St. Paul’s Historic Mayoral Election

A St. Paul community celebrates a historic political victory. Then, special election results keep the DFL in control of Minnesota’s Senate. And, how the state will recognize Transgender Day of Remembrance.
—–Executive Producer: Victor Palomino Producer: Xan HolstonAnchor: Grace Jacobson Reader scripting: Victor Palomino Fact checking: Joel Glaser, Victor Palomino Editorial support: Emily Krumberger Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

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Transcript

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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.

ANCHOR: In today’s segment, special election results keep the DFL in control of Minnesota’s Senate. Then, a historic political victory for a St. Paul community, and how Minnesota will recognize Transgender Day of Remembrance.

I'm Gracie J.

Both Minnesota Senate special elections were retained by their parties, preserving the DFL's 34–33 majority. Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger won the District 47 race, previously held by Nicole Mitchell, whose seat became vacant after Mitchell's burglary conviction. Hemmingsen-Jaeger's victory will prompt another special election in the House. The District 29 seat, left open by the passing of Republican Senator Bruce Anderson, stayed in GOP hands with a win by Michael Holmstrom.

Next, the city of St. Paul has long been home to one of the country's largest Hmong communities. This year's mayoral election gave that community a historic victory.
Xan Holston has the story.

Kaohly Her: My name is Kaohly Her, and I'm proud to stand before you today as the first Asian and the first woman mayor-elect for the City of St. Paul.

Xan Holston: Last week, Democrat State Representative Kaohly Her made history when she became the next mayor of St Paul. After just a three-month campaign, Her defeated two-term incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter, the city's first Black mayor. She previously worked as policy director for Carter.

Kaohly Her: This wasn't about running against something. It was about running for our city and the people who make this a great city.

Xan Holston: The 52-year-old first won a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018. Along with Brooklyn Center's Samantha Vang, the two became the first Hmong women to be elected to the Minnesota House. Since then, she's been a steady presence in the Capitol, organizing DFL support and keeping her caucus united on major votes. At Hmong Village, a bustling indoor marketplace on St Paul's East Side, midday shoppers stopped for lunch or groceries. For many here, Her's win feels personal.

Youa Yang: I was excited, very excited that, you know, one of my, someone who kind of represents the Hmong culture got elected to be a mayor.

Xan Holston: Youa Yang was there with friends visiting from near Sacramento, California, for whom having a Hmong mayor is a little more common. Steve Ly became the first Hmong mayor in the US, in nearby Elk Grove, California in 2017 and Sheng Thao was elected mayor of Oakland in 2023. For Yang, it's not just symbolic. It's recognition for a community that's helped shape the city's identity.

Youa Yang: Because it's a large community here in St Paul. So it's good to have somebody to represent the Hmong culture, the Hmong and, you know, also be an eye opener for other cultures that we do also exist.

La Yang: I'm actually really excited for it, because she, I believe, will be the first Hmong mayor in St Paul here. So that's been something that has been very exciting for the Hmong community.

Xan Holston: At a restaurant in Hmong iVllage, La Yang spoke about excitement around Her's new role. While Yang doesn't live in St Paul and couldn't vote in the election, she said friends and family were actively involved in campaigning and voting.

La Yang: There's a candidate that they really strongly believe in her causes and the things that she wants to accomplish here.

Xan Holston: On the campaign trail, Her promised to make St Paul more business friendly and to attract investment and expand opportunity. For Yang, that message resonates, but she says what matters most is what Her represents for younger generations.

La Yang: I can't wait to see all the great work that she's going to get done here.

Xan Holston: Her's victory marks a milestone for St Paul and the Hmong community. What comes next, supporters say, is turning that pride into progress. Her takes office as St Paul's next mayor in January, and Governor Tim Walz is expected to call a special election to fill her seat in the house soon. For North Star Stories, I'm Xan Holston.

Anchor: listening to North Star Stories.

Minnesota will hold a Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil at the State Capitol Rotunda on November 20. The event honors transgender people whose lives were lost to anti-transgender violence and raises awareness about ongoing violence affecting the community. The observance began in memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman killed in Massachusetts in 1998. This year's vigil is organized by the state's inclusive Employee Resource Group for LGBTQIA2S+ employees.

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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.