2025 Saint Paul mayoral election

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2025 Saint Paul mayoral election
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←  2021 November 4, 2025 [1] 2028 →
  Kaohly Her (cropped).jpg St Paul Mayor, Melvin Carter at Red Bull Crashed Ice, St Paul MN (39736635272) (1).jpg
Candidate Kaohly Vang Her Melvin Carter III
Party Democratic (DFL) Democratic (DFL)
First round25,658
38.43%		27,261
40.83%
Final round32,295
51.49%		30,418
48.51%
 
CandidateYan ChenMike Hilborn
Party Democratic (DFL) Independent
First round6,416
9.61%		5,701
8.54%
Final roundEliminatedEliminated
Mayor before election

Melvin Carter III
Democratic (DFL)

Elected mayor

Kaohly Vang Her
Democratic (DFL)

The city of Saint Paul, Minnesota held an election on November 4, 2025, to elect the mayor. [2] It was held using ranked-choice voting. [3] The city elects mayors to four-year terms without term limits. [4] Incumbent mayor Melvin Carter III, first elected in 2017, lost reelection to State Representative Kaohly Vang Her. Both are members of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. [5]

Contents

Her was elected the first female, first Hmong, and first Asian-American mayor of Saint Paul. Her was elected in an upset after final round tabulations gave her an advantage distributed from other challengers to Carter, scientist Yan Chen, businessman Mike Hilborn, and engineer Adam Dullinger. [6]

Background

During the 2024 general election, voters approved a measure to move Saint Paul's city elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years to coincide with the state's general elections, beginning 2028. Thus, as it currently stands, this will be the last regularly scheduled Saint Paul mayoral election to be held during the off-year. [7]

Candidates

Declared

Endorsements

Melvin Carter III (DFL)
Statewide officials
U.S. senators
State legislators
Municipal officials
Saint Paul city councilors
  • Anika Bowie, Ward 1 (2024–present) [16]
  • Molly Coleman, Ward 4 (2025–present) [16]
  • Cheniqua Johnson, Ward 7 (2024–present) [16]
  • Saura Jost, Ward 3 (2024–present) [16]
Individuals
Labor unions
Organizations
Kaohly Her (DFL)
State legislators
Saint Paul city councilors
  • Nelsie Yang, Ward 6 (2020–present) [16]
Labor unions
Organizations
Declined to endorse
Municipal officials
Organizations
  • Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce PAC [27]
Party chapters

Results

2025 Saint Paul mayoral election [30]
CandidateRound 1Round 2
Votes%Votes%
Kaohly Her 25,65838.4332,29551.49
Melvin Carter III (incumbent)27,26140.8330,41848.51
Yan Chen6,4169.61Eliminated
Mike Hilborn5,7018.54Eliminated
Adam Dullinger1,5762.36Eliminated
Write-ins 1570.24Eliminated
Exhausted ballots —4,056 ballots
Total66,769100.0%62,713100.0%

References

  1. ↑ "St. Paul Mayoral Reallocation 11-4-25 (PDF)" (PDF). Ramsey County, Minnesota. November 4, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Elections Calendar". MN SOS. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Ranked Voting". Ramsey County, Minnesota. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Mayoral election in St. Paul, Minnesota (2025)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  5. ↑ Tu, Becky Z. Dernbach, Katrina Pross, Katelyn Vue, Cynthia (November 4, 2025). "Kaohly Vang Her makes history as the first woman and first Hmong person to lead St. Paul". Sahan Journal. Retrieved November 5, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Albertson-Grove, Josie (November 5, 2025). "Kaohly Her wins historic election, will be St. Paul's first Hmong mayor". www.startribune.com. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  7. ↑ Stokes, Kyle (November 6, 2025). "St. Paul voters approve moving city elections to even years". Axios Twin Cities. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  8. ↑ Lentz, Nick (August 4, 2025). "St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter seeking third term". CBS News . Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  9. 1 2 Stokes, Kyle (August 4, 2025). "St. Paul mayoral race heats up as Kaohly Vang Her announces run". Axios . Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Meet Your Mayor: Yan Chen". Sahan Journal. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  11. ↑ Albertson-Grove, Josie (August 13, 2025). "Who will challenge Melvin Carter for St. Paul mayor?". Minnesota Star Tribune . Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Meet Your Mayor: Adam Dullinger". Sahan Journal. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Minnesota DFL Rep. Kaohly Her announces run for St. Paul mayor". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Meet Your Mayor: Mike Hilborn". Sahan Journal. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cox, Peter (October 13, 2025). "5 candidates vie for St. Paul mayor". Minnesota Public Radio . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Melo, Frederick (October 5, 2025). "As some big names sit out St. Paul mayor's race, others ponder city's challenges". St. Paul Pioneer Press . Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  17. ↑ Krizter, Naomi (October 9, 2025). "Election 2025: Saint Paul Mayoral Race". Will Tell Stories for Food. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Saint Paul Federation of Educators endorses Mayor Melvin Carter". Insight News. October 10, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  19. ↑ Cunningham, Shannon; Moriarty, Erin (August 21, 2025). "Nurses endorse St. Paul Mayoral and Minnesota State House candidates who stand with patients and nurses". Minnesota Nurses Association . Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  20. ↑ "SEIU 2025 Endorsements". Service Employees International Union Minnesota State Council. August 18, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  21. ↑ "2025 Endorsements". Sierra Club . Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  22. ↑ Saint Paul Professional Firefighters Local 21 [@iafflocal21] (October 12, 2025). "Saint Paul Firefighters are proud to endorse Kaohly Her for Mayor of Saint Paul". Instagram . Retrieved October 13, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ↑ Teamsters Joint Council #32 [@jointcouncil32] (September 23, 2025). "Teamsters Joint Council 32 is proud to endorse Kaohly Her For St. Paul Mayor". Facebook . Retrieved October 13, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ↑ "RSVP For A Gun Sense Voter Event: MN—St Paul Canvassing MN—Kaohly Her". Everytown for Gun Safety Gun Sense Voter. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  25. ↑ Delos Reyes, Jessica (September 15, 2025). "New American Leaders Action Fund Endorses 21 Candidates Across State and Local Races". New American Leaders Action Fund. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  26. ↑ "SPAAR endorses Kaohly Her for Saint Paul Mayor". St. Paul Association of Realtors . September 21, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  27. ↑ Fedor, Liz (September 19, 2025). "Nobody Wins St. Paul Mayoral Endorsement from Chamber PAC". Twin Cities Business Magazine. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  28. ↑ Albertson-Grove, Josie (September 14, 2025). "Short on money and volunteers, St. Paul DFL will skip mayoral endorsement". The Minnesota Star Tribune . Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Saint Paul Republicans: Candidates". Saint Paul Republicans. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Saint Paul Mayor". Minnesota Secretary of State. November 4, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
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