Minneapolis mayor candidates in 2025: Here's who's running

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - When Minneapolis voters head to the polls next month, there will be a slate of 15 candidates on the ballot for the mayoral race. Here's a look at who is running for Minneapolis mayor.

Mayor Jacob Frey, DFL

• Campaign website

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced in January that he would seek re-election to a third and final term as Minneapolis mayor.

In November 2021, he was elected to a second term, with more than 49.1% of votes election officials tabulated. Kate Knuth made it to the final round of the ranked-choice voting with 38.2% of total votes.

Frey was first elected mayor in 2017 and came under scrutiny following protests over the murder of George Floyd in May 2020.

In the past, he's clashed with city council members over how best to reform the Minneapolis Police Department in the wake of Floyd’s death.

Under his tenure, Frey ushered in the "strong mayor" government restructuring, which strengthened the power of the mayor’s office by shifting some duties from the city council to the mayor. Previously, the mayor and city council shared executive powers, with the mayor having direct authority over the police department.

Sen. Omar Fateh, DFL

• Campaign website

Sen. Omar Fateh is expected to be Mayor Frey's biggest challenger in the race this November.

As the first Somali American to serve in the Minnesota Senate after being elected in 2020, Sen. Omar Fateh says he will take what he has learned about organizing and coalition building in the Minnesota Legislature and use it to propel Minneapolis.

Over the summer, Fateh earned the endorsement for mayor from the Minneapolis DFL. However, after a challenge by the Frey campaign that raised issues with the vote counting at the convention, the state DFL stripped Fateh of his endorsement.

Previously, Sen. Fateh pushed for legislation that went into effect on Dec. 1 that set a minimum wage and protections for Uber and Lyft drivers statewide.

"Serving in the Minnesota Senate, I’ve seen firsthand what a progressive legislator can do with the right executive. And as mayor, I’ll work with the progressive city council to achieve real wins for our neighbors and uplift those who are struggling to get by," Fateh said in a statement announcing his candidacy at Minneapolis’ City Hall on Dec. 2.

However, his time serving in the legislature has not gone without raising some eyebrows.

In 2020, an ethics complaint accused Sen. Fateh of seeking state grant money for a Somali media outlet that ran free ads for him. Fateh refuted the allegations of a conflict of interest. In a separate complaint that year, state lawmakers investigated Fateh's ties to a federal voter fraud case in which his brother-in-law was convicted of lying to a grand jury.

Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis, DFL

• Campaign website

Lead Minister of Plymouth Congressional Church of Minneapolis, Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis announced his candidacy for Minneapolis Mayor on Oct. 17, 2024. 

In his announcement video, Davis spoke about his goals of "Rededicating myself to building a fair economy that honors the inherent worth and dignity of every worker and family," adding that "I want to work with the people of our city to build a Minneapolis where we can all share in her prosperity." 

His campaign site states he prioritizes providing more safe, stable, and affordable housing and regularly meets with federal and state legislators to do so.  

Davis is an active faith leader in the Minneapolis community, joining the Plymouth Congressional Church in December 2020. His congregation hosts the homeless vigil that honors those who passed away while unhoused, and Davis also hosts the annual Minnesota Overdose Vigil, according to his campaign site.

Davis recently served as the chaplain of the Minnesota State Senate and also worked as a congressional staffer on health care, housing, transit and transportation, reproductive justice, civil rights, voting rights and small business development.

He said he married his husband in 2011, "when marriage equality was achieved in Washington, D.C." 

His campaign site says he was born in the Mississippi Delta as the 15th child of former sharecroppers. Since then, Davis says he has maintained a "lifelong commitment to justice, safety, and love." 

Brenda Short, DFL

• Campaign website

On Monday, Dec. 9, Brenda Short announced her candidacy for Minneapolis mayor. On her website, Short lists past career stops at Wystar Global Retirement Solutions, ING and Best Buy corporate as past experiences.

Short’s campaign page says, "she remains undeterred and steadfast in her commitment to a stronger, more inclusive Minneapolis."

Short says, "Her experience as a successful business leader, combined with her unwavering dedication to the community, uniquely qualifies her to lead City Hall with integrity and vision… She believes in the power of listening to and collaborating with her neighbors to create lasting change."

Jazz Hampton, DFL

• Campaign website

Jazz Hampton filed to run for mayor on Aug. 1. Hampton is an attorney, business owner, and father of three.

Hampton's campaign website outlines strategies for dealing with homelessness, increasing access to affordable housing, rebuilding public trust in public safety and protecting immigrant families, among other priorities.

Hampton also touts endorsements from Minneapolis City Council members including Robin Wonsley, Elliott Payne, and Emily Koski.

Koski had previously announced a bid for mayor before dropping out of the race in April.

Kevin Dwire, Socialist Workers Party

• In election filings, Dwire lists the socialist newspaper The Militant as his campaign site.

Kevin Dwire filed to run for Minneapolis mayor on July 31. Dwire previously ran for lieutenant governor in 2022, earning 7,241 votes, about 0.3% of the vote. He has also run for the Boston City Council in 2015 and for Iowa lieutenant governor in 2006.

Dwire is a socialist activist who has written several articles for The Militant. He is also a member of Minnesota hospitality union Unite Here Local 17.

"I'm running because of the ills of capitalism that hit working people here in Minneapolis don't start here, and they're not going to be solved here," Dwire said during a candidates' forum last month. "The assaults workers face today are the result of the crisis of imperialism that drives fierce competition among capitalist powers worldwide. These rivalries fuel economic and military conflicts, deadly Jew-hating violence, and a march towards a third World War."

