The 2025 Minneapolis City Council election occurred in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States on November 4, 2025. The Minneapolis City Council is made up of 13 members representing different parts of the city. Members elected in 2025 will serve four-year terms. Council members were elected alongside elections for mayor and other municipal offices.
Background This was the first Minneapolis City Council election since 2017 in which members are elected to the usual 4-year terms, rather than 2-year terms. In 2020, voters passed a ballot measure to elect council members to two separate, two-year terms in 2021 and 2023. This measure was meant to keep city council and mayoral terms concurrent.
The 2023 election saw a progressive-leaning and democratic socialist majority elected to the council. Prior to 2023, more moderate members held the majority. The progressive faction includes council members Payne, Chavez, Wonsley, Chughtai, Chowdhury, Ellison, and Cashman. In the 2023 election, Wonsley, Chughtai, Chowdhury, and Chavez were endorsed by the Twin Cities chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, but Chowdhury was not endorsed in 2025. The moderate faction includes council members Jenkins, Rainville, Vetaw, Palmisano, and (formerly) Koski. The two largest PACs in both the 2023 and 2025 city council races are All of Mpls and Mpls for the Many. Generally, All of Mpls endorses more moderate candidates and Mpls for the Many endorses more progressive candidates. Councilmember Jamal Osman was not endorsed by either PAC in 2023 but has voted more often with the progressives. Emily Koski was the council's most reliable swing vote, supporting the moderates and progressives evenly. Koski is retiring from the council. She launched a campaign for mayor, but withdrew in April.
In December 2024, the mayor’s 2025 city budget was approved by the council with a record 71 amendments. Mayor Jacob Frey, associated with the moderate faction, vetoed that amended budget (the first veto of its kind in city history) citing concerns about fiscal irresponsibility and higher property taxes. In turn, the council overrode the veto with a supermajority vote of 9–4, officially enacting its version of the budget. The amended budget included a $1.9 billion allocation with a 6.8% tax levy increase, diverging from Mayor Frey’s initial plan, which had an 8.1% property tax levy cap (later adjusted to 8.3%).
Issues expected to significantly influence the election included the city's handling of homeless encampments, which drew criticism over effectiveness and oversight; rising concerns about public safety and policing strategies amid recent incidents of violence and strained relationships between law enforcement leadership and city politics; and tensions surrounding interactions with the federal government.
Electoral system The 13 members of the city council are elected from single-member districts via instant-runoff voting, commonly known as ranked choice voting. Voters have the option of ranking up to three candidates in order of preference. Municipal elections in Minnesota are officially nonpartisan, although candidates are able to identify with a political party or principle on the ballot. Write-in candidates must file a request with the Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services Division for votes for them to be counted.
Retiring members Jeremiah Ellison (DFL), Ward 5 Andrea Jenkins (DFL), Ward 8 Emily Koski (DFL), Ward 11
Summary of results PartyCandidates1st Choice VotesMax RoundSeats%∆%∆%Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) 30 125,479 90.02 +0.72118,62289.51 12 0 92.31Democratic Socialists of America 1 3,825 2.74 +0.783,8252.89 1 0 7.69Progressive Unity Independent13,3072.37 +2.373,3072.50000.00Independent21,9321.39 -1.851,9321.46000.00Budgetary Economic Stability11,1360.81 +0.811,1360.86000.00Community Over Politics19040.65 +0.659040.68000.00Socialist Workers Party 1 661 0.47 -0.536610.50 0 0 0.00Climate Revolution Elephant16300.45 +0.456300.47000.00Tell The Truth14430.32 +0.324430.33000.00Republican Party14160.30 -0.934160.31000.00N/A110.00 +0.0010.00000.00Write-in N/A6630.48-1.36430.49000.00Total139,397100±0.00132,520100
Ward 1 Ward 1 is based in northeast Minneapolis, stretching from the neighborhoods of Waite Park and Columbia Park down to Como. The incumbent is Democrat and council president Elliott Payne, who was elected with 90% of the vote in 2023. He won re-election with 65% of the vote.
