Elections

On Monday, April 27, 2026, DFL lawmakers introduced a bill to cut state aid to Minnesota cities that stop flying the new state flag, as the Inver Grove Heights City Council voted to revert to the 1983 design. bill Inver Grove Heights

Federal prosecutors have submitted a recommendation on whether to seek the death penalty against Vance Boelter, the accused gunman in the June 14, 2025, Hortman killings in Brooklyn Park.

Several Minnesota state legislators announced they will retire, citing rising threats and political violence, in reporting published Monday, April 27, 2026. The departures, described by FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, add urgency to concerns about lawmaker safety and the coming campaign season.

A Minnesota state senator wagered $50 on himself to win a primary and was suspended from the Kalshi trading platform. FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul reported the senator placed the $50 bet on Kalshi to back his primary victory. Kalshi responded by suspending the account, the station said.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld a lower court's denial of a preliminary injunction sought by Female Athletes United, leaving Minnesota's policy that allows transgender girls to compete on girls' sports teams in place while litigation continues. The appeals panel concluded the advocacy group lacked a private right of action under Title IX to obtain that injunction, so Minnesota schools can continue following the state's inclusive rules as the case returns to federal district court for further proceedings. Attorney General Keith Ellison welcomed the ruling, saying he is "proud to defend Minnesota's inclusive legal protections" and framing the decision as a rebuke to efforts to force discrimination; the U.S. Department of Justice, meanwhile, has filed its own suit challenging the state's approach.

Tyler Kistner, a Republican and Marine Reservist who had been campaigning for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District, announced he is withdrawing from the race after being activated for a Middle East deployment. The announcement, reported by FOX 9, came as Kistner said he was putting military duty ahead of another congressional bid; his activation is part of a broader U.S. troop buildup in the region this year — the largest since 2003, with more than 10,000 additional personnel sent amid tensions and ceasefire negotiations. The withdrawal removes a high-profile GOP contender from a swing district that has been competitive in recent cycles.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon traveled to Washington, D.C., to testify before a House committee on election security, defending how the state maintains its voter rolls and explaining specific practices that some Republicans have criticized. Simon told lawmakers that Minnesota's vouching process verifies only a voter's residence, not citizenship or age, and warned that proposals to expand use of the SAVE database or to impose new documentary requirements could complicate absentee and same-day registration. The hearing drew pointed exchanges — including questions about driver's licenses issued without citizenship markers and about Minnesota's refusal, according to critics, to hand over certain data to the Justice Department — and sparked a robust social media response ranging from GOP criticism of state officials to posts highlighting a prosecution in Fillmore County of a noncitizen who voted.

DFL legislators at the Capitol are pushing a new "wealth tax" that would slap a 1% annual levy on every dollar of in-state taxable wealth above $10 million, hitting individuals and trusts that keep their wealth based in Minnesota, including the Twin Cities. The bill, heard in the House Taxes Committee and laid over for possible inclusion in the broader tax bill, would take effect for tax years starting after Dec. 31, 2025, and is framed by sponsors like Reps. Esther Agbaje and Liz Lee as a way to make the state's richest residents "pay their fair share" in a system where asset growth far outpaces wages. Republicans on the committee blasted the proposal as repeat-performance tax-and-spend politics, with Rep. Mike Wiener pointing to roughly $10 billion in recent tax hikes and Rep. Patti Anderson questioning whether taxing unrealized wealth is even constitutional. Opponents also warned that asset-rich but cash-poor owners — including farmers and some business owners whose land and equipment push them over $10 million on paper — could be squeezed despite modest annual income. For the metro, where a large share of the state's high-net-worth households live, this is the opening round of a fight over whether Minnesota tries to tax fortunes as well as paychecks — and whether the very wealthy start voting with their feet.

On March 27 in White Bear Lake, Republican Rep. Elliott Engen was stopped and later charged with DWI after breath tests showed a .13 BAC, while passenger Rep. Walter Hudson told officers he owned a liquor bottle and was carrying a concealed 9mm pistol that police removed and held for safekeeping. Prosecutors declined to charge Hudson with carrying a firearm while impaired, saying they could not prove impairment beyond a reasonable doubt — noting he was not given a breath or chemical test — even as Engen faces a formal DWI charge.

BNCL Law has filed what it calls the "first wave" of class-action complaints tied to Operation Metro Surge and Operation PARRIS, filing at least 10 suits covering more than 70 plaintiffs who allege constitutional violations — including wrongful assaults, verbal and physical abuse, and detentions or arrests without legal basis — and say masked federal officers have forced them to sue multiple agencies until discovery can identify individual officers. State data show about 3,800 arrests in Minnesota under Metro Surge, the majority of arrestees had no criminal record and more than 1,000 were Ecuadorian, a pattern civil-rights lawyers link to a reported quota of thousands of arrests per day.

Organizers of the "No Kings" March 28 Capitol rally in St. Paul said the flagship event drew more than 200,000 people (the Minnesota State Patrol estimated about 100,000) and billed the nationwide, anti-Trump, midterm-energizing movement — featuring speakers including Gov. Tim Walz, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Jane Fonda, Joan Baez and Rep. Ilhan Omar — as moving into a planned May 1 national strike after what organizers say were more than 3,300 events with at least 8 million participants. Separately, Hennepin County charged 36-year-old Zak X of St. Cloud with felony third-degree assault and a felony for wearing a bullet-resistant vest during a protest after prosecutors say he livestreamed a Bloomington No Kings event, punched a father in the nose after the man pushed his phone away when X pointed the camera at the child (breaking the victim's nose and requiring surgery), and was found with a concealed vest, OC spray, a loaded airsoft gun and other gear; X has admitted throwing the punch, claimed self-defense and is being held on $75,000 bail.

Former ICE attorney Julie Le, who went viral in February for telling a federal judge "this system sucks, this job sucks" amid a crush of Operation Metro Surge cases, formally launched a Democratic primary campaign Saturday in Brooklyn Park for Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, currently held by Rep. Ilhan Omar. Le told supporters she is "overwhelmed" by their backing and said her run is driven by the fallout of the Twin Cities ICE crackdown, citing families torn apart, allegedly unlawful detentions, and the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti as proof the system is broken. She previously represented ICE in immigration court and then volunteered to help the U.S. Attorney's Office handle a flood of habeas petitions from immigrants claiming wrongful detention, with court dockets showing she was assigned to more than 85 such cases before the Trump administration pulled her off them hours after her outburst. Le is making comprehensive immigration reform the centerpiece of her platform, arguing that Metro Surge has shuttered family businesses and killed innocent U.S. citizens for exercising constitutional rights. Her entry sets up a high-profile Democratic fight in the Minneapolis-anchored district that has become ground zero for national battles over immigration enforcement and federal overreach.

