Ortega will not seek re-election for District 5 seat

Ortega will not seek re-election for District 5 seat
By Tim Spitzack | Editor | January 2026

Rafael Ortega, Ramsey County Commissioner for District 5 since 1994, recently announced he will not seek re-election after his term expires in Jan. 2027. Instead, he is throwing his support behind State Representative María Isa Pérez-Vega, who will run for the seat. Also jumping into the race early on is St. Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker. The district includes the neighborhoods of Downtown, the West Side, Mac-Groveland, Highland Park, West Seventh and Battle Creek.

“I was looking for a candidate that is ready to keep fighting for our community, who will keep taking big swings to improve downtown and Ramsey County and who understands the lives of struggling families and the need for good basic services and better transit that the county must provide,” said Ortega in a statement.

“I was also looking for someone with a record of achievement. Representative Maria Isa Perez-Vega is that candidate. I know that she is a fierce fighter for the people who need help and exactly the kind of next generation leader Ramsey County needs right now. I will continue to do the important work of the county in the coming year, but I am tremendously excited to support Representative Maria Isa Perez-Vega any way I can.”

In her own statement, Isa Pérez-Vega said, “My roots run deep in the very soil of our state’s first Latino community…. My candidacy is grounded in the unwavering values of empowering the forgotten voices and honoring the rich history of our Latino community in every decision made.”

Her campaign is focused on building partnerships across city, county and state governments on issues such as West 7th Street infrastructure, transportation access, and development that reflects community values. She is a lifelong resident of the West Side, a small business owner, youth worker, nationally recognized artist, and mother. She currently serves as the State Representative for District 65B. For more information, visit: votemariaisa.org.

Noecker launched her campaign with the support of St. Paul City Council Vice President Hwa Jeong Kim, Councilmember Nelsie Yang, Majority Leader Erin Murphy, School Board Director Halla Henderson and Meg Duhr, president of the West 7th/Fort Road Federation. Her top priorities include economic and workforce development, downtown revitalization, transportation, childcare and housing.

“As our residents struggle with the rising costs of everyday needs, we need to work closely across jurisdictions to avoid the duplication and inefficiency that drive up taxes,” said Noecker in a statement. “It takes a collaborative leader to work across levels of government to deliver lasting progress. Too many county projects have moved too slowly or not at all and that’s holding our community back. I’m running to bring a new sense of urgency to the County board and to get things done for St. Paul.”

Noecker was first elected to the St. Paul City Council in 2015. She and her family live on the West Side. For more information, visit: rebeccanoecker.org.