The 2023 Minneapolis City Council election took place in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States on November 7, 2023. The Minneapolis City Council is made up of 13 members serving four-year terms, with one council member representing each of the city's 13 wards. The 2023 election was the first election since the city's form of government moved to an Executive Mayor-Legislative Council structure.[2] The change was prompted after voters narrowly approved a ballot measure in 2021 to shift certain powers from the city council to the mayor.[3] Topics surrounding public safety, affordable housing, rent control, and racial justice were at the forefront of the campaign.
All incumbents were re-elected. The closest race was in ward 8, where incumbent council president Andrea Jenkins defeated her challenger Soren Stevenson by just 38 votes. Despite this narrow victory, a coalition of progressive members managed to secure a majority with seven of the thirteen seats. This coalition, powered by a combination of local Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) support and the allied PAC Mpls for the Many,[4] achieved success despite being financially outpaced by groups like All for Mpls[5] who supported mayor Jacob Frey. Despite their majority, progressives are two votes short of overriding a veto by Frey.[6] Discussions on rent control remain stalled, police reform is under scrutiny amidst a state consent decree, and homelessness remains a pressing concern.[7]
In 2021, Minneapolis voters expressed their desire for rent control measures, yet as of 2023, the city council has yet to finalize a policy.[10] The issue hit a standstill when an advance rent control measure failed, largely due to the absence of council members during Eid al-Adha.[11] Mayor Frey was opposed to the proposed bill, which aimed to cap rent increases at 3%.[12]
Homelessness
Homelessness and homelessness encampments remain a concern in Minneapolis.[13] Advocacy groups are calling for more humane policies and interventions.[14] Activists are urging the city council to prioritize the provision of shelters, stop encampment evictions, and increase funding for homelessness resources.[15]
DFL endorsement conventions
The Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) endorsement conventions in several Minneapolis wards were marred by allegations of irregularities and chaos.[16] The convention for Ward 5 was canceled due to allegations of fraudulent delegates, while the convention for Ward 10 descended into a melee when supporters of candidate Nasri Warsame disrupted the event.[17] In Ward 6, candidate Kayseh Magan challenged 126 delegates supporting Tiger Worku, alleging incorrect addresses, misspelled names, and unverified signatures. Magan claimed that many of Worku's delegates did not consent to be delegates or signed up with ProtonMail email addresses. The State DFL Executive Committee met and adopted new bylaws granting the party more authority to ban individuals involved in violence and disruptive acts, and subsequently used these new rules to ban Nasri Warsame from seeking DFL endorsement. These actions were subsequently ratified by the larger State Central Committee to take full effect.[18][19] DFL endorsements hold significant value in the heavily Democratic city of Minneapolis.
Electoral system
The 13 members of the City Council are elected from single-member districts via instant-runoff voting, commonly known as ranked choice voting. Voters have the option of ranking up to three candidates in order of preference. Municipal elections in Minnesota are officially nonpartisan, although candidates are able to identify with a political party on the ballot. Write-in candidates must file a request with the Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services Division for votes for them to be counted.
The 1st ward is based in northeast Minneapolis, stretching from the neighborhoods of Waite Park and Columbia Park down to Como.[20] The incumbent is Democrat Elliott Payne, who was elected with 52.5% of the vote in 2021. Payne ran for re-election.
The 2nd ward contains the neighborhoods of Cooper, Prospect Park, and University District, as well as portions of Seward and Cedar-Riverside.[20] The incumbent is independent[a]Robin Wonsley, who was elected with 50.1% of the vote in 2021. Wonsley ran for re-election.
The 3rd ward contains the neighborhoods of Marcy-Holmes and St. Anthony West as well as Nicollet Island.[20] The incumbent is Democrat Michael Rainville, who was elected with 55.0% of the vote in 2021. Rainville ran for re-election.
The 4th ward contains the neighborhoods of Jordan and Victory.[20] The incumbent is Democrat LaTrisha Vetaw, who was elected with 60.6% of the vote in 2021. Vetaw ran for re-election.
The 8th ward contains the neighborhoods of Kingfield, Lyndale, Northrop, and Regina.[20] The incumbent is Democrat Andrea Jenkins, the current council president, who was re-elected with 84.9% of the vote in 2021. Jenkins ran for re-election.
The 11th ward contains the neighborhoods of Diamond Lake, Hale, Page, Northrop, Tangletown, Wenonah, and Windom, as well as a portion of Keewaydin.[20] The incumbent is Democrat Emily Koski, who was elected with 58.3% of the vote in 2021. Koski ran for re-election.
The 12th ward contains the neighborhoods of Cooper, Ericsson, Hiawatha, Howe, Minnehaha, Morris Park, and Standish, as well as a portion of Keewaydin.[20] The incumbent is Democrat Andrew Johnson, who was re-elected with 64.8% of the vote in 2021. Johnson did not seek re-election.
Candidates
Aurin Chowdhury (DSA/DFL), senior aide to councilor Jason Chavez[43]
Nancy Ford (DFL), clothing repair business owner and independent candidate for this ward in 2021[30]
Luther Ranheim (DFL), nonprofit and community foundation fundraising professional[30]
^"All of Mpls". All of Mpls. 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
^Stokes, Kyle (2023-11-08). "Ward 8 race between Jenkins and Stevenson goes to second choice ballot". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
^O’Connor, Jack (2023-11-20). "New city council to majorly impact future of rent control, homelessness and MPD". The Minnesota Daily. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
^Orrick, Dave (January 9, 2023). "Lisa Goodman won't seek re-election to Minneapolis City Council". Star Tribune.
