Minneapolis City Council election results: Andrea Jenkins wins, fending off Soren Stevenson as 2nd choice votes are counted

Minneapolis City Council President Andrea Jenkins survived a close call Wednesday, narrowly eking out a victory over challenger Soren Stevenson in a rare "comeback" under ranked-choice voting.

Jenkins trailed Stevenson after first-choice ballots were counted Tuesday, but was declared the winner Wednesday — by 38 votes — after second- and third-choice ballots were tabulated.

That margin is within the range that Stevenson could request a publicly funded recount if he wishes. Shortly after the final tally was announced, Stevenson said his campaign hadn't made a decision.

In other Wednesday morning developments:

A first-time candidate, Stevenson was leading Jenkins after Tuesday, but had not passed the more than 50% threshold. A winner wasn't declared until second- or third-choice votes from other candidates are tabulated under the city's ranked-choice voting system.

A number of incumbents were re-elected, according to unofficial results.

All 13 seats were on the ballot, and while Mayor Jacob Frey won't stand for re-election for another two years, the future of his agenda — as compared with that of a more progressive crop of candidates — was at stake.

The results could have implications for a range of issues from homeless encampments to sidewalk shoveling to public safety funding and oversight.

Of particular interest: the contest in the Eighth Ward, where Jenkins, a trailblazing Black transgender woman, faced a stiff challenge from Stevenson, a 29-year-old white activist who wrested the DFL endorsement from Jenkins on a message that she's not liberal enough.

Late Tuesday, Stevenson had 45% of the vote to Jenkins' 43% among first-choice ballots. But Jenkins was declared the winner Wednesday — by 38 votes — after second- and third-choice ballots were tabulated.

Stevenson came onto the public stage during protests following George Floyd's murder, when a police-fired projectile destroyed one of his eyes. He earned the endorsement of the Twin Cities chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, an ascendant group in Minneapolis politics that endorsed five council candidates.

Jenkins gained national prominence in 2017 when she became the first openly trans woman elected to public office. While she was a loud voice in calling for police reform and racial justice, she found herself on the defensive as Stevenson accused her of not achieving any real results.

"My team and I ran a campaign based on a deep and abiding love for this city, a campaign based on progress and experience and building bridges to keep this city moving forward," she said Wednesday after she was declared the unofficial victor. "That is exactly what we will continue to do in the next term. I also want to congratulate my opponents on running a tough campaign. I appreciate the ideas that have been shared throughout the course of the campaign and I hope we can work together to find common ground on the policies that we have agreement on."

Candidates Terry White and Robert Sullentrop were also on the ballot. It was their supporters, as well as potentially voters who wrote in a candidate for a first choice, who turned the tide for Jenkins, via their second- and third-choice votes.

Another high-stakes race was a three-way contest in the 12th Ward, where Council Member Andrew Johnson didn't seek re-election.

The DFL-endorsed candidate, Aurin Chowdhury, won with 54% of the votes over Luther Ranheim, a Frey-aligned candidate with 37%. Candidate Nancy Ford won 10% of first-choice votes.

The open seat in the Seventh Ward, where Council Member Lisa Goodman is stepping down after 26 years, featured another high-profile contest.

Cashman won with 50.8%to Graham's 48.5% after the second-choice ballots of candidate Ken Foxworth were tabulated.

Cashman had earned the endorsement of Mpls for the Many, a group seeking to elect a "true progressive majority." Graham, a self-described "pragmatic Democrat," was backed by the Frey-aligned All of Mpls.

Council Member Elliott Payne, cruised to victory with 90% of the votes over socialist Edwin Fruit in the First Ward.

Council Member Robin Wonsley, the most outspoken Democratic Socialist on the council, was unopposed on the ballot in the Second Ward and garnered 68% of the votes. Michael Baskins mounted a write-in campaign.

Council Member Michael Rainville defeated local organizer Marcus Mills in downtown's Third Ward, 69% to 30%.

Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw won with 69% in northwest Minneapolis' Fourth Ward. Her challengers were Marvina Haynes, Angela Williams and Leslie Davis.

Council Member Jeremiah Ellison, part of the council's progressive wing, won in the Fifth Ward with 53% in a rematch against Victor Martinez, one of the most serious conservative candidates in any race, who received 41%.

First-time candidate Phillip Peterson also mounted a campaign.

Council Member JamalOsman held off several challengers in the Sixth Ward after all votes were tabulated Wednesday.

According to the final count, Osman had 48.3%, while Kayseh Magan, a former Medicaid fraud investigator in the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, had 34.7%. Tiger Worku, a former Seward Neighborhood Group president who left under controversy, and Republican Guy T. Gaskin were eliminated after the first-choice ballots.

As he continues in office, questions loom about Osman's connections to investigations into theft of COVID-relief funds intended to feed children.

First-term Council Member Jason Chavez was re-elected in the Ninth Ward against Dan Orban, a software engineer, by a 79%-to-20% margin.

First-term Council Member Aisha Chughtai won in her bid for a second term representing the 10th Ward. Chughtai had 61%, while challengers Bruce Dachis had 27%, Nasri Warsame had 10% and Greg Kline had 2%.

First-term Council Member Emily Koski, a moderate, won with 88% over Socialist Gabrielle Prosser in south Minneapolis' 11th Ward.

Council Vice President Linea Palmisano, a moderate first elected in 2013, defeated fellow moderate Kate Mortenson in southwest Minneapolis' 13th Ward. Palmisano had 66% to Mortenson's 24%.

Zach Metzger and Bob "Again" Carney were also on the ballot.

Winners of Tuesday's election will serve two-year terms.