Jacob Frey leads Minneapolis mayor's race, but moderates won't control City Council
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.

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.
