Who's running for St. Paul City Council in 2023
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The 2023 election is set to shake up the St. Paul City Council.
The big picture: Four out of seven seats on the council will be open this November. Departing members include Council President Amy Brendmoen.
Why it matters: The council approves the city's budget, which clocked in at $781.5 million for 2023, and weighs ordinances and resolutions that impact residents' lives.
What to watch: Battles for open seats — and the eventual council president election — could shift political dynamics on the council.
Zoom in: Here's a look at who is running so far, based on announcements tracked by Axios.
Ward 1:
Neighborhoods: Frogtown, Summit-University, North End, Union Park.
State of play: Open — Council Member Russel Balenger agreed not to run for re-election when he was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Council Member Dai Thao.
Candidates:
- Omar Syed
- Suz Woehrle
- Anika Bowie
- James Lo
- Yan Chen
- Travis Helkamp
- Lucky Tiger Jack Rosenbloom
- Jeff Zeitler
Ward 2:
Neighborhoods: West 7th Street, the West Side, Summit Hill, Payne-Phalen, Lowertown, and the Downtown business district.
State of play: Council Member Rebecca Noecker is running for re-election.
Challengers:
- Noval Noir
- Peter K. Butler
- Bill Hosko
Ward 3:
Neighborhoods: Highland Park and Macalester-Groveland.
State of play: Open — Council Member Chris Tolbert is not running for re-election.
Candidates:
Ward 4:
Neighborhoods: Hamline-Midway, Saint Anthony Park, Union Park, and parts of Mac-Groveland and Como.
State of play: Council Member Mitra Jalali is running for re-election.
Challengers:
- Robert Bushard
Ward 5:
Neighborhoods: The North-Central ward includes Como, North End, and Payne-Phalen.
State of play: Open — Council President Amy Brendmoen is not running for re-election.
Candidates:
Ward 6:
Neighborhoods: The East Side ward includes Payne/Phalen.
State of play: Council Member Nelsie Yang is running for re-election.
Challengers:
- Gary B. Unger
Ward 7:
Neighborhoods: The East Side ward includes Dayton's Bluff and Battle Creek.
State of play: Open — Council Member Jane Prince is not running for re-election.
Candidates:
- Pa Der Vang
- Cheniqua Johnson
- Alex Bourne
- Foua-Choua Khang
- Kartumu King
- Dino Guerin
Editor's note: This story will be updated with additional candidates and information as the election nears.