Jacob Frey, a 36-year-old city councilman, is the next mayor of Minneapolis after defeating incumbent Betsy Hodges and 14 others in Tuesday’s election. Frey says improving police/community relations is “way up there” on his agenda, and “the other big one” is affordable housing. He says, “Minneapolis should be an affordable place for everyone, and we’re still a good chunk off from that right now. Rents are rising through the roof and people are getting displaced from the communities that they know and love.”
No candidate for mayor reached 50 percent in the first round of ballot counting Tuesday night. Frey claimed a victory after votes were distributed today from the ranked-choice ballots Minneapolis voters used in the election.
Outgoing Mayor Betsy Hodges says she congratulated Frey on his victory and she’s committed to a smooth transition. Hodges says during her four years as mayor of Minneapolis “we built the strongest foundation for transforming policing of any city in the country,” passed a 15-dollar minimum wage and made sure every neighborhood in Minneapolis has organics recycling. Hodge thanked Minneapolis residents, calling them “the most welcoming, engaged, passionate, diverse, committed, determined, strong, and loving people anywhere.”