Kaohly Her sworn in as St. Paul mayor Friday at St. Catherine University
Kaohly Her will be sworn in as St. Paul mayor at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Catherine University, with live video coverage planned for viewers. Her becomes the city’s first woman, first Hmong and first Asian American mayor as St. Paul will simultaneously have an all‑women City Council; a refugee from Laos who served as Mayor Melvin Carter’s policy director and in the state House since 2018, she says she intends to govern collaboratively through cross‑department and cross‑sector partnerships.
📌 Key Facts
- Kaohly Her will be sworn in as St. Paul mayor at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Catherine University.
- The inauguration ceremony will be carried via live video, with information provided on how viewers can watch.
- Her is the first woman, the first Hmong person and the first Asian American elected mayor of St. Paul; the city will simultaneously have an all-women City Council.
- Her is a refugee from Laos who previously served as Mayor Melvin Carter’s policy director and has been a member of the Minnesota state House since 2018.
- Her has said she intends to govern collaboratively, focusing on cross-department and cross-sector partnerships.
📊 Relevant Data
The mass migration of Hmong people to the United States, including to St. Paul, was primarily due to their alliance with the US during the Secret War in Laos as part of the Vietnam War era, leading to persecution after the communist takeover in 1975, and was facilitated by the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975.
Hmong and Hmong Americans in Minnesota — MNopedia
Church organizations, such as Lutheran and Catholic groups, played a key role in sponsoring and resettling Hmong refugees in Minnesota through voluntary agencies.
How did Minnesota become a hub for Hmong people? — Sahan Journal
The Asian population in St. Paul increased from 12.4% in 2000 to 15% in 2010 and to 19.2% in 2020, reflecting significant demographic change driven by immigration and family reunification.
Minorities are now the majority in St. Paul, census shows — Twin Cities Pioneer Press
Prior to 2024, the St. Paul City Council had never consisted entirely of women, with women historically underrepresented, as the 2024 council is the first all-female one in a major US city.
St. Paul's All-Female City Council Marks a 'Turning Point' for a Twin Cities Hub — The New York Times
Despite Asian Americans comprising 19% of St. Paul's population, no Asian American had been elected mayor prior to Kaohly Her, indicating historical underrepresentation relative to population share.
Kaohly Her wins historic election, will be St. Paul's first Hmong mayor — Star Tribune
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Specific time and place are provided: Her’s inauguration is at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Catherine University.
- Confirms live video coverage is planned and explains how viewers can watch the ceremony.
- Stresses that Her is the first woman, first Hmong and first Asian American to be elected mayor of St. Paul and that the city will simultaneously have an all‑women City Council, a framing not fully detailed in the prior scheduling note.
- Includes additional biographical context (refugee background from Laos, work as Melvin Carter’s policy director, and service in the state House beginning in 2018) in the context of the inauguration.
- Carries fresh comments about Her’s intended collaborative governing style and focus on cross‑department and cross‑sector partnerships.