Paul the worst place in the state to deal fentanyl while also making it the best resourced place to get clean. This draws upon the success of our city's gun violence response that emphasizes community collaboration. In Saint Paul we do this by involving multiple partners, including the Office of Neighborhood Safety, our police department, and other frontline community organizations.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/kaohlyher.png

Kaohly Her (Nonpartisan)

The biggest challenge that our city faces is our ability to weather the low property tax base into the future of our city. We must find a way to grow housing (public, affordable, and market-rate) and commercial real estate across the entire city.Our most significant opportunity in Saint Paul is that we have an excellent base of workers and residents across the entire city that can meet the challenges before us. Our workforce is high-quality and full of potential that can take us forward into the future.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

One of the greatest challenges for our city over the next decade is to reign in spending and to show restraint on taxing our citizens and the businesses who employ them. As inflation continues to burden families and individuals, we owe it to the citizens we serve to consider tax dollars finite resources to be invested only in those things that serve most the needs of our citizens across the city. I am committed to ensuring that spending and the taxes required to support our city’s budget carefully consider the overall needs of the working class.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/kaohlyher.png

Kaohly Her (Nonpartisan)

The relationship between Saint Paul and the Minnesota Legislature must be collaborative and based on mutual trust and respect. In my time at the Legislature, I have cultivated relationships across the aisle and in both chambers. We must work at the different levels of government to support Saint Paul residents with what they need to build a vibrant economy, ensure our communities are safe, and build more affordable housing.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

In Saint Paul the mayor serves as the chief executive with oversight of the police department, the ideal relationship between the mayor’s office and the police should be collaborative, transparent, and focused on aligning public safety goals with community needs. The mayor, as the city’s leader, sets the strategic vision for policing, appoints the police chief (with city council approval), and ensures the department’s policies reflect the city’s values. The police, in turn, provide professional expertise, operational insights, and data-driven recommendations to inform the mayor’s decisions.

Key elements of this relationship include:

Clear Communication: Regular briefings between the mayor’s office and police leadership ensure the mayor is informed about crime trends, resource needs, and community concerns.

Shared Priorities: The mayor should work with the police to set goals like reducing violent crime or improving community trust, while respecting the department’s operational autonomy.

Accountability and Oversight: The mayor must hold the police accountable for misconduct or inefficiencies, supporting reforms when needed, such as enhanced training or body camera policies. The police should provide transparent reporting to the mayor’s office to maintain public trust.

Community Bridge: The mayor acts as a liaison between the police and residents, ensuring community input shapes policing strategies. Town halls or public safety forums can facilitate this dialogue.

This relationship avoids micromanagement by the mayor’s office while ensuring the police operate under civilian oversight. It balances the mayor’s executive authority with the police’s professional expertise, fostering a partnership that enhances safety and responsiveness in Saint Paul.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Melvin_Carter_III.jpg

Melvin Carter III (Nonpartisan)

Individuals: Governor Tim Walz, LG Peggy Flanagan, AG Keith Ellison, Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, State Senators Clare Oumou Verbeten and Sandy Pappas, Rep Samakab Hussein, Commissioners Garrison McMurtrey and Rena Moran, Council Members Cheniqua Johnson, Anika Bowie, Saura Jost, and Molly Coleman.

Unions: MNA, Carpenters, IUPAT District Council 82, Steamfitters/Pipefitters – Local 455, Sprinkler Fitters 417, Plumbers Local 34, IBEW Local 110, SEIU

Other organizations: Faith in Minnesota, Sierra Club, Sustain Saint Paul, Mom's Demand Action, Everytown for Gun Safety.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/kaohlyher.png

Kaohly Her (Nonpartisan)

New American Leaders Action Fund, SMART Local 10, Saint Paul City Council Member Nelsie Yang, Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and Yvette Hoffman, Minnesota House DFL Leader Representative Zack Stephenson, Minnesota State Representative Patty Acomb, Minnesota State Representative Kaela Berg, Minnesota State Representative Josiah Hill, Minnesota State Representative John Huot, Minnesota State Representative Pete Johnson, Minnesota State Representative Brad Tabke, Minnesota State Representative Sam Vang, Minnesota State Representative Dan Wolgamott
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeHilborn2025.jpg

Mike Hilborn (Nonpartisan)

Free markets provide better goods and services at higher quality and at less cost than the government. Government should never do what free markets can do. What the government does do should be an open book. And oversight and criticism should be encouraged.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/kaohlyher.png

Kaohly Her (Nonpartisan)

When touring a recently renovated business, I talked to the business owner, who operates an African grocery store. He detailed how he has worked with the city and the state economic development agency to secure retrofitting funds and investments in the building to make his business more successful. He told me that all of these investments were to the benefit of the building owner and not to his business, and that he could not afford to buy his own building. We must change that reality for him as well as numerous other business owners across the city.


Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completedBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, clickhere.

Image of Melvin Carter  III

WebsiteFacebookX

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "I’m Melvin Carter — a father, husband, lifelong Saint Paul resident, and the proud Mayor of the city I’ve always called home. I grew up in the Rondo neighborhood and learned early that strong communities don’t just happen — they’re actively built by people who show up, work hard, and build something together. Today, Sakeena and I are raising our family on Saint Paul’s Eastside — in a neighborhood full of the same energy and deep community pride that’s shaped me from the start. In my eight years leading this city, we have faced one unprecedented challenge after the next — from COVID-19, to the murder of George Floyd, to civil unrest, a rock slide, a cyberattack, and now new Trump-era uncertainty. Each crisis tested our resolve, but through it all we’ve not only learned how to better support each other in tough times — but how to come out of those times stronger. We’ve come a long way — and we’re not done. That’s why I’m running for re-election: because I believe in this moment, and I believe that there’s so much more we can build — together. We’re set up well for this next phase. That means making our public spaces more accessible, helping people get connected to care, and contributing to hold accountable those who choose to break our social contract. It means seizing our opportunities to grow — cutting red tape, attracting new investments, and making sure the world knows what we know: Saint Paul is one of the best places anywhere to build a family, a business, and a home."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses,click here.


A Home for Every Family: We’re not just building units — we’re building stability, community, and opportunity. That means deeply affordable housing, expanded pathways to homeownership, and new tools to help families stay rooted in the neighborhoods they love. It means deeply through our innovative Inheritance Fund to help families who had homes taken in our Old Rondo and West Side Flats neighborhood build family wealth through home ownership. In this next phase, we’ll focus on cutting red tape, unlocking more places to build, and supporting struggling residents so we can keep growing with intention and care.


A Safer City, Built Together:In the years since the pandemic, we’ve reduced violent crime — and we did so by reimagining what public safety can be. Our Community-First model invests in mental health response, youth outreach, and neighborhood-based teams. But we’re not stopping there. We’ll continue holding people accountable, helping more residents get connected to care, and making every part of our city safer and stronger together.


A 21st Century Downtown:We are hard at work bringing downtown back to life. We are doing it by converting vacant buildings into housing, launching new festivals and events, and working with small businesses to help them grow. Today, Saint Paul is hosting more major events than ever before — from the Yacht Club music festival to the World Juniors hockey tournament — while attracting new development interest from national investors. Now it’s time to accelerate that growth — and make our downtown a place that generates wealth for our communities, while being a neighborhood people are proud to call home.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of St. Paul in 2025.

Image of Kaohly Her

WebsiteFacebookYouTube

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "Hi, I’m Kaohly Her. I’m a mom, a finance and non-profit professional, and State Representative for Saint Paul. I’m running for mayor to be an advocate for our values and to ensure our city runs efficiently and transparently.I am a leader who has worked in our public schools, at City Hall, in corporate boardrooms, and at the Minnesota Capitol. I’m ready to bring my experience as a champion for affordable housing, safe communities, a vibrant economy, and our neighbors’ rights to City Hall.As a city, we face significant challenges that must be met with strong leadership and true collaboration to defend our community and our democracy. We need a leader who will bring people together to hear their perspectives and forge ahead with an inclusive vision for the future. We need a leader who knows that we are stronger together, and that’s how I’ll govern as your mayor.Three major components will help get Saint Paul back on track and out of the trap that ‘ok is good enough.’ These are the main principles I will use to govern our city. We need safe communities, a vibrant economy, and affordable, abundant housing."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses,click here.


Safe CommunitiesWe all deserve to feel safe in our neighborhoods. Non-police emergency calls have doubled in the last year. We face continued challenges with mental health and drug use. I’ll support all of our first responders and build strong partnerships with county and state partners to make all of our neighborhoods safer.


Vibrant economyA thriving economy is essential for our city. Development has stalled — at the Ford site, Midway, and downtown. We are losing critical retailers in our neighborhoods, like grocery stores and restaurants, and our tax base is stretched thin. We must collaborate with residents, community organizations, local unions, developers, and the state to help Saint Paul’s economy thrive.


Affordable, abundant housingWe all deserve a place to call home. I've heard from too many of our neighbors, from students to seniors, that housing is too expensive. As mayor, I’ll work with the county and state to build more public housing, local independent developers to build affordable housing, and large developers to build more market-rate units.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of St. Paul in 2025.