A new bill at the Minnesota Legislature would amend the state constitution to limit the governor and lieutenant governor to two four-year terms total, bringing Minnesota in line with 37 other states that already cap gubernatorial tenure. The proposal, introduced in the House with Republican backing and some DFL co-sponsors, would apply prospectively beginning in 2030 if it passes both chambers and is then approved by voters statewide. Minnesota voters have never actually elected a governor to more than two consecutive terms, but this measure would lock that norm into law and bar any future three- or four-term governor. For Minneapolis-St. Paul residents, a term-limit change would permanently alter the power curve at the Capitol, guaranteeing regular turnover in the office that sets budgets, appoints agency heads, and negotiates on everything from transit and Medicaid to Metro Surge fallout. The bill's bipartisan support suggests it is more than a messaging stunt and could realistically end up on a future statewide ballot.

Minnesota's members of Congress are using President Trump's State of the Union as a national stage to highlight two of the Twin Cities' most explosive crises: the ICE 'Metro Surge' crackdown and the political assassination of Rep. Melissa Hortman. Reps. Betty McCollum and Kelly Morrison are bringing Hortman's son, Colin, and his wife as guests, with Colin issuing a pointed statement about political violence and calling on leaders to reject dehumanizing language. Rep. Ilhan Omar is bringing four Minnesotans directly entangled in the ICE surge, including disability advocate Aliya Rahman, Columbia Heights school board chair Mary Granlund (who helped respond after 5-year-old Liam Ramos was detained), U.S. citizen Mubashir Hussen, and Gerardo Orozco Guzman, whose father was seized at a Minneapolis job site. The invited guests put real names and faces to local lawsuits, school walkouts and street protests, and ensure that when Trump delivers his immigration talking points, the human cost in Minneapolis-St. Paul will be sitting directly in front of him. On social media, immigrant-rights groups are urging Minnesotans to watch for these guests during the broadcast as a counter-narrative to the administration's claims about targeting only the 'worst of the worst.'

Fox 9 reports that Vance Boelter, accused of killing House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman at her Brooklyn Park home and shooting Sen. John Hoffman nine times at his Champlin home on June 14, 2025, is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court on Friday for the first time since November. A federal grand jury indicted Boelter in July 2025 on first-degree murder and related counts, and prosecutors have said they may seek the death penalty, which would make this one of the most consequential criminal cases in modern Minnesota history. Investigators allege Boelter disguised himself as a police officer and arrived armed with multiple weapons in what authorities have called a politically motivated attack, triggering the largest manhunt in state history before his arrest near Green Isle about 40 hours later. The article ties the new hearing to the start of the 2026 legislative session, which opened this week with a formal remembrance of Hortman and a return to the Senate floor by Hoffman, who was greeted with a standing ovation. The case remains a focal point of public concern over political violence and security for elected officials across the Twin Cities metro.

Border czar Tom Homan will hold an 8 a.m. Thursday news conference in Minneapolis to update ICE operations tied to Operation Metro Surge; at 9 a.m. Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations leader Marcos Charles will give an official update, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections will hold a separate 10:30 a.m. briefing on ICE detainers. The Homan briefing — framed against Gov. Tim Walz's comment that the federal crackdown could end "days, not weeks" and following Homan's prior note that roughly 700 federal agents would leave Minnesota — coincides with Vice President JD Vance's Minneapolis stop on a multi-state trip tied to the immigration crackdown and has drawn warnings from Sen. Ron Latz that federal agents must respect constitutional rights.

Dylan Michael Tobler, 23, has been charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 7 stabbing death of the daughter of former Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Dr. Jeff Johnson in St. Cloud. A witness who went to the home after not hearing from the victim since Feb. 3 found the victim's body in a bathroom with multiple knives (one with dried blood) and Tobler — who told police he had been alone with the victim, said he thought it was his fault she was dead and tapped his chest saying "jail" — and the medical examiner preliminarily reported multiple stab wounds to the chest, upper back, head and neck and ruled the manner of death a homicide; the Minnesota GOP said Johnson has suspended his 2026 campaign to focus on his family.

Scott Jensen has formally withdrawn from the 2026 Minnesota governor's race and launched a campaign for state auditor. The shift moves him from a top-of-ticket executive contest into an oversight role auditing state and local finances and reshapes the emerging statewide field, which already includes other GOP and DFL contenders.

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth named former state auditor candidate Ryan Wilson as her running mate in her 2026 Republican gubernatorial bid; Wilson is an attorney, former CEO of a clinical-trials firm and narrowly lost the 2022 auditor race to DFLer Julie Blaha. The Demuth-Wilson ticket will begin a statewide tour this week and is the first GOP gubernatorial campaign so far to announce a lieutenant governor pick, with both figures having been involved in high-profile conservative legal and political efforts.

Scott Jensen, the former Republican gubernatorial nominee, is dropping his 2026 bid for Minnesota governor and will instead run for state auditor, according to a new report from the Minnesota Reformer. His switch removes one more prominent name from an already crowded GOP governor field and moves him into a race that directly oversees audits of state agencies and local governments, including Twin Cities cities, counties, and school districts. The move also reshuffles the DFL-GOP matchup for an office that has become more politically salient amid massive fraud scandals and looming budget shortfalls. Reaction online from DFL-leaning circles is that Jensen is seeking a lower-profile statewide office after two losses and years of COVID-era controversy, while some Republicans see his name recognition as an asset in an office most voters usually ignore. How metro voters respond will help determine who sits over the books of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Hennepin and Ramsey County for the next four years.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, now a leading DFL candidate for the U.S. Senate seat Tina Smith is vacating, told FOX 9 it is "ridiculous" to suggest she was part of a Signal group under the alias "Flan Southside" that purportedly tracked ICE agents and coordinated protests and donations during Operation Metro Surge. The claim came from conservative influencer Cam Higby, who posted screenshots he says came from an infiltrated Signal chat that shared ICE vehicle locations, solicited agitators, and directed money to a group called Stand with Minnesota; none of that has yet been independently verified. Flanagan flatly denied being in the chat, said her own work has focused on mutual aid and groceries for families, and argued the story is a distraction from "what is happening in our streets in real time," pointing to the detainment of U.S. citizens and the killings of Renee Good and ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents. She repeated her view that ICE is operating as a "reckless paramilitary force" and called again for the federal government to pull ICE out of Minnesota, even as she leans into Smith's endorsement as she seeks a promotion to the Senate. On social media, the Signal allegation is circulating heavily in right-wing circles, while many Twin Cities progressives are treating it as an obvious smear but amplifying Flanagan's harder-line anti-ICE rhetoric as the political temperature around the surge keeps rising.