^Navratil, Liz (October 13, 2022). "Minneapolis Council Member Andrew Johnson announces he won't run again". Star Tribune.
^Minneapolis, City of (2021-11-02). "2021 Ballot Questions". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
^National, The (2023-06-29). "Minneapolis council holds crucial vote with Muslim members away for Eid". The National. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
^Goyette, Jared (2023-05-25). "Minneapolis Mayor promises to veto rent control ballot measure". FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
^Minneapolis, City of (2021-06-04). "City response to homelessness". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
^Vue, Katelyn (2023-09-13). "Minneapolis must improve response to homelessness, activists say". Sahan Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
^"DFL grapples with third controversy over Minneapolis endorsements". Minnesota Reformer. 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
^Duxter, Adam (2023-05-14). ""It was chaos": DFL volunteer describes violent convention outburst in Minneapolis". Retrieved 18 April 2024.
^"DFL Party Central Committee Approves Rules To Allow the Party to Ban Individuals Who Engaged in Violence from Attending DFL Events or Seeking the DFL Endorsement". Minnesota DFL. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
^Orrick, Dave; Mahamud, Faiza (May 30, 2023). "DFL punishes candidate as Somali community watches with skepticism". Star Tribune. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqVan Oot, Torey (March 26, 2023). "Who's running for Minneapolis City Council in 2023". Axios Twin Cities. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
^ abcdef"Filing for office". vote.minneapolismn.gov. City of Minneapolis. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
^"Meet the 2023 Candidates for the Socialist Workers Party!". The Militant. April 26, 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
^ abcdefOrrick, Dave (May 21, 2023). "Andrea Jenkins loses DFL nod for Minneapolis City Council". Star Tribune. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakalamanaoapaqarasatauavawaxayazbabbbcbdbebfbgbhbibjbkblbmbnbobpbqbrbsbtbubvbwbxbybzcacbcccdcecfcgchcicjckclcmcncocpcqcrcsctcucvcwcxcyczdadb"Every Major Endorsement in the Minneapolis City Council Races".
^ abcdefgh"Political Action". LiUNA! Minnesota & North Dakota. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
^Orrick, Dave (May 5, 2023). "Following dispute, Minneapolis DFL cancels Fifth Ward City Council endorsing convention". Star Tribune. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
^ ab"Minneapolis Democrats Endorse Challenger to Incumbent Council President".
^"An Interview with Ward 7 City Council Candidate Scott Graham".
^ ab"Minneapolis Democrats Endorse in One City Council Ward, Decline to Endorse in Another".
^Stokes, Kyle (May 22, 2023). "Minneapolis City Council President Andrea Jenkins just lost her own party's endorsement. Here's what happened". MinnPost. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
^ abOrrick, Dave (June 23, 2023). "In the wake of chaotic ward convention, Council Member Aisha Chughtai wins Minneapolis DFL backing". Star Tribune. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
^"A Vocal Critic of Minneapolis Democrat Emily Koski is Now Running Against Her".
^"Aurin Chowdhury announces run for Ward 12 seat".
^"Jerome Evans announces bid for City Council Ward 12".
^ ab"City council races: who is running in wards 7 and 13?".
External links
Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services
Minneapolis DFL
Official campaign websites for 1st ward candidates
Elliott Payne (DFL) for City Council
Official campaign websites for 2nd ward candidates
Robin Wonsley (DSA) for City Council
Official campaign websites for 3rd ward candidates
Michael Rainville (DFL) for City Council
Marcus Mills (Ind) for City Council
Conrad Zbikowski (DFL) for City Council
Official campaign websites for 4th ward candidates
LaTrisha Vetaw (DFL) for City Council
Marvina Haynes (DFL) for City Council
Angela Williams (R) for City Council
Leslie Davis (No Vax) for City Council
Official campaign websites for 5th ward candidates
Jeremiah Ellison (DFL) for City Council
Victor Martinez (DFL) for City Council
Phillip Peterson (DFL) for City Council
Official campaign websites for 6th ward candidates
Jamal Osman (DFL) for City Council
Kayseh Magan (DFL) for City Council
Tiger Worku (DFL) for City Council
Official campaign websites for 7th ward candidates
Katie Cashman (DFL) for City Council
Kenneth Foxworth (DFL) for City Council
Scott Graham (DFL) for City Council
Mark Globus (DFL) for City Council
Official campaign websites for 8th ward candidates
Andrea Jenkins (DFL) for City Council
Soren Stevenson (DFL) for City Council
Terry White (DFL) for City Council
Bob Sullentrop (R) for City Council
Official campaign websites for 9th ward candidates
Jason Chavez (DFL) for City Council
Dan Orban (DFL) for City Council
Official campaign websites for 10th ward candidates
Aisha Chughtai (DFL) for City Council
Nasri Warsame (DFL) for City Council
Bruce Dachis (DFL) for City Council
Official campaign websites for 11th ward candidates
Emily Koski (DFL) for City Council
Official campaign websites for 12th ward candidates
Aurin Chowdhury (DFL) for City Council
Nancy Ford (DFL) for City Council
Luther Ranheim (DFL) for City Council
Jerome Evans (DFL) for City Council
Official campaign websites for 13th ward candidates