2021 Minneapolis City Council election

The 2021 Minneapolis City Council elections was held on November 2, 2021, to elect representatives for all 13 wards of the Minneapolis City Council. These elections occurred alongside the mayoral race and several other municipal offices, including Park Board and Board of Estimate and Taxation positions. The council elections were conducted using a ranked-choice voting system, which allows voters to rank candidates by preference on their ballots.[1]

Minneapolis City Council election, 2021

← 2017 November 2, 2021 (2021-11-02) 2023 →

All 13 seats on the Minneapolis City Council
7 seats needed for a majority
Turnout54.0% (Increase 11.6pp)
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Lisa Bender
(retiring)
Robin Wonsley Worlobah
Party Democratic (DFL) Democratic Socialists (DSA)
Leader's seat Ward 10 Ward 2
Last election 12 seats, 82.69% 0 seats, did not contest
Seats won 12 1
Seat change Steady Increase 1
Popular vote 115,277 3,061
Percentage 86.0% 2.3%

Winning party's vote share by ward.

President before election

Lisa Bender
Democratic (DFL)

Elected President

Andrea Jenkins
Democratic (DFL)

Amid a backdrop of significant local and national events, including the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, candidates across the wards ran on various platforms, addressing key issues such as public safety reform, housing, economic recovery, and the city's approach to policing.[2]

The DFL garnered an overwhelming 85% of the 1st choice votes, a 3 percentage point increase from the previous election. The remaining seat was taken by Democratic Socialist candidate Robin Wonsley Worlobah who beat incumbent Green Party council member Cam Gordon.

Overall, moderates gained a net one seat on the 13-member council. This change suggests that moderates will have increased influence over key decisions on issues such as police reform and rent control.[3] While progressives managed to secure seats in Wards 1 and 9, they suffered losses in Wards 3, 4, and 11, where moderate challengers defeated progressive incumbents who had supported the now-failed charter amendment to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department.[4]

Retiring members

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Candidates

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Ward Incumbent Candidates
Name Party First elected Name Party Party endorsement
1 Kevin Reich DFL 2009 Elliott Payne DFL Minneapolis DFL
Kevin Reich DFL
Calvin Carpenter Veterans
Thomas Wortman DFL
2 Cam Gordon Green 2005 Cam Gordon Green Fifth District Green Party
Robin Wonsley Worlobah DSA Twin Cities DSA[7]
Yusra Arab DFL
Tom Anderson DFL
Guy T. Gaskin Republican
3 Steve Fletcher DFL 2017 Steve Fletcher DFL
Hope Hennessey Independent
Merv Moorhead DFL
Michael Rainville DFL
4 Phillipe Cunningham DFL 2017 Phillipe Cunningham DFL Minneapolis DFL
LaTrisha Vetaw DFL
Leslie Davis We the People
5 Jeremiah Ellison DFL 2017 Jeremiah Ellison DFL
Suleiman Isse DFL
Victor Martinez DFL
Elijah Norris-Holliday Independent
Kristel Porter DFL
James Seymor Witness
Cathy Spann DFL
6 Jamal Osman DFL 2020 Abdirizak Bihi DFL
Jamal Osman DFL
7 Lisa Goodman DFL 1997 Lisa Goodman DFL Minneapolis DFL
Nick Kor DFL
Teqen Zéa-Aida DFL
Joanna Diaz DFL
8 Andrea Jenkins DFL 2017 Andrea Jenkins DFL Minneapolis DFL
Robert Sullentrop Republican
9 Alondra Cano DFL 2013 Jason Chavez DFL Minneapolis DFL
Twin Cities DSA[7]
Jon Randall Denison Social Justice
Alfred "AJ" Flowers, Jr DFL
Yussuf Haji DFL
Carmen Means DFL
Mickey Moore DFL
Brenda Short DFL
Ross Tenneson Republican
10 Lisa Bender DFL 2013 Aisha Chughtai DFL Twin Cities DSA[7]
Katie Jones DFL
Alicia Gibson DFL
Ubah Nur DFL
Chris Parsons DFL
David Wheeler DFL
11 Jeremy Schroeder DFL 2017 Emily Koski DFL
Jeremy Schroeder DFL
Kurt Michael Anderson Independent
Dillon Gherna DFL
Albert T. Ross DFL
12 Andrew Johnson DFL 2013 Andrew Johnson DFL Minneapolis DFL
Nancy Ford Independent
David Rosenfeld Socialist Workers
13 Linea Palmisano DFL 2013 Linea Palmisano DFL Minneapolis DFL
Mike Norton DFL
Kati Medford Green
Bob Reuer Independent
Ken Salway Republican

Electoral system

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The 13 members of the City Council are elected from single-member districts via instant-runoff voting, commonly known as ranked choice voting. Voters have the option of ranking up to three candidates in order of preference. Municipal elections in Minnesota are officially nonpartisan, although candidates are able to identify with a political party on the ballot. Write-in candidates must file a request with the Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services Division for votes for them to be counted.

Results

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Vote share by first-party preference

  DFL (85.95%)
  GOP (2.71%)
  Green (2.28%)
  DSA (2.06%)
  Socialist Workers (0.58%)
  Other parties (1.3%)
  Independent (5.02%)
  Write-in (0.36%)
Party Candidates 1st Choice Votes Seats
No. % pp No. No. %
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party 41 115,277 85.95 +3.26 12 0 92.31
Democratic Socialists of America 1 3,061 2.26 +2.26 1 +1 7.69
Republican Party of Minnesota 4 3,631 2.71 +1.37 0 0 0.00
Green Party of Minnesota 2 3,061 2.28 -5.50 0 -1 0.00
Socialist Workers Party 1 773 0.58 +0.58 0 0 0.00
Veterans Party 1 635 0.47 +0.47 0 0 0.00
We the People 1 635 0.47 +0.47 0 0 0.00
Social Justice 1 80 0.06 +0.06 0 0 0.00
Witness 1 38 0.03 +0.03 0 0 0.00
Independent 5 6,739 5.03 +1.13 0 0 0.00
Write-in N/A 488 0.36 −0.10 0 0 0.00
Total 134,116 100.00 ±0.00 13 ±0 100.00
Valid votes 134,116 - -
Overvotes - - -
Undervotes - - -
Turnout (registered voters) 145,337 54.0 +11.6

Ward 1

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Party Candidate % 1st
Choice
Round 1 Round 2 % Final
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Elliott Payne 48.18% 5,511 5,745 52.53%
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Kevin Reich (incumbent) 42.87% 4,903 5,191 47.47%
Veteran's Party of Minnesota Calvin Carpenter 5.58% 638
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Thomas Wortman 3.17% 363
Write-in N/A 0.20% 23
Exhausted ballots 502 4.39%
Valid votes 11,438
Threshold 5,720
Undervotes 704
Turnout 57.4% 12,142
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[8]

Ward 2

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Party Candidate % 1st
Choice
Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 % Final
Democratic Socialists of America Robin Wonsley 29.04% 2,763 2,879 4,046 50.09%
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Yusra Arab 28.49% 2,719 3,236 4,032 49.01%
Green Party of Minnesota Cam Gordon (incumbent) 26.36% 2,508 2,800
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Tom Anderson 10.28% 982
Republican Party of Minnesota Guy Gaskin 5.74% 546
Write-in N/A 0.09% 9
Exhausted ballots 612 1,434 16.18%
Valid votes 9,527
Threshold 4,764
Undervotes 272
Turnout 55.8% 9,799
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[9]

This election exhibited the only known Condorcet cycle in United States history, with a narrow circular tie between Arab, Gordon, and Wonsley.[10] Arab was preferred over Gordon by a 51.3% majority, Gordon was preferred over Wonsley by 50.5%, and Wonsley was preferred over Arab by 50.1%.[11]

Ward 3

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Party Candidate % 1st
Choice
Round 1 Round 2 % Final
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Michael Rainville 45.14% 6,027 6,907 54.97%
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Steve Fletcher (incumbent) 39.16% 5,229 5,658 45.03%
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Merv Moorhead 8.72% 1,165
Independent Hope Hennessey 6.65% 888
Write-in N/A 0.33% 44
Exhausted ballots 788 5.90%
Valid votes 13,353
Threshold 6,677
Undervotes 1,085
Turnout 48.9% 14,438
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[12]

Ward 4

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Party Candidate % 1st
Choice
Round 1
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party LaTrisha Vetaw 60.63% 4,391
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Phillipe Cunningham (incumbent) 30.32% 2,196
We the People Leslie Davis 8.77% 635
Write-in N/A 0.28% 20
Total votes 7,500
Threshold 3,751
Turnout 41.1% 7,500
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[13]

Ward 5

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Party Candidate % 1st
Choice
Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 % Final
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Jeremiah Ellison (incumbent) 31.94% 1,752 1,855 2,117 51.12%
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Kristel Porter 24.70% 1,355 1,499 2,024 48.88%
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Victor Martinez 24.65% 1,352 1,495
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Suleiman Isse 9.85% 540
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Cathy Spann 4.47% 245
Independent Elijah Norris-Holliday 3.56% 195
Witness James Seymour 0.71% 39
Write-in N/A 0.13% 7
Exhausted ballots 636 1,344 32.46%
Valid votes 5,485
Threshold 2,743
Undervotes 131
Turnout 33.9% 5,616
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[14]

Ward 6

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Party Candidate % 1st
Choice
Round 1
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Jamal Osman (incumbent) 59.41% 3,722
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Abdirizak Bihi 39.39% 2,468
Write-in N/A 1.20% 75
Total votes 6,871
Threshold 3,436
Turnout 43.5% 6,871
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[15]

Ward 7

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Party Candidate % 1st
Choice
Round 1
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Lisa Goodman (incumbent) 61.91% 7,206
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Nick Kor 26.34% 3,066
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Teqen Zéa-Aida 7.16% 833
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Joanna Diaz 4.10% 477
Write-in N/A 0.49% 57
Total votes 12,329
Threshold 6,165
Turnout 54.0% 12,329
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[16]

Ward 8

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Party Candidate % 1st
Choice
Round 1
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Andrea Jenkins (incumbent) 84.92% 9,013
Republican Party of Minnesota Robert Sullentrop 13.83% 1,468
Write-in N/A 1.25% 133
Total votes 11,326
Threshold 5,664
Turnout 59.5% 11,326
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[17]

Ward 9

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Party Candidate % 1st
Choice
Round 1
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Jason Chavez 56.89% 3,792
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Mickey Moore 13.59% 906
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Yussuf Haji 12.63% 842
Republican Party of Minnesota Ross Tennsesson 4.70% 313
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Alfred "AJ" Flowers, Jr. 3.98% 265
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Brenda Short 3.71% 247
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Carmen Means 3.23% 215
Social Justice Jon Randall Denison 1.20% 280
Write-in N/A 0.09% 6
Total votes 6,983
Threshold 3,492
Turnout 49.5% 6,983
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[18]

Ward 10

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Party Candidate % 1st
Choice
Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 % Final
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Aisha Chughtai 36.91% 3,934 4,163 5,360 59.95%
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Alicia Gibson 18.75% 1,999 3,022 3,581 40.05%
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Katie Jones 19.57% 2,086 2,476
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Chris Parsons 15.10% 1,610
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party David Wheeler 5.86% 625
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Ubah Nur 3.51% 374
Write-in N/A 0.29% 31
Exhausted ballots 998 1,718 19.21%
Valid votes 10,659
Threshold 5,330
Undervotes 686
Turnout 48.7% 11,345
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[19]

Ward 11

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Party Candidate % 1st
Choice
Round 1
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Emily Koski 58.33% 7,789
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Jeremy Schroeder (incumbent) 30.32% 4,049
Independent Kurt Michael Anderson 5.20% 695
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Dillon Gherna 3.41% 455
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Albert T. Ross 2.58% 345
Write-in N/A 0.16% 21
Total votes 13,877
Threshold 6,939
Turnout 65.2% 13,877
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[20]

