Ramsey County Board Chair Rafael Ortega will not seek re‑election in 2026
Rafael Ortega, chair of the Ramsey County Board, has announced he will not seek re‑election in 2026. His decision creates an open seat in District 5, which includes downtown St. Paul and West Seventh, despite earlier reports that he was running for re‑election.
📌 Key Facts
- On Dec. 12, 2025, Rafael Ortega, chair of the Ramsey County Board, said he will not seek re-election in 2026.
- Ortega’s decision creates an open seat in Ramsey County District 5, which includes downtown St. Paul and the West Seventh neighborhood.
📊 Relevant Data
In Ramsey County, the median household income is $89,113 for White residents, $47,960 for Black residents, $80,675 for Asian residents, and $39,250 for American Indian residents, as of 2022.
Ramsey County, MN Median Household Income By Race — Neilsberg
Between 2010 and 2022, the percentage of White (non-Hispanic) residents in Ramsey County decreased from 69.1% to 55.8%, while the percentage of Asian (non-Hispanic) residents increased from 10.6% to 15.7%, Black (non-Hispanic) from 10.6% to 11.6%, and Hispanic from 7% to 8.3%.
Ramsey County, MN population by year, race, & more — USAFacts
In Downtown St. Paul, part of Ramsey County District 5, the population is 7,748 with a racial breakdown of 71% White, 10.1% Black, 11.1% Asian, 6.2% Two or More Races, and 0.9% Other, based on 2019-2023 data.
Downtown St. Paul, St. Paul, MN Demographics: Population, Income, and More — Point2Homes
📰 Sources (2)
- Rafael Ortega, chair of the Ramsey County Board, says he will not seek re‑election in 2026.
- His decision creates an open seat in District 5 (which includes downtown St. Paul and West Seventh).