Laverne Turner, Independent

• Campaign website

Laverne Turner filed to run for Minneapolis mayor on Aug. 1. Turner previously ran for the office in 2021 but was eliminated in round one with just 3.2% of the ranked-choice vote.

On his campaign site, Turner says he chose to run again because "the current Mayor of Minneapolis has made no improvements on the livability for the citizens of Minneapolis."

Turner expresses discontent with the "self-evident" decline of Minneapolis as taxes continue to rise. Turner runs a "hip hop political consulting, public relations and marketing company" in Minneapolis. He has also launched a campaign to restore urban pride in the city.

"The Urban Pride Movement is committed to the community to combat Black-on-Black crime and gun violence in the Black communities and urban centers," Turner writes.

Alejandro Richardson, Independent

• Campaign website

Alejandro Richardson is a carpenter and union vice president for Local 68. He says he's running for mayor because "officials have failed to provide ample opportunity for their constituents to find prosperous and meaningful work, and an environment in which families can thrive."

Richardson's campaign site lists public safety, public education, and economic sustainability among his chief priorities.

"I believe Minneapolis, my lifelong home," writes Richardson, "deserves a candidate for Mayor who can bridge the gaps in our communities, advocate fiercely for the hard-working middle class, and negotiate the best possible outcomes for all its residents. For too long politicians have been elected that never have to live with the consequences of their decisions, and are often bought and sold before they ever enter office. For that reason I am running my campaign not seeking any financial contributions or endorsements, not even from my own labor union, because I am committed to holding myself accountable to one group above all else, the residents of our great city.

Andrea Revel, For The People

• Campaign website

Andrea Revel officially filed to run for Mayor on Aug. 11. Speaking at the League of Women Voters forum, Revel said she was focused on public safety.

"I want a safer Minneapolis," said Revel. "I want everyone to feel like they can walk outside downtown anytime of the day and not have to worry and look over their shoulder."

"We need to help the city be better, and safer everywhere is safer everywhere," Revel said.

Charlie McCloud, Independent

• McCloud's listed website does not appear to be active.

FOX 9 wasn't able to track down a working website or social media account for McCloud.

McCloud did speak as part of a candidates' forum last month. McCloud said she's worked as an executive aide and creative director, creative strategist, and caregiver. Speaking with a British accent, McCloud said she was born in Illinois, has lived around the world but came to Minnesota as a dancer to be a dancer for Prince.

"I feel I owe it to Minneapolis to step up and help all of you," said McCloud. "Literally, when I turn on the news and I see and hear and read everything, I cannot sit by and say, ‘Alright, you’re just not going to do anything.'"

Troy A. Peterson, Momunist

• Campaign website

Troy Peterson filed to run for Minneapolis mayor as a "Momunist" on Aug. 12 but says he was denied his preferred designation as a "Space Communist."

According to his campaign site, if elected, Peterson would pursue investigations into state leaders for civil rights violations, the 2020 riots, and the impact of city mask guidelines. Peterson says he would "stop all nonessential city spending to focus on fixing the f---ing roads."

His campaign site states that it was AI generated by a bot created by Peterson. The bot also serves as his campaign spokesperson.

Jeffrey Alan Wagner, Why Not Wagner

• Campaign website

Not a lot of information is available online for Wagner. Based on his YouTube page, which is listed as his campaign site, he has run for mayor before. A video uploaded to his channel seven years ago shows a previous campaign ad being featured on a TruTV program.

A recent ad uploaded earlier this year on the channel features Wagner speaking with constituents, complaining about construction and safety.

Xavier Pauke, Protecting Tomorrow's Dreams

• Campaign website

Xavier Pauke filed to run for mayor on Aug. 11. Pauke says he is not a politician and is joining the race as your everyday working citizen.

Pauke's campaign website says he works as a security guard and has experience serving with Americorps. Pauke's campaign shows support for fiscal responsibility for the city government, focusing on lead pipe replacement, and tackling unemployment. He also wants to rebuild trust in the Minneapolis Police Department, including incentivizing officers to live in the city where they work.

"I decided to throw my hat in the race because I want change that I will have to live with for the next 10, 20 or 50 years," Pauke wrote in a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" post. "Asking the adults who can affect my life to listen to me hasn't worked, so I have to now try and be the adult in the room to make sure myself and my entire generation isn't being ignored."

Kevin Ward, Nobody's Party

• Campaign website

Kevin Ward's Facebook page lists him as an Iraq War veteran, a supporter of Antifa, and against flags. At the candidate's forum last month, Ward had a placard in front of him with "Nobody" scrawled on the front. He told the crowd he retired from the Army with the rank of sergeant.

"Sergeant means ‘servant’ and I was born to serve," Ward said. "I have been serving and I have been fighting for your freedom always and I will not stop no matter what."

Ward says he has a pending lawsuit against the county stemming from an arrest. Court records show Ward has past mental health commitments, including one last November.

In a Facebook post, Ward says he was wrongly committed by sheriff's deputies and even released early from the commitment when he says a worker determined "there was no reason for me to have been put on a commitment in the first place."

Adam Terzich, Renaissance

• No listed campaign site

FOX 9 was unable to find any confirmed campaign site or social media accounts for Terzich. He also did not participate in the League of Women Voters candidates forum last month.

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