Image of Mike Hilborn

WebsiteFacebookX

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "I was born in Minneapolis in 1963 and raised in the Twin Cities by my parents, Lloyd and Sally Hilborn. Lloyd retired as a UAW worker on the assembly line at the Saint Paul Ford plant, and Sally worked at Control Data soldering circuit boards. My parents instilled in me a deep work ethic and taught me to work hard, play fair, do the right thing, and expect the best in life—values I now pass on to my own family. I graduated from Bethel University in 1985. To pay for college, I worked nights at UPS and was promoted to full-time management in 1985. I raised my three sons in a house in Saint Paul. Today, they are 36, 34, and 32. In 1995, I started a small business out of my garage in Saint Paul that grew so that I had to leave UPS in 2000. My company has been in Saint Paul for 30 years and has grown to 45 employees. We power wash in the spring, summer, and fall, and plow snow during the winter. As a second-chance employer, we hire men and women who have been incarcerated or are in recovery. Our employees start at $25 an hour, with health and dental insurance, 401K, and paid time off (PTO). My business and my home are in Saint Paul.I serve on the Board of Directors for AccessAbility, Inc., which helps people with disabilities and other challenges find meaningful employment. I regularly speak to men and women at Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge, which assists individuals in overcoming chemical addictions and other life-controlling problems."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses,click here.


Lower TaxesSaint Paul has the highest sales tax and highest property taxes in Minnesota. Saint Paul is the most expensive place to live and most expensive place to run a business. We have to lower taxes and make Saint Paul affordable.Taxes in St. Paul are increasing faster than our population, suggesting that money isn’t being spent efficiently. The average homeowner here pays $4,168 per year in property taxes, which is $1,768 more than the national average. Since 2021, office property values have dropped by over 15%, while costs for some businesses have risen by 41%. These tax changes directly affect how expensive it is to run a business.


Lower CrimeCrime hurts everyone. Especially the poor. We have to hold our criminals accountable and support our police.I am a huge supporter of our law enforcement officers. LEOs are the backbone of a safe community. Right now, the St. Paul Police Department (SPPD) is short 18% of its officers, and this has contributed to a sharp rise in crime. St. Paul’s crime rate is 89.5% higher than the state average and 94% higher than the national average—these are troubling statistics!My office will work to secure funding and resources for the SPPD to recruit and retain more officers, ensuring they have the support needed to protect our city.


HomelessnessAddress severe mental illness and expand access to shelter. No one should sleep outside.Ramsey County has the highest rate of homelessness in the metro area, with about 10,000 people experiencing homelessness in St. Paul alone. However, there are only 6,200 beds available to shelter them, leaving many without a safe place to stay.To solve this issue, we need to increase housing options and address the root causes of homelessness, such as job loss, substance abuse, mental health challenges, and the lack of affordable housing. I will work to bring together organizations and resources to tackle these problems and create lasting solutions for our community.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of St. Paul in 2025.

Mayoral partisanship

St. Paul has a Democratic mayor. As of November 2025, 66 mayors in thelargest 100 cities by population are affiliated with theDemocratic Party, 23 are affiliated with theRepublican Party, one is affiliated with theLibertarian Party, three are independents, five identify as nonpartisan or unaffiliated, and two mayors' affiliations are unknown.Click here for a list of the 100 largest cities' mayors and their partisan affiliations.

Mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan in most of the nation's largest cities. However, many officeholders are affiliated with political parties. Ballotpedia uses one or more of the following sources to identify each officeholder's partisan affiliation: (1) direct communication from the officeholder, (2) current or previous candidacy for partisan office, or (3) identification of partisan affiliation by multiple media outlets.

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About the city

See also:St. Paul, Minnesota

St. Paul is a city inRamsey County,Minnesota. As of 2020, its population was 311,527.

City government

See also:Mayor-council government

The city of St. Paul uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body while the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.[6]

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by theUnited States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for St. Paul, Minnesota
St. PaulMinnesota
Population311,5275,706,494
Land area (sq mi)5179,631
Race and ethnicity**
White55.2%81.6%
Black/African American15.5%6.4%
Asian19.1%4.9%
Native American0.8%1%
Pacific Islander0%0%
Other (single race)N/A2.1%
Multiple6.3%3.9%
Hispanic/Latino9%5.5%
Education
High school graduation rate87.6%93.4%
College graduation rate41.3%36.8%
Income
Median household income$59,717$73,382
Persons below poverty level17.9%9.3%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau,"Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau,"American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the censushere.


See also

St. Paul, MinnesotaMinnesotaMunicipal governmentOther local coverage
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