Ward 12

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Party Candidate % 1st
Choice
Round 1
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Andrew Johnson (incumbent) 64.83% 9,940
Independent Nancy Ford 29.80% 4,569
Socialist Workers Party David Rosenfeld 5.04% 773
Write-in N/A 0.33% 51
Total votes 16,083
Threshold 8,042
Turnout 65.9% 16,083
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[21]

Ward 13

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Party Candidate % 1st
Choice
Round 1
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Linea Palmisano (incumbent) 66.19% 10,883
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Mike Norton 19.96% 3,282
Republican Party of Minnesota Ken Salway 7.94% 1,305
Green Party of Minnesota Kati Medford 3.39% 557
Independent Bob Reuer 2.44% 401
Write-in N/A 0.09% 14
Total votes 17,028
Threshold 8,515
Turnout 67.8% 17,028
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Running for office". vote.minneapolismn.gov. City of Minneapolis. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  2. ^ Rio, Giulia McDonnell Nieto del; Eligon, John; Hassan, Adeel (May 25, 2021). "A Timeline of What Has Happened in the Year Since George Floyd's Death". The New York Times. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  3. ^ Halter, Nick (November 4, 2021). "Minneapolis City Council leans slightly moderate after 2021 election". Axios. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  4. ^ Gustavo, Solomon (November 4, 2021). "The final tally: five Minneapolis Council incumbents unseated in 2021 city election". MinnPost. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  5. ^ Read, Katy (December 19, 2020). "Minneapolis City Council Member Alondra Cano won't seek re-election". Star Tribune.
  6. ^ Navratil, Liz; Walsh, Paul (November 9, 2020). "Minneapolis Council President Lisa Bender won't seek re-election". Star Tribune.
  7. ^ a b c "2021 Endorsements". Twin Cities DSA. Democratic Socialists of America. August 10, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  8. ^ Minneapolis, City of (November 2, 2021). "2021 City Council Ward 1 election results". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  9. ^ Minneapolis, City of (November 2, 2021). "2021 City Council Ward 2 election results". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  10. ^ Graham-Squire, Adam; McCune, David (March 6, 2023). "An Examination of Ranked Choice Voting in the United States, 2004-2022". p. 10. arXiv:2301.12075 [econ.GN]. 2021 Ward 2 City Council Election in Minneapolis, MN … This election cannot demonstrate a Condorcet failure as we have defined it because there is no Condorcet winner. All other elections in the database contain a Condorcet winner.
  11. ^ McCune, David; McCune, Lori (December 26, 2021). "The Curious Case of the 2021 Minneapolis Ward 2 City Council Election". arXiv:2111.09846 [econ.GN]. Arab wins a head-to-head matchup against Gordon 4324 to 4098, Gordon wins a matchup against [Wonsley] Worlobah 3708 to 3635, and Worlobah wins a matchup against Arab 4056 to 4037.
  12. ^ Minneapolis, City of (November 2, 2021). "2021 City Council Ward 3 election results". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  13. ^ Minneapolis, City of (November 2, 2021). "2021 City Council Ward 4 election results". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  14. ^ Minneapolis, City of (November 2, 2021). "2021 City Council Ward 5 election results". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  15. ^ Minneapolis, City of (November 2, 2021). "2021 City Council Ward 6 election results". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  16. ^ Minneapolis, City of (November 2, 2021). "2021 City Council Ward 7 election results". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  17. ^ Minneapolis, City of (November 2, 2021). "2021 City Council Ward 8 election results". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  18. ^ Minneapolis, City of (November 2, 2021). "2021 City Council Ward 9 election results". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  19. ^ Minneapolis, City of (November 2, 2021). "2021 City Council Ward 10 election results". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  20. ^ Minneapolis, City of (November 2, 2021). "2021 City Council Ward 11 election results". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  21. ^ Minneapolis, City of (November 2, 2021). "2021 City Council Ward 12 election results". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  22. ^ Minneapolis, City of (November 2, 2021). "2021 City Council Ward 13 election results". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
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