At a north Minneapolis town hall on ICE operations, Rep. Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown liquid delivered via a syringe; police arrested a man on suspicion of assault and a forensic team is testing the substance. Omar appeared unhurt, resumed speaking after being checked, and the spraying was a separate incident from an earlier man who rushed the stage but was stopped by security.

DFL candidates Shelley Buck and Meg Luger-Nikolai won special elections in St. Paul's HD47A and the Woodbury-area HD67A, taking roughly 97-98% and about 95% of the vote respectively to fill seats vacated by Kaohly Her and Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger. Their victories leave the Minnesota House tied 67-67 heading into the 2026 legislative session, maintaining the need for continued power-sharing.

Vice President J.D. Vance will be in Minneapolis Thursday to speak about ICE operations, hold a roundtable and join a joint ICE/Border Patrol press briefing on Operation Metro Surge, with FOX 9 carrying his remarks and the federal briefings live. His visit coincides with a Minnesota Department of Corrections public response on ICE detainers, setting up a clash between the administration's assertion that the state is obstructing enforcement and state officials' contention that DOC already coordinates on releases.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced he will not run for governor in 2026 following Gov. Tim Walz's decision not to seek re-election and instead will seek a third term as attorney general. Ellison cited a federal ICE surge and what he called a "war on Minnesota" as reasons he's best equipped to remain in the AG's office, a move that ends DFL speculation about him as a potential top-ticket replacement while the GOP governor's field expands.

Attorney General Keith Ellison says he will not run for Minnesota governor in 2026 despite Gov. Tim Walz abandoning his re-election bid, and will instead stick with his campaign for a third term as AG. In a statement reported Tuesday, Ellison says that as the "federal government declares war on Minnesota" through the ICE surge, he is "best equipped to defend Minnesotans" from the Attorney General's Office, explicitly tying his decision to the ongoing federal crackdown centered on the Twin Cities. His exit from the governor chatter narrows the DFL's options at the top of the ticket — names still in the mill include Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Secretary of State Steve Simon — while leaving a packed GOP field already featuring Lisa Demuth, Mike Lindell, Chris Madel, Kristin Robbins and Scott Jensen. For metro residents, it means the same AG who's been suing and getting hauled into court over SNAP, Medicaid fraud, ICE tactics and HUD's homelessness cuts will remain on that front line instead of jumping into a new statewide race.

A Minnesota House Republican has formally filed articles of impeachment accusing Gov. Tim Walz of failing to stop and fully disclose widespread fraud in state programs, breaching his oath and mishandling audits and oversight tied to Operation Metro Surge. The sponsor says the resolution will be introduced when the Legislature convenes Feb. 17, with a House majority required to impeach and a two-thirds Senate vote needed to convict and remove, and both the lawmaker and DFL leaders have offered on-record statements framing the partisan and constitutional stakes.

The Trump administration will not renew Temporary Protected Status for Somalia, formally set to expire March 17, putting roughly 500-600 Somali TPS holders in Minnesota — out of about 37,000 Somali-born residents and roughly 700 Somalis nationwide covered by TPS — at risk of losing work authorization and facing detention or deportation. Local leaders and immigration attorneys say the move will strain social-service and legal-aid networks and threaten mixed-status families, while DHS officials note any TPS decision must follow legal procedures and would apply nationwide rather than only to Minnesota.

Gov. Tim Walz announced he will not seek a third term in 2026, reversing earlier intentions and saying 2025 has become "an extraordinarily difficult year" — citing a statewide fraud crisis and sustained political attacks from President Donald Trump and allies that he says have left him unable to mount a full campaign; Walz defended his administration's fraud response, including seeking new legislative tools, firing staff, prosecuting offenders, cutting funding streams tied to criminal activity and hiring a statewide head of program integrity. His exit reshapes the 2026 race: Democrats have no clear frontrunner though Sen. Amy Klobuchar is reportedly considering a run (with Secretary of State Steve Simon also floated and Rep. Dean Phillips saying he won't run), while a crowded GOP field — including House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Mike Lindell, Rep. Kristin Robbins, Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel, former Sen. Scott Jensen, Brad Kohler, Kendall Qualls, Jeff Johnson and Phillip Parrish — has already formed amid sharp reactions from DFL leaders blaming Trump-era attacks.

Rep. Kaohly Her defeated incumbent Melvin Carter after ranked-choice tabulation produced a final total of 51.5%, overturning a first-round deficit (Carter 40.83% — 27,611; Her 38.38% — 25,884 of 67,617 ballots) as Her picked up the bulk of second-choice transfers and won by roughly 2.77 percentage points (~1,877 votes); Ramsey County used open-source RCV/RCTab software to complete same-night tabulation and Carter conceded after midnight. Her becomes St. Paul's first Hmong-American and first woman mayor, will join an all-women City Council, serve a three-year term before the city shifts to even-year elections in 2028, and is to be sworn in Friday.

State Rep. Kaohly Her defeated incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter in a stunning upset to become St. Paul's next mayor, making history as the city will, for the first time, have a woman mayor serving with an all-women City Council. Her is scheduled to be sworn in at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Catherine University (streamed live), will serve a three-year term as the city shifts mayoral elections to even-numbered years beginning in 2028, and has said she will focus on cross-government and cross-sector collaboration as Carter posted a social-media reflection on his time in office.

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.

Special elections for Minnesota House seats in St. Paul (HD64A) and Woodbury (HD47A) are set for Jan. 27. In DFL primaries held Tuesday, Shelley Buck won the nomination in HD47A, while results in the HD64A St. Paul primary — where seven candidates competed — were still pending.

Shelley Buck won the DFL primary for Minnesota House District 47A (Woodbury area) on Dec. 16, 2025, setting the party's nominee for the Jan. 27 special election. Results in the DFL primary for House District 64A (St. Paul) remained pending at publication.

