SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Last night, candidates supported by the Minnesota DFL won big in local elections across the state. The diverse array of candidates that won hotly contested races demonstrates the power of the DFL’s grassroots activists, organizing units, and investments in local campaigns and leaders.
Ken Martin, Chairman of the Minnesota DFL, released the following statement in response:
“Last night, candidates endorsed and supported by the DFL won hard-fought races all across the state. The Minnesota DFL is one of the strongest state political parties in the country, and that’s because we work hard to build power from the ground up in local government offices throughout the state.
“Since I have been Chair, the Minnesota DFL has been more active in local elections then at any other point in our party’s history, and last night’s results reflect our intentional work.
“By recruiting and supporting talented up-and-coming leaders, our party is able to build a bench of candidates to run for higher office and build support for progressive policies by enacting them on the local level. Our party is creating lasting political change by investing in candidates, campaigns, and grassroots organizing at the local level.”
Below are highlights from last night’s results featuring DFL-supported candidates and issues:
- In Bloomington, Tim Busse, Jenna Carter, and Dwayne Lowman won the mayor’s race and two city council races respectively. These candidates won by wide margins despite serious GOP investment.
- In Ramsey County, candidate Nicole Frethem flipped a hotly contested County Commissioner seat by beating a well-known former state legislator. Frethem is the first woman and first DFLer to ever hold that seat on the Ramsey County Commission.
- In Duluth, Emily Larson was re-elected mayor and Janet Kennedy, Duluth’s first African American city council member, was elected.
- Minnetonka elected their first African American city council member, Kissy Coakley.
- St. Louis Park elected their first Muslim and Somali city council member, Nadia Mohamed.
- St. Paul residents voted to continue organized garbage collection, improving environmental sustainability and making our government more efficient.
- Voters across Minnesota, from Worthington to White Bear Lake, supported their local public schools by approving a large majority of school funding referenda, beating back a large influx of far-right money.