Municipal elections in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2017)
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| 2017 Minneapolis city council and city boards elections |
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| Election dates |
| Filing deadline: August 15, 2017 |
| General election: November 7, 2017 |
| Election stats |
| Offices up: Mayor, city council, board of estimate and taxation, park and recreation board |
| Total seats up: 25 (click here for the mayoral election) |
| Election type: Nonpartisan |
| Other municipal elections |
| U.S. municipal elections, 2017 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota, held elections for all 13 seats on its city council in 2017. Twelve of the 13 councilmembers were members of Minnesota's affiliate of the national Democratic Party, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), prior to the 2017 election. The sole non-DFL member of the city council—Green Party Councilman Cam Gordon—won re-election unopposed.
The DFL retained the other 12 seats, although the composition of its majority changed. Steve Fletcher won the open race to replace Ward 3 Councilman Jacob Frey, who ran for and won the mayor's seat, and Andrea Jenkins won the open seat vacated by retiring Ward 8 Councilwoman Elizabeth Glidden. Fletcher and Jenkins were two of a cohort of 2017 candidates who ran for city office with the backing of progressive groups, such as Neighborhoods Organizing for Change, TakