Minneapolis' 2025 mayoral election takes shape
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Mayor Jacob Frey (right) and three of his likely challengers: City Council Member Emily Koski, state Sen. Omar Fateh and the Rev. DeWayne Davis. Photos: Kyle Stokes/Axios and courtesy of the Davis campaign
Several candidates have emerged to challenge Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in the city's November 2025 election.
Why it matters: It may seem early, but serious candidates must begin raising money and generating buzz if they hope to win the coveted DFL party endorsement.
- The party's caucus process begins in April.
State of play: Frey is raising money and "preparing" to announce a reelection bid, but isn't officially in the race yet, a spokesperson tells Axios.
His likely opponents include:
- City Council Member Emily Koski, who represents the Nokomis area. She announced the launch of her campaign Wednesday morning.
- State Sen. Omar Fateh, whose district covers South Minneapolis. He made his mayoral ambitions official Monday.
- The Rev. DeWayne Davis, who leads a South Minneapolis church and lives on the North Side. He launched his campaign in mid-October.
Plus: Brenda Short, who received 4% of the vote in a 2021 city council race, has filed campaign finance paperwork for a mayoral run.
The big picture: The race is likely to become a referendum on Frey.
- The two-term incumbent has often sided with business groups and has pitched himself as a practical moderate more interested in delivering on core services than ideologically driven "messaging" legislation.
- The city council's left-wing majority has clashed with Frey over issues from rideshare driver pay to rent control and has accused the mayor of being out of touch on public safety and labor issues.
What they're saying: "Our mayor and the status quo are failing us," Fateh told reporters at his campaign launch. "We deserve leadership that makes it so people want to continue to live here, raise their families here and create businesses here."
- Koski has criticized Frey over the police department's handling of a controversial shooting in October, his veto of a labor standards board, and his administration's plans for a Third Precinct police station.
- Davis told the Minnesota Daily the city election is an opportunity to "turn the page" on city politics that thrive on conflict.
The other side: In a statement to Axios after Fateh's announcement this week, Frey campaign spokesperson Sam Schulenberg said the race offers voters "a clear choice between two contrasting visions for the future of Minneapolis."
- "Mayor Frey's responsible leadership has helped the city recover while making critical progress toward rebuilding the police department, leading the nation in affordable housing, and supporting workers and local businesses."
What we're watching: How multiple challenges to Frey's left will play out in Minneapolis' ranked-choice voting system.
- In 2021, a "Don't Rank Frey" campaign — which held that in a crowded field, the safest bet was simply to vote for anyone but the mayor — failed to muster enough support. Frey won with 49.1% of the vote after two rounds of counting.
What's next: Minneapolis' formal deadline to file for the 2025 election — which includes all 13 council seats — is Aug. 12.
Editor's note: This story was updated after Koski officially announced the launch of her campaign.