Minnesota Rep. Kaohly Vang Her announces bid for mayor of St. Paul originally appeared on Bring Me The News.
DFL state Rep. Kaohly Vang Her is running for mayor of St. Paul, challenging her former boss, two-term incumbent Melvin Carter.
Her, a former Carter policy director, declared her candidacy for mayor on Monday. She declined to directly comment on her former boss' performance, but told the Sahan Journal that she was moved to join the race following the June 14 assassination of state Rep. Melissa Hortman, her colleague and friend.
"We need a mayor who is ready to step up, engage with the community, and provide focused leadership that will move our city forward," Her said in an announcement.
Her serves as speaker pro tempore of the Minnesota House and co-chair of the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee. She was first elected in 2018 to represent District 64A, which covers St. Paul's Union Park and Summit-University neighborhoods, and was reelected for a fourth term in 2024.
Her came to the Midwest as a Hmong refugee in 1976 at the age of 3. She said in her announcement that hers is the story of the American Dream, but claims it's no longer attainable for many people due to Trump administration policies.
"Everyone deserves that chance," she said. "Now, the ladder is being pulled up while the safety net is ripped out from underneath us."
Her's announcement continues: "Our city needs safe streets, strong schools, and thriving neighborhoods. The cost of living continues to rise, our emergency services are stretched to the limit, housing is expensive and out of reach for many, and economic growth is at a standstill.
"We need leadership that meets this challenging time. We must expect more from our leaders to deal with the cruelty and volatility of Trump's tariffs, immigration policies, and cuts to the federal level that threaten the livelihood of our community."
The Minnesota Reformer notes that Her will have to move quickly to raise money and assemble a campaign with just three months until Election Day. Axios reports that she is likely to draw notable support from organized labor.
Other candidates running in November for mayor of St. Paul include biochemist Yan Chen, a Democrat who previously ran for the Ward 1 City Council seat, and businessman Mike Hilborn, a Republican who unsuccessfully challenged state Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega.
The filing period for mayoral candidates runs through Aug. 12. Early voting begins Aug. 19, and the election takes place Nov. 4.
This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
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