Minneapolis Mayoral Race Focuses on Public Safety Amid Ranked-Choice Voting With 15 Candidates

The 2025 Minneapolis mayoral race is highly competitive with 15 candidates, including incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey seeking a third term. Key issues center around public safety, particularly the role and funding of the Minneapolis police, reflecting ongoing debates since the George Floyd incident. State Senator Omar Fateh, once a proponent of defunding the police, has shifted his stance, though Mayor Frey disputes the sincerity of this change. Minneapolis employs ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to rank their top three candidates, which can lead to multiple rounds of vote counting. Despite all frontrunners being members of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, the party withdrew its endorsement following disputes over the endorsement process. The election also features heated debates on public safety funding, minimum wage, and city management, with candidates proposing varied approaches to address the city's challenges.