Minneapolis election to decide council control
Minneapolis voters are deciding whether the City Council’s seven-member progressive bloc will retain its veto-proof edge over Mayor Jacob Frey, with three open seats and three competitive incumbent races — including Ward 2 (Shelley Madore raised $129,000 to Robin Wonsley’s $72,000) and a costly Ward 7 contest in which incumbent Katie Cashman lost the DFL endorsement to Elizabeth Shaffer — poised to determine control. Only first-choice ranked-choice totals will be reported Tuesday night and reallocations resume Wednesday, and the council outcome is tied to the broader mayoral showdown between Frey and democratic-socialist Omar Fateh, who is running as part of a coordinated “slate for change.”
📌 Key Facts
- Minneapolis will report only first-choice totals on Election Night; ranked-choice reallocations resume Wednesday morning, so winners may not be known Tuesday if no candidate wins a first-choice majority.
- The mayoral contest centers on incumbent Jacob Frey and democratic socialist State Sen. Omar Fateh; Fateh's platform includes a $20 minimum wage by 2028, rent control and just-cause eviction protections.
- Fateh is running as part of a coordinated 'slate for change' with Rev. DeWayne Davis and Jazz Hampton; a Fateh victory would mark Minneapolis's first Muslim, first Somali American and first democratic socialist mayor.
- Frey's campaign emphasizes public-safety reforms, rebuilding Minneapolis Police Department ranks, downtown economic recovery and affordable housing.
- The City Council's progressive bloc currently numbers seven members; losing a single seat would end its veto-proof majority against Mayor Frey.
- The council has enacted or pushed notable measures (including rideshare minimum pay, an Israel–Hamas ceasefire resolution and a carbon-emissions fee) and has seen failed override attempts on proposals such as creating a labor standards board and denying raises for roughly 160 high-paid city employees.
- There are three open council seats and three incumbents in particularly competitive races.
- Ward-level dynamics: Ward 2 — Shelley Madore (aligned with Frey-backed moderates) has raised $129,000 vs. Robin Wonsley's $72,000; Ward 7 — incumbent Katie Cashman lost the DFL endorsement to Elizabeth Shaffer in what has become one of the year's most expensive council races with six-figure fundraising.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
November 04, 2025
12:00 PM
Tilt of power at stake in Minneapolis City Council elections
New information:
- City will not tabulate ranked-choice votes beyond first-choice totals on Election Night; RCV reallocations resume Wednesday morning.
- Progressive bloc currently numbers seven members; losing one seat would end its veto-proof coalition against Mayor Frey.
- Specific past veto overrides cited: rideshare minimum pay, Israel–Hamas ceasefire resolution, and a carbon-emissions fee; failed overrides included a labor standards board and denial of raises for ~160 high-paid city employees.
- Ward 2 fundraising totals: Shelley Madore $129,000 vs Robin Wonsley $72,000; Madore aligned with Frey-backed moderates.
- Ward 7 update: incumbent Katie Cashman lost the DFL endorsement to challenger Elizabeth Shaffer; race described as the year's most expensive with six-figure fundraising.
- There are three open council seats and three incumbents in particularly competitive races.
12:00 PM
It’s Election Day in Minneapolis. Who will be the next mayor?
New information:
- Article centers the Minneapolis mayoral race and frames stakes between incumbent Jacob Frey and democratic socialist Sen. Omar Fateh.
- Notes a coordinated 'slate for change' among Fateh, Rev. DeWayne Davis, and Jazz Hampton.
- States there are 15 mayoral candidates and explains that a winner may not be known Tuesday night due to ranked-choice tabulation continuing Wednesday if no first-choice majority.
- Details Fateh’s platform (e.g., $20 minimum wage by 2028, rent control, just-cause eviction) and the historic firsts if he wins (first Muslim, first Somali American, first democratic socialist mayor).
- Restates polling hours (7 a.m.–8 p.m.) and highlights Frey’s campaign themes (public safety reforms, rebuilding MPD ranks, downtown recovery, affordable housing).
October 30, 2025