Facing a stalemated Legislature, Gov. Tim Walz on Dec. 16 signed two executive orders that immediately establish a Statewide Safety Council and direct the state to expand education on safe firearm storage and Minnesota's red-flag law while collecting more data on the societal costs of gun violence. Walz framed the orders as bypassing a special session and said they could face legal challenges; critics including the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus called them "low-impact" political cover and GOP leaders disputed his account of negotiations.

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.

Ramsey County Board Chair Rafael Ortega announced on Dec. 12, 2025, that he will not seek re-election in 2026, opening the District 5 seat that includes parts of St. Paul. The decision ends his long tenure on the board and reshapes the county's 2026 ballot.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell announced Thursday he is officially running for Minnesota governor in 2026 after filing paperwork earlier this month. He joins a crowded GOP field that includes House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Rep. Kristin Robbins, Kendall Qualls, Chris Madel, Scott Jensen and others to challenge Gov. Tim Walz, who is seeking a third term.

Rebecca Noecker, president of the St. Paul City Council, has officially announced she is running for the Ramsey County Board. The formal announcement came on Dec. 9, 2025, following earlier indications she planned to run.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon announced on Dec. 9, 2025, that he will run for a fourth term in 2026. The statewide office administers elections and business filings, directly affecting Minneapolis-Saint Paul voters and local governments.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 9 heard arguments in a Republican challenge seeking to end federal limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with their candidates, a decision that could reshape 2026 campaign spending in Minnesota, including Minneapolis-Saint Paul races. The Federal Election Commission defended the current caps during the hearing; a ruling later this term could change how parties fund and coordinate electoral efforts.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell registered Wednesday to run for Minnesota governor as a Republican, according to state records. He joins a crowded GOP field for the 2026 race that already includes House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Rep. Kristin Robbins, and Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel, among others.

Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel formally launched a Republican campaign for Minnesota governor Monday with a one-hour speech and PowerPoint centered on combating fraud in programs like Feeding Our Future, Housing Stabilization Services and autism services, pledging a tough-on-crime approach and touting an endorsement from the Minneapolis Police Federation. He blamed state leaders across parties — "This is our money... the Minnesota government is to blame" — addressed past donations to Democrats (including Gov. Tim Walz and the Harris-Walz ticket) without apologizing, highlighted his defense of State Trooper Ryan Londregan (whose charges were dropped), and joins a crowded GOP field.

President Trump signed a stopgap funding bill ending the 43-day shutdown, OPM directed federal employees to return Thursday and agencies will issue back pay in four tranches beginning by Nov. 19 while the measure reverses shutdown-era firings and bars new layoffs through January. The package restarts programs including SNAP, releases $3.6 billion in LIHEAP heating aid to states and tribes, and extends funding through Jan. 30, though SNAP and other benefits may take days or longer to reach recipients and a separate vote on ACA premium subsidies is expected in December.

The Department of Homeland Security announced it will end Temporary Protected Status for some Myanmar nationals, citing planned December "free and fair" elections and "successful ceasefire agreements"; rights groups and Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government sharply criticized the move, saying Myanmar remains in a brutal civil war with forced conscription and daily attacks on civilians. Advocates warned of harms to Burmese communities in the Twin Cities, and observers note that ICC prosecutors previously sought an arrest warrant for junta leader Min Aung Hlaing over alleged crimes against humanity related to the Rohingya.

St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Vang Her announced her transition team on Nov. 20, appointing Erica Schumacher and Hnu Vang as co-leaders to help select department heads and senior City Hall staff. The team also includes Nick Stumo-Langer as transition advisor, Matt Wagenius as communications director/press secretary, and Bridget Hajny as scheduler/office manager; Her resigned her state House seat earlier this week following her Nov. 4 victory.

The Department of Justice has sued Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, demanding the state's voter registration records as part of a coordinated set of lawsuits against six states within a broader push that included data requests to about 40 states. Ten Democratic secretaries of state, including Simon, have asked DOJ and DHS for details and security assurances after learning DOJ shared state rolls with DHS to run citizenship checks through the SAVE system despite earlier assurances the data would be used only to assess HAVA/NVRA compliance and amid contradictory statements from federal officials.

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski announced he will retire and will not seek reelection in 2026. In a statement thanking constituents in Eden Prairie and Minnetonka, he invoked the Constitution's "more perfect union" language, and his Senate District 49 is forecast to significantly favor the DFL in 2026.

Rep. Sandra Feist said she will not seek reelection in 2026 and plans to pivot back to immigration work after her term. Feist represents HD 39B, which covers parts of Hennepin, Ramsey and Anoka counties and is considered a safe DFL seat, and her legislative record includes authoring the North Star Act (a sanctuary-state proposal) and notable positions on a menstrual-products bill.

The Wayzata School Board voted 6-1 on Nov. 10, 2025, to hold a special election April 14, 2026, with three ballot questions: an extension of the tech levy, $465 million in general obligation bonds for new schools and upgrades, and a separate $31 million GO bond for an eight-lane pool with a diving well at Wayzata High School (contingent on passage of the second question) that would be permitted for community use. The district—enrollment topped 13,000 and is projected to exceed capacity at every grade level by 2027-28—has submitted the proposal to the Minnesota Department of Education for approval; Director Valentina Eyres cast the lone no vote questioning the pool and the April special election, and Superintendent Dr. Chace Anderson plans to retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year.

Former MN House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler announced he is running for House District 43B, which covers Golden Valley, Robbinsdale and a small part of Plymouth. The open seat follows DFL Rep. Mike Freiberg's run for the Minnesota Senate; Winkler joins state tax auditor and former Robbinsdale school board member Sam Sant in the DFL field ahead of the August primary.

Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for the U.S. Senate, praising her background and tying his support to her backing of Medicare for All; Flanagan said, "Folks deserve to afford the lives they want to live... not just the fights we think we can win." Flanagan's growing coalition includes Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and former Sen. Al Franken, while Democratic rival Rep. Angie Craig is backed by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, more than a dozen labor unions and Dave Wellstone; GOP contenders include Royce White and retired Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze.

Progressive-aligned candidates won seven of 13 Minneapolis City Council seats, preserving a narrow majority but losing a veto-proof supermajority after a moderate pickup in Ward 7; all races are now decided, including Ward 5 where Tinitha "Pearll" Warren prevailed in a ranked-choice second round. Mayor Jacob Frey and council leaders say the result will require more negotiation on issues like public safety and the budget, and the new council will be sworn in January for a four-year term.

