St. Paul Elects Its First Female and Hmong Mayor
History was made in St. Paul as state legislator Kaohly Her became the city’s first female and first Hmong mayor, unseating two-term incumbent Melvin Carter in a closely watched election. Her will serve a three-year term starting in January, marking a major milestone for representation and community leadership in Minnesota’s capital.
First-Choice Votes Kept Race Tight
Election night saw Kaohly Her and Carter running neck-and-neck as the first-choice votes rolled in. By the time all first-round ballots were tallied, Her trailed Carter by just 2.4 percentage points. Her demonstrated strength in high-turnout wards 2 and 3, securing top support in several critical precincts within her own House district. Carter performed better in the city’s other five wards, but often by slim margins.
Ranked-Choice Tabulation Decides the Winner
Unlike past years where Carter won comfortably in the first round, this year’s contest required ranked-choice voting after no candidate secured a majority. As other contenders were eliminated, second-choice votes were redistributed. Her picked up crucial momentum from these redistributed ballots, outpacing Carter and ultimately overtaking him around midnight when she was declared St. Paul’s next mayor.
Significance for the City and Community
Kaohly Her’s victory is hailed as a breakthrough for both women and the Hmong community in Minnesota. Her campaign resonated in the highest-turnout neighborhoods, and her ability to build broad coalitions and garner second-choice support proved critical in the city’s ranked-choice system. As she prepares to take office, supporters describe her win as “relentless,” pointing to a new chapter in St. Paul leadership.