Candidates Edwin Fruit (Socialist Workers Party), candidate for this ward in 2023 Elliott Payne (DFL), incumbent, City Council president Brian Strahan (DFL)
Endorsements
Results
Ward 1 resultsPartyCandidateRound 1 Votes %Democratic (DFL)Elliott Payne (incumbent)7,87664.89%Democratic (DFL) Brian Strahan 3,565 29.37%Socialist WorkersEdwin Fruit661 5.45%Write-inWrite-ins36 0.30% Total active votes12,138100.0%Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services
Ward 2 Ward 2 contains the neighborhoods of Cooper, Prospect Park, and University District, as well as portions of Seward and Cedar-Riverside. The incumbent is independent democratic socialist Robin Wonsley, who was re-elected with 67.63% of the vote in the first round 2023.
Ward 2 is the only seat on the council not held by the DFL. The party's convention on 3 May 2025 adjourned without endorsing a candidate. Former state representative Shelley Madore led with 53 percent of delegate votes, but short of the 60% required. Wonsley, who did not seek party backing, saw supporters’ ballots ruled invalid. Wonsely celebrated the convention outcome. She won reelection with 60% of the vote.
Candidates Filed Shelley Madore (DFL), former state representative Max Theroux (DFL) Robin Wonsley (Democratic Socialist), incumbent
Withdrawn Michael Baskins (DFL), write-in candidate for this ward in 2023 Alexander Fooy (DFL) (endorsed Wonsley)
Endorsements
Results
Ward 2 resultsPartyCandidateRound 1 Votes %Democratic SocialistRobin Wonsley (incumbent)3,82559.80%Democratic (DFL) Shelley Madore 2,069 32.35%Democratic (DFL)Max Theroux252 3.94%Democratic (DFL)Michael Baskins (withdrawn)236 3.69%Write-inWrite-ins14 0.22% Total active votes6,396100.0%Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services
Ward 3 Ward 3 contains the neighborhoods of Beltrami, Como, Downtown East, Downtown West, Marcy Holmes, Nicollet Island - East Bank, North Loop, Sheridan, St. Anthony East and St. Anthony West. The incumbent is Democrat Michael Rainville, who won 69.45% of the vote in the first round in his 2023 re-election. He won reelection with 74% of the vote.
Candidates Filed Michael Rainville (DFL), incumbent Marcus Mills (Progressive Unity Independent), candidate for this ward in 2023
Withdrawn Emilio Rodríguez (DFL), candidate for Senate District 60 in the 2025 special election Jacob Thomas (DFL)
Endorsements
Results
Ward 3 resultsPartyCandidateRound 1 Votes %Democratic (DFL)Michael Rainville (incumbent)9,50573.86%Progressive Unity IndependentMarcus Mills 3,307 25.70%n/aValerie Bartel 1 0.01%Write-inWrite-ins56 0.43% Total active votes12,869100.0%Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services
Ward 4 Ward 4 is in the northwest corner of the city. It contains the neighborhoods of Camden Industrial Area, Cleveland, Folwell, Humboldt Industrial Area, Jordan, Lind-Bohanon, McKinley, Shingle Creek, Victory, Webber-Camden and Willard-Hay. The incumbent is Democrat LaTrisha Vetaw, who was re-elected with 69.36% of the vote in the first round in 2023. She won reelection with 61% of the vote.
Candidates Filed Leslie Davis (Tell The Truth), perennial candidate Marvina Haynes (DFL), candidate for this ward in 2023 Latrisha Vetaw (DFL), incumbent
Endorsements
Results
Ward 4 resultsPartyCandidateRound 1 Votes %Democratic (DFL)Latrisha Vetaw (incumbent)4,03960.89%Democratic (DFL) Marvina Haynes 2,123 32.01%Tell The TruthLeslie Davis443 6.68%Write-inWrite-ins28 0.42% Total active votes6,633100.0%Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services
Ward 5 Ward 5 contains the neighborhoods of Harrison, Near North, Hawthorne, and North Loop. The incumbent is Democrat Jeremiah Ellison, who was re-elected in Round 1 with 52.54% of the vote in 2023. Ellison is not seeking re-election. Pearll Warren won election after the third round of ranked choice voting with 48% of the vote.
