Jacob Frey leads Minneapolis mayor's race, but moderates won't control City Council
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Mayor Jacob Frey at the Minneapolis DFL convention in July. Photo: Kyle Stokes/Axios
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey received the most first-choice votes in Tuesday's election, but a decisive result won't come until after second- and third-choice votes are counted Wednesday.
- Frey received 42% of first-choice votes. State Sen. Omar Fateh received 31%; DeWayne Davis, 13%; and Jazz Hampton, 10%.
The big picture: A half-million-dollar effort by Frey's allies to regain control of the Minneapolis City Council appears to have fallen short — though Frey's critics will no longer wield a veto-proof majority.
Why it matters: For two years, the council's left wing frequently defied Frey's veto. They re-wrote his budget. They overrode his plan for George Floyd Square. They forced the state to pass a new Uber/Lyft law.
- If Frey holds on, he'll have more leverage against this council coalition.
What they're saying: "It looks damn good for us. We are well in the lead," Frey told supporters at an election night party.
Reality check: "This race is too close to call," Fateh told a packed hotel ballroom, saying "every vote must be counted and reallocated."
By the numbers: Turnout was high. While final, official figures aren't yet available, early returns suggest turnout roughly equalled — and may have even surpassed — the record-setting 2021 city elections.
Follow the money: Many of the same business groups, developers and landlord interests that backed Frey also spent more than $580,000 trying to swing five council races.
- In those races, at least three candidates critical of Frey won anyway: Ward 2's Robin Wonsley, Ward 10's Aisha Chughtai and newcomer Soren Stevenson in Ward 8.
The other side: Ward 7 voters ousted Katie Cashman in favor of Elizabeth Shaffer, who ran on more moderate stances.
- In the six-candidate Ward 5 race, Frey PAC favorite Pearll Warren received the most first-choice votes — but ranked-choice tabulations will decide the outcome.
Zoom out: Council President Elliott Payne and members Jamal Osman, Jason Chavez and Aurin Chowdhury — all of whom tended to oppose Frey on key decisions — won re-election.
- Frey allies LaTrisha Vetaw, Linea Palmisano and Michael Rainville all won re-election.
What we're watching: What role newly elected Ward 11 rep Jamison Whiting plays on the council.
- Whiting ran with endorsements from the mayor's allies, but his relationships with left-leaning council members could bridge the council's ideological divides.