Jacob Frey was declared the winner of the 2025 Minneapolis mayoral race, earning a third term after a single round of ranked-choice reallocation Wednesday morning that left him with about 50% of the final vote (he led first-choice totals roughly 42% to Omar Fateh's 32%) and prompted Fateh to concede. The count — finished around 11 a.m. after Hennepin County's cast-vote record arrived and city teams manually reallocated rankings — came amid record turnout (147,702 voters, 55%), and precinct results show Frey's strength in southwest Minneapolis, the city core and parts of north Minneapolis while Fateh's support clustered in Powderhorn, LynLake, Phillips, the university area and Cedar-Riverside; Fateh received nearly 20,000 second-choice votes but could not overcome Frey's first-round lead.

Ramsey County delivered St. Paul's ranked-choice outcome around midnight using new open-source tabulation software, while Minneapolis waited for a Hennepin County file and then followed a city-ordinance process requiring manual write-in review and spreadsheet-based reallocation, finishing late Wednesday morning. Officials detailed exact timelines, software used, and legacy costs that shaped how quickly results were posted in each city.

DFL Sen. Sandy Pappas, who represents St. Paul's SD 65 and chairs the Senate Capital Investment Committee, announced she will retire after the 2026 session, ending a 42-year legislative career. The former Senate president (2013-2016) highlighted work on bonding and local projects like Pedro Park, the Third Street-Kellogg Bridge, the North End Community Center and Union Depot; her departure creates an open seat in central St. Paul and a change in leadership over statewide infrastructure funding.

Patrick Knight, a businessman and retired U.S. Marine who grew up in Plymouth and is CEO of Good Sense Foods, announced a Republican bid for Minnesota governor. In an announcement video and website, he outlined priorities including pushing Minnesota into the Top 10 for GDP, job and wage growth, improving public safety and student proficiency, and making homeownership more affordable; he joins a crowded GOP field seeking to challenge Gov. Tim Walz, who is running for a third term.

Minnesota is on pace for a record eight special elections in 2025 after two more were announced, joining six earlier special-election triggers: the resignation of Sen. Nicole Mitchell, the death of Sen. Bruce Anderson, the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, the resignation of former Sen. Justin Eichorn, a residency dispute involving Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson, and the death of former Sen. Kari Dziedzic. Gov. Tim Walz will set the dates; the two new House vacancies are in heavily DFL districts (Kaohly Her won HD 64A with 83% and Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger won HD 47A with 61%, with presidential margins of roughly +70 and +25 for Kamala Harris), but with the House tied 67-67 a single GOP flip would create a Republican majority — though any GOP bills would still face a DFL Senate and the governor — and big 2026 issues already being floated include gun control and barring transgender women and girls from female sports.

Minnesota voters approved 60 of 96 school referendum questions (just over 62%) across roughly 70 districts in the 2025 election, the Minnesota School Boards Association said, OKaying about $1 billion of the roughly $1.6 billion districts sought. MSBA cautioned results are unofficial until certified; local outcomes include St. Paul Public Schools' levy, confirmed to generate about $37.2 million annually for 10 years, and high pass rates in many rural districts as districts contend with inflation and the 10-year referendum limit.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appointed educator Averi Turner, 29, on Nov. 5 to temporarily fill the North Side's District 2 seat through year-end after Becka Thompson resigned to run for City Council. Turner will attend four meetings and represent District 2 during debate and approval of the park system's proposed $160 million budget; her pay will be prorated, and Charles Rucker will assume the elected District 2 seat in January.

FOX 9 reports that only one of 11 Minnesota Parents Alliance-endorsed school board candidates won on Nov. 4, 2025 — incumbent Matt Audette in Anoka-Hennepin District 4 — while all others, including candidates in Lakeville, South Washington County, Wayzata and Fridley, lost. The report notes heavy outside spending, including more than $100,000 by Excellence Minnesota in Anoka-Hennepin, amid heightened post-pandemic interest in school board races.

Minneapolis reported a record 147,702 ballots cast (55% of registered voters) in the 2025 municipal election, surpassing the city's 2021 high-water mark. Ranked-choice tabulation for the mayoral race and a close City Council contest will resume Wednesday, Nov. 5, with final results to be certified by the City Council acting as the Municipal Canvassing Board on Monday, Nov. 10.

Special elections Tuesday left the DFL with a 34-33 Senate majority after state Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger won open Senate District 47 roughly 61-39 to replace Nicole Mitchell, who resigned following a felony burglary conviction. Republican Michael Holmstrom Jr. captured Senate District 29 by about a 24-point margin to fill the seat vacated by the late Sen. Bruce Anderson; the House remains evenly split and the Legislature is slated to reconvene Feb. 17, 2026.

Special elections Nov. 4 for SD47 (Woodbury/south Maplewood) and SD29 (parts of Wright, Meeker and Hennepin counties), vacated by DFL Sen. Nicole Mitchell's resignation and the death of GOP Sen. Bruce Anderson, resulted in DFL Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger winning SD47 and Republican Michael Holmstrom Jr. winning SD29, leaving the Minnesota Senate at a 34-33 DFL majority. The House remains evenly divided heading into the 2026 session (scheduled to resume Feb. 17, 2026), and Hemmingsen-Jaeger's victory will trigger a special election to fill her Woodbury-area House seat.

After first-round unofficial tallies in the five-way St. Paul mayoral race, incumbent Melvin Carter led with just over 40% to challenger Kaohly Her's just over 38%, so no candidate reached a majority and ranked-choice reallocations are next. Ramsey County plans to post RCV results late Tuesday using new open-source tabulation software (ending prior multi-day hand counts); early returns briefly showed Her slightly ahead, turnout was heavier than expected, and the ballot also included a 10-year school levy and a charter amendment on administrative citations.

Unofficial returns show St. Paul voters backing an administrative-citations charter amendment — "Yes" leading 68% to 32% with 78 of 86 precincts reporting. The amendment would authorize the City Council to create civil-fine penalties for ordinance violations (with specific fines and covered offenses to be set later after public hearings); supporters including Mayor Melvin Carter and Rep. Kaohly Her say it will help enforce everything from building codes to wage and sick-time rules, while critics such as former councilmember Jane Prince warn fines could be overused or become a budget tool after prior charter attempts failed and a petition forced the measure onto the 2025 ballot.

In a nine-candidate race for the South Washington County Schools board, voters elected Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg (15.4%), Kathleen (Katie) Schwartz (15.2%), Sharon H. Van Leer (14.5%) and Louise Hinz (14.5%), returning three incumbents to the board. Eckberg was endorsed by the United Teachers for South Washington County; the district covers parts or all of Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury, Afton, Denmark and Grey Cloud Island Townships.

Mahtomedi Public Schools voters on Nov. 4 approved raising the operating levy from $1,570 to $2,145 per pupil (64% yes) and a $28 million capital referendum (59% yes) for school security, classroom, mechanical and athletic field upgrades. Passage of the second question depended on the first; district officials estimate taxes on a $500,000 home will rise about $382 per year starting next year.

On Nov. 4, 2025, Ramsey County communities reported municipal and school election results and levy outcomes. White Bear Lake's mayoral race showed Mary Nicklawske leading 64%-36% with 3 of 6 precincts reporting; Falcon Heights council leaders were Georgiana May (42%) and Jim Mogen (40%) with 1 of 2 precincts; St. Anthony's two council seats were uncontested. School board outcomes included SANB reelecting Annie Bosmans, Laura Haas and Prachi Striker, with Daniel Turner leading a special race; Mounds View, Roseville and North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale posted partial board tallies, and levies passed in Mounds View (64%) and Roseville (68%) but failed in North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale (56% No).

Dakota County voters approved school levies in three districts: Farmington's operating levy passed with more than 57% support, providing $1,236.60 per student (about $8 million a year for 10 years) and raising taxes on a median $350,000 home by roughly $534 a year; Lakeville renewed its 2015 capital projects levy with nearly 70% support, continuing about $4 million a year for 10 years with no new tax increase; and Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan (ISD 196) voters renewed and increased the tech levy from 3.015% to 5.015% (about 68% approval), adding roughly $6.4 million a year to reach about $15.5 million annually for 10 years. In board races, Tony Reichenberger defeated Lakeville incumbent Brett Nicholson 51%-48%, and Elaine K. Mikel-Mulder won a Hastings ISD 200 special election with more than 60% of the vote to fill a seat through Jan. 1, 2029.

On Nov. 4, 2025, Dakota County voters approved school funding measures in Farmington, Lakeville, and Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan and chose new school board members in Hastings and Lakeville. Farmington's per-pupil operating levy will raise about $8M annually (adding ~$534/year for a median $350,000 home), Lakeville renewed its tech levy with no tax increase, ISD 196 expanded its tech levy to ~$15.5M/year, and Elaine K. Mikel-Mulder and Tony Reichenberger won board seats in Hastings and Lakeville, respectively.

St. Paul Public Schools used taxpayer funds to conduct outreach about a special levy ahead of the Nov. 4 referendum. As of Oct. 29 the district had spent $59,977 on outreach materials and $108,257 in total including the required mailing.

St. Paul Public Schools is asking voters to approve a $1,073-per-pupil levy referendum that would generate about $37.2 million a year; district officials say failing to pass it would force at least $37 million in budget cuts for 2026-27. The district reported spending roughly $60,000 on levy communications ($108,257 including the required mailed notice), estimates the median homeowner would pay about $309 per year if it passes, and warns that percentage property-tax increases would vary by neighborhood, with the North End, Payne-Phalen, Thomas-Dale/Frogtown and the West Side facing the largest increases.

Kacy Deschene (55.95%, 3,441 votes), Matt Audette (56.56%, 5,115 votes) and Jeff Simon (50.56%, 3,232 votes) won Anoka-Hennepin School Board seats. Simon's 87-vote margin over Tiffany Strabala (3,145 votes; 49.2%) is likely to trigger an automatic recount amid increased outside involvement in the races, including MN Parents Alliance endorsements and more than $100,000 in spending by Excellence Minnesota.

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."

A surge of pro-labor challengers and democratic-socialist newcomers is reshaping the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board races, with all nine seats on the ballot, several incumbents not seeking re-election, and results that may take days to finalize. At-large contests include incumbents Meg Forney and Tom Olsen, DFL endorsements for Olsen, Michael Wilson and Amber Frederick, three newcomers who identify as democratic socialists (Adam Schneider, Averi Turner and Michael Wilson) and mayoral backing for Mary McKelvey and Matthew Dowgwillo; District 1 now features DFL-backed union organizer Dan Engelhart after incumbent Billy Menz suspended his bid, Districts 2 and 3 are uncontested (Charles Rucker and Kedar Deshpande) and District 4 pits Jeannette Colby and Andrew Gebo against DFL-endorsed Jason Garcia.

On Nov. 4, Minneapolis voters are casting ballots for all nine Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board seats and the Board of Estimate and Taxation, with four Park Board incumbents not seeking re-election and results potentially taking days. The at-large field includes incumbents Meg Forney and Tom Olsen, DFL endorsements for Olsen, Michael Wilson and Amber Frederick, and mayoral picks Mary McKelvey and Matthew Dowgwillo; district races feature unopposed candidates in Districts 2 (Charles Rucker) and 3 (Kedar Deshpande), a reshuffled District 1 after Billy Menz suspended his bid, and a three-way District 4 contest to replace Elizabeth Shaffer.

On Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025, voters in Bloomington, Minnetonka and Lino Lakes are choosing mayors and City Council members amid debates over taxes, development and affordability; polls are open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. The article details candidate slates and priorities, including Bloomington's at-large race (Jonathan Minks, Danielle Robertson, Isaak Rooble) plus two district contests, Minnetonka's open mayoral race with five candidates and one contested at-large seat, and Lino Lakes' mayoral race centered on rapid development and a controversial housing/mosque project with incumbent Rob Rafferty seeking reelection.

FOX 9 reports a surge of outside spending in Anoka-Hennepin's school board races ahead of the Nov. 4 election, with campaign finance records showing Excellence Minnesota has spent over $100,000 statewide and is linked to the Minnesota Parents Alliance. The local teachers union president warns of unprecedented out-of-district and out-of-state money as three seats could shift the six-member board's balance; the Minnesota School Boards Association urges voters to research candidates and issues.

Avery Severson announced Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, that she is running as a Republican for Minnesota House District 36A, which covers Lino Lakes, Circle Pines, North Oaks, Centerville, and most of White Bear Township. The swing-district race is endorsed by outgoing Rep. Elliott Engen, now running for state auditor, and comes as the House is split 67-67, making 36A one of several seats likely to decide majority control in 2026.

Minneapolis reports more than 23,000 early ballots cast as of Sunday, about 9% of eligible voters, putting the city on pace for its second-highest municipal early turnout behind 2021. The Early Vote Center (980 E. Hennepin Ave.) is open until 5 p.m. Monday ahead of Tuesday's election for mayor, all 13 City Council seats, all nine Park Board seats, and the two Board of Estimate and Taxation seats; Ward 6 currently leads early turnout, followed by Ward 3.

Ahead of Tuesday's vote, the Pioneer Press lists Ramsey County ballots: St. Paul and White Bear Lake mayoral races; city council contests in Falcon Heights, St. Anthony and White Bear Lake; and school board races in St. Anthony-New Brighton, Mounds View, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale and Roseville. St. Paul voters will also decide a St. Paul Public Schools levy that would raise $37 million annually for 10 years (inflation-adjusted) and a charter amendment allowing administrative citations; several districts also have levy questions.

With Minneapolis voters heading to the polls Tuesday, the Star Tribune details where the four leading mayoral candidates — Jacob Frey, Omar Fateh, DeWayne Davis and Jazz Hampton — stand on downtown revival, public safety, housing and homelessness. The report outlines shared support for a more mixed-use downtown and key differences, including Frey's backing to move bus routes off Nicollet Mall, Fateh's push to expand Vibrant Storefronts and partner with the Downtown Council, Davis' focus on smaller leasable spaces, tax incentives and 'third spaces,' and Hampton's call to streamline permitting/inspections and strengthen walkable neighborhood connections.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled Oct. 31 that President Trump cannot require documentary proof of citizenship on the federal voter registration form, finding the directive unconstitutional and outside presidential authority. The decision grants partial summary judgment to the DNC and civil-rights groups and permanently bars the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from adding the requirement, while other challenges to Trump's elections order — including a mailed-ballot receipt-by-Election-Day mandate — continue.

Campaign-finance reports through Oct. 20 show PACs aligned with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and his allies have raised about $1.6 million, in addition to nearly $1 million raised by Frey's campaign, far outpacing groups backing state Sen. Omar Fateh and his allies ahead of the Nov. 4 election. The largest PAC, All of Minneapolis, has raised $1.2 million, while We Love Minneapolis has raised $309,000 and transferred $130,000 to Thrive MPLS, as both sides mobilize for the mayoral and 13 council races.

An administrative law judge with the Minnesota Court of Administrative Hearings rejected an Oct. 27 complaint by Peter Butler against Rick Varco, treasurer of the 'Vote Yes for a Fairer St. Paul' campaign, alleging a false claim of St. Paul DFL support on a charter-amendment mailer. Judge James LaFave found no prima facie evidence that Varco made or disseminated the allegedly false statement, and noted the complaint did not tie him to creating the mailer's content; a separate Sept. 28 meeting convened by the Ramsey County DFL backed both the school levy and administrative-citations charter question.

Ordinance Ord 25-2, on the St. Paul ballot, would amend the city charter to authorize administrative citations, and city leaders — including Mayor Carter, Rep. Kaohly Her, all seven council members, the Charter Commission and a broad coalition of labor, faith and community groups — have urged residents to vote "yes." The charter change itself sets no fine amounts or covered violations (those would be adopted later through separate ordinances after public hearings for roughly 15 enforcement areas such as animal control, neglected construction, landlord code/rent issues, illegal sewer discharges and employer wage/sick-time violations); critics warn fines could become a "tax on the poor" or a revenue source, the measure was put on the ballot after a petition by former City Hall employee Peter Butler, and some mayoral candidates (Yan Chen, Mike Hilborn) say they will vote no while Kaohly Her supports it.

Days before the Nov. 4 election, Gov. Tim Walz endorsed incumbent Jacob Frey in Minneapolis's 15-candidate mayoral race, which uses ranked-choice voting allowing voters to select up to three choices. The article identifies four frontrunners — Frey, Sen. Omar Fateh, Rev. DeWayne Davis and Jazz Hampton — outlines their public-safety and wage positions, and notes the DFL revoked its earlier endorsement of Fateh after internal disputes.

FOX 9 outlines what's on 2025 ballots and how/where to vote ahead of Minnesota's Nov. 4 municipal and school board elections, including Minneapolis and St. Paul mayoral races and St. Paul's ballot question. The guide details polling hours (most 7 a.m.-8 p.m., but metro polling places in municipal/school-only elections may open as late as 10 a.m.), early in-person voting through Nov. 3, absentee ballot rules, and how to find polling places and register via mnvotes.org.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said he is seeking a third term, citing ongoing work he wants to complete as the Nov. 4, 2025 election approaches. The announcement comes with early voting already underway; Carter faces challengers Kaohly Vang Her, Adam Dullinger, Yan Chen and Mike Hilborn.

Early voting in the Twin Cities begins Sept. 19 for 2025 contests, including a Nov. 4 special election for Minnesota Senate District 29. The SD29 race pits GOP nominee Michael Holmstrom Jr., a Buffalo small-business owner, against DFL nominee Louis McNutt, a MnDOT heavy equipment mechanic and AFSCME Council 5 secretary, and because the district leans GOP (Anderson won 68-32 in 2022) the result could affect the DFL's narrow 33-32 Senate majority with two open seats (SD47 and SD29).

Republican state Rep. Elliott Engen announced he is running for Minnesota state auditor, entering the 2026 statewide race for the office that audits state and local governments. The auditor's work directly affects metro cities, counties and school districts, and Twin Cities voters will help decide the contest.

FOX 9 lists all candidates for Minneapolis' 2025 mayoral and City Council races and details where and when residents can vote. Fifteen candidates are on the mayoral ballot, including incumbent Jacob Frey and Sen. Omar Fateh, with ranked-choice voting in use; early voting is open now at the Early Vote Center (980 E Hennepin Ave) ahead of Election Day on Nov. 4, 2025. The guide also notes at least three open council seats (Wards 5, 8, 11) and publishes ward-by-ward candidate lineups.

The Pioneer Press provides a 2025 election guide for Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties, detailing local races and ballot questions ahead of Election Day on Nov. 4, 2025. The guide consolidates what's on ballots across the three Twin Cities counties with timing reminders as early voting continues.

At a Wednesday forum at The Capri Theater in Minneapolis, mayoral candidates outlined contrasting approaches to policing and public safety with less than three weeks before Election Day. All agreed the city needs officers for violent crime, while diverging on funding priorities and responses to non-violent calls, with Mayor Jacob Frey emphasizing hiring more officers and others focusing on reallocating resources toward behavioral crisis response and alternatives to police.

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar endorsed state Sen. Omar Fateh for Minneapolis mayor, the Minnesota Reformer reports. The high-profile backing comes during Minneapolis's ongoing 2025 mayoral campaign as early voting is underway ahead of the Nov. 4 election.

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a Republican-backed challenge to the Voting Rights Act's Section 2 involving Black representation, a case that could alter how states draw districts and how voters enforce voting-rights protections. A ruling would apply nationwide, directly affecting Minnesota redistricting practices and Twin Cities voters' ability to challenge maps and election rules.

Senior prosecutor Hao Nguyen has declared his candidacy for Hennepin County Attorney, becoming the second person to announce a run and one of four publicly declared contenders. Nguyen has 15 years of experience as a prosecutor and previously served as a corrections officer, police officer and sheriff's deputy.

Matt Pelikan has officially launched a campaign for Hennepin County Attorney, declaring his candidacy in the emerging 2026 contest. FOX 9 lists him among four declared contenders, noting his entry follows incumbent Mary Moriarty's decision not to seek re-election.

Four candidates have publicly announced runs for Hennepin County Attorney ahead of the November 2026 election: Anders Folk (former acting U.S. attorney and DOJ official), state Rep. Cedrick Frazier, Hao Nguyen (former assistant Ramsey County attorney), and Matt Pelikan (Minneapolis attorney). The Fox9 roundup summarizes each campaign announcement, cites endorsements (Andy Luger for Folk, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flangan and several mayors for Frazier), and notes the race is open after incumbent Mary Moriarty said she will not seek reelection.

Republican Ron Schutz has announced he is entering the race for Minnesota attorney general, according to a Star Tribune report. The campaign entry makes Schutz a declared candidate in the statewide contest that will shape legal priorities affecting Minneapolis-Saint Paul residents and local governments.

Following a contentious review that saw the Minnesota DFL State Executive Committee vote 40-7 to uphold the revocation of Sen. Omar Fateh's Minneapolis mayoral endorsement and form a subcommittee to ensure convention compliance, the party has opened an investigation into postcards mailed by the Minneapolis DFL that featured Fateh. A complaint to the DFL's Constitution, Rules and Bylaws Committee alleges the mailer contradicted the party's retraction, while Minneapolis DFL says the postcards were delivered to its printer before a leaked draft ruling and bulk-mail delays explain late arrival; party leaders cited a "substantially flawed" first ballot and complications after the convention operator suffered a stroke, and Hennepin County judges previously fined Fateh's campaign $500 for using the endorsement logo after it was rescinded.

All five St. Paul mayoral candidates — incumbent Melvin Carter, Kaohly Her, Adam Dullinger, Yan Chen and Mike Hilborn — spoke at a forum held at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and organized by Fair Vote Minnesota. Candidates addressed public safety, housing and property taxes, with early voting already under way ahead of Election Day on Nov. 4, 2025.

State Sen. Jim Carlson (DFL-Eagan), who has represented Senate District 52 since first being elected in 2006, announced Oct. 6, 2025 that he will retire at the end of his current term. Carlson — a five-term senator who chaired the Senate Elections Committee and served on Judiciary, Public Safety, State and Local Government and Veterans, and Transportation committees — cited satisfaction with his legislative accomplishments; his seat will be contested Nov. 3, 2026.

State Rep. Kaohly Her, a leading challenger to St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, told FOX 9 she would prioritize improving city operations (permitting and licensing) and immediately work with partners to structure an "urban wealth fund" to finance downtown investment. Her framed the approach as combining operational reforms with an investment vehicle leveraging city assets to turn the Downtown Investment Strategy into concrete projects ahead of the Nov. 4, 2025 mayoral election.

On Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, the Citizens League hosted the first Minneapolis mayoral debate at Westminster Presbyterian, featuring Mayor Jacob Frey, Sen. Omar Fateh, Rev. Dewayne Davis, Jazz Hampton, and Brenda Short. The 82-minute forum highlighted divisions on encampment clearances and public safety response models, with only Fateh backing rent control; candidates also agreed against using more city funds to keep the Timberwolves/Lynx. Early voting is already open, and another debate is scheduled for Oct. 13.

Omar Fateh's Minneapolis mayoral campaign says it found a message outside its office reading 'Somali Muslim — this is no joke' and filed a police report on Wednesday. The campaign called it the latest hate incident and said it will not be deterred, as Fateh challenges incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey in November.

Sentencing is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday in Becker County (Detroit Lakes) for Nicole Mitchell, a Minnesota state senator representing Woodbury, following her July 2025 jury convictions for first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools. Her defense is asking the court to reduce the felony convictions to misdemeanors, to allow any sentence—minimum six months in jail or workhouse—to be served in Ramsey County rather than Becker County, and is disputing $23,585 in restitution sought by prosecutors.

Tad Jude announced he is running for Minnesota secretary of state, emphasizing a platform of transparency in election administration. The statewide office oversees elections that include Minneapolis-Saint Paul, making the campaign relevant to metro voters as the 2026 race takes shape.

The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board has ruled that campaign funds may be used for candidate security, including threat assessments and on-site event protection, following a request from the Minnesota DFL Party. The decision applies statewide to candidates of any party, enabling security expenses during the 2025-2026 campaign cycle across the Twin Cities and Minnesota.

DFL state Sen. Ann Rest, a longtime legislator representing a northwest Hennepin County district in the Twin Cities metro, announced her retirement after 40 years in office, according to the Star Tribune on Sept. 17, 2025. Her departure will open a metro Senate seat and marks the end of one of the longest tenures in the Minnesota Legislature.

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, voters in Minnesota House District 34B—which includes parts of Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, and Champlin in Anoka and Hennepin counties—held a special election to fill the seat vacated after Rep. Melissa Hortman's killing in June, for which a suspect has been indicted. DFL nominee Xp Lee defeated Republican Ruth Bittner with 60.82% (4,331 votes) to 39.11% (2,785), according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's unofficial results; the district had 26,596 registered voters at 7 a.m. on Election Day, and results will be certified later. Lee thanked supporters and pledged to honor Hortman's legacy, as party leaders praised the win.