Candidates Filed Ethrophic Burnett (DFL) Pearll Warren (DFL) Maurice L Ward (DFL) Miles Wilson (DFL) Anndrea Young (DFL) Jōvan Northington (DFL)
Withdrawn Amber Frederick (DFL) (running for Park Board at-large)
Endorsements
Results
Ward 5 resultsPartyCandidateRound 1Round 2Round 3 Votes % Votes % Votes %Democratic (DFL) Pearll Warren 1,891 37.54% 1,954 38.79% 2,437 48.38%Democratic (DFL) Ethrophic Burnett 1,419 28.17% 1,453 28.85% 1,723 34.21%Democratic (DFL) Miles G. Wilson 725 14.39% 790 15.68%colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" Democratic (DFL) Anndrea Young 593 11.77% 656 13.02%colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" Democratic (DFL) Maurice L. Ward 293 5.82%colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" Democratic (DFL) Jōvan Northington 96 1.91%colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" Write-inWrite-ins20 0.40%colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" Exhausted votes00%1843.65%87717.41% Total active votes5,037100.0%Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services
Ward 6 Ward 6 contains the neighborhoods of Philips West, and Ventura Village, as well as portions of Seward, Stevens Square-Loring Heights, Cedar-Riverside, and Elliot Park. The incumbent is Democrat Jamal Osman, who was re-elected in the second round of ranked-choice tabulation, receiving 44.73% of first-choice votes and 58.18% of final votes. He won reelection with 59% of the vote.
Candidates Filed Mohamoud Hassan (DFL) Jamal Osman (DFL), incumbent
Endorsements
Results
Ward 6 resultsPartyCandidateRound 1 Votes %Democratic (DFL)Jamal Osman (incumbent)4,16458.78%Democratic (DFL) Mohamoud Hassan 2,837 40.05%Write-inWrite-ins83 1.17% Total active votes7,084100.0%Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services
Ward 7 Ward 7 contains the neighborhoods of Bryn Mawr, Cedar-Isles-Dean, Downtown West, East Isles, Kenwood, Loring Park, and Lowry Hill, as well as portions of Stevens Square-Loring Heights and Elliot Park. The incumbent is Democrat Katie Cashman, who was first elected in the second round of ranked-choice tabulation in 2023, winning 48.41% of first-choice votes and 51.12% of final votes. Elizabeth Shaffer won with 52% of the vote.
Candidates Filed Katie Cashman (DFL), incumbent Elizabeth Shaffer (DFL), Park Board commissioner Corey Ryan Vest (DFL)
Withdrawn Paula Chesley (DFL) Corey Ryan Vest (DFL)
Endorsements
Results
Ward 7 resultsPartyCandidateRound 1 Votes %Democratic (DFL)Elizabeth Shaffer6,70952.14%Democratic (DFL) Katie Cashman (incumbent) 5,909 45.92%Democratic (DFL)Corey Ryan Vest223 1.73%Write-inWrite-ins27 0.21% Total active votes12,868100.0%Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services
Ward 8 Ward 8 contains the neighborhoods of Bancroft, Bryant, Central, Field, Kingfield, Lyndale, Northrop, and Regina. Incumbent Democrat Andrea Jenkins (DFL) is not seeking re-election.
Jenkins was re-elected in the second round of ranked-choice-voting in 2023 after receiving fewer first-choice votes than opponent Soren Stevenson (DFL). Jenkins won in 2023 with 43.32% of first-choice votes and 50.24% of final-round votes. Stevenson announced his bid for the ward in December 2024. He won with 56% of the vote.
Candidates Filed Josh Bassais (DFL), union organizer Philip Galberth (independent) Soren Stevenson (DFL), candidate for this ward in 2023 Bob Sullentrop (Republican) candidate for this ward in 2021 and Minnesota House of Representatives seat 62B in 2024
Endorsements
Results