St. Paul Mayoral race election guide 2025

St. Paul Mayoral race election guide 2025
By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | November 2025

The time to exercise our right to vote is upon us: the St. Paul mayoral election is Tuesday, Nov. 4. The following candidates will be on the ballot in a ranked-choice format. Additionally, details are below for ballot questions regarding a school referendum and city-issued administrative citations. This is the last year the mayoral election will be held in an odd-numbered year because in 2024 voters approved a shift to move municipal elections to even-numbered years to coincide with presidential elections and the midterms. The winner of this race will only serve a 3-year term.

Melvin Carter (incumbent)
Was contacted multiple times but did not respond.
Learn more: melvincarter.org

Yan Chen
Education: Ph.D. in biophysics from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Occupation: Small business owner working in housing revitalization and property management; former research scientist with over 50 peer-reviewed publications
Political experience: Community advocate and participant in city policy discussions; candidate for Ward 1 City Council (2023)
Top three priorities: Reduce crime and petty offenses while ensuring rehabilitation opportunities; hold the line on taxes by keeping city levies flat and urging the county and school board to do the same; and planning smart so the city stops bleeding revenue from past mistakes like a poorly negotiated trash contract, short-sighted housing strategy and mismanaged bike trail planning.
Candidate statement: “Our city has great potential – if we’re willing to learn from past mistakes and do things differently this time. St. Paul needs leadership that is practical, transparent and fiscally responsible. Together, we can lower property taxes, improve city services and grow without leaving residents behind. With smart planning and real collaboration, we can put St. Paul back on track – making it safer, more affordable and full of opportunity for all.”
Learn more: yanchenmn.com

Adam Dullinger
Education: B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Occupation: Product Engineer
Political experience: None
Top three priorities: Build more housing of all kinds, including social housing and market-rate public housing; rapidly expand the safety of our bicycle network so that everyone can have the freedom to choose not to drive; and create municipal grocery stores if businesses aren’t willing to provide this service to residents.
Candidate statement: “I am running because I care deeply about living in a city that works to find and solve the problems in our community, no matter how big or small. I want to give people solutions to their problems, not excuses as to why things can’t change.”
Learn more: adamdullingerformayor.com; MayorDullinger@gmail.com

Kaohly Her
Education: BA of business administration finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Master of business administration from Northeastern University; Doctoral candidate at University of St. Thomas
Occupation: State Representative for House District 64A
Political experience: Board of Education administrator for St. Paul Public Schools (2016-2017); St. Paul Mayor’s Office policy director (2018-2021); State Representative for House District 64A (2019-present), including Majority Whip of the Minnesota House of Representatives (2021-2022), Speaker Pro Tempore of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Chair of the Legislative Commission for Pensions and Retirement (2023-2024) and DFL Chair of the Commerce Policy and Finance Committee (2025-present)
Top three priorities: Make safer communities by supporting first responders and partnering with the county and state to reduce non-police emergency calls (mental health and drug use), which have doubled in the last year; make a vibrant economy by collaborating with residents, community organizations, local unions, developers and the state; and work with the county and state to build more public housing, and with local independent developers to build affordable housing and large developers to build more market-rate units.
Candidate statement: “I’m running for mayor to be an advocate for our values and to ensure our city runs
efficiently and transparently. I’m a leader who has worked in our public schools, at City Hall, in corporate boardrooms, and at the Minnesota Capitol. I’m ready to bring my experience as a champion for affordable housing, safe communities, a vibrant economy, and our neighbors’ rights to City Hall. As a city, we face significant challenges that must be met with strong leadership to defend our community and democracy. We need a leader who will forge ahead with an inclusive vision for the future.”
Learn more: kaohlyforstp.com

Mike Hilborn
Education: Bachelor’s in business administration with minors in economics and communications from Bethel University
Occupation: Owns RTD Services in St. Paul.
Political experience: none
Top three priorities: Reduce property and sales taxes; reduce crime; and provide more housing opportunities for unsheltered people.
Candidate statement: “St. Paul has the highest sales tax and highest property taxes in Minnesota. We’ve lost 500 businesses since 2020. St. Paul is the most expensive place in Minnesota to run a business. Of the top five cities in Minnesota, only St. Paul has lost population. Criminals have to be held accountable. People sleeping on sidewalks is not compassionate.”
Learn more: MikeforStPaul.com

Ballot Questions
School referendum – The St. Paul Public Schools Board of Education is asking voters to approve an increase to the operating levy to generate $37.2 million a year in additional revenue for 10 years. The current levy is $1,073 per student, per year. The estimated property tax increase for a home valued at $289,200 is about $26 a month or $309 a year. Without the levy, the district said at least $37 million in cuts to staffing and programs across the district for the 2026-27 school year are needed to maintain a balanced budget, with more cuts in the future. For more information, visit spps.org/vote.

Administrative citations – The St. Paul City Council approved an amendment to the city charter early this year that would have allowed it to issue non-criminal fines and civil penalties for people who break certain city ordinances, such as landlords failing to upkeep their properties or residents not properly accounting for their pets. However, a 2,000-plus signature petition opposing the amendment, led by financial analyst Peter Butler, stopped the amendment, forcing it to be put on the ballot for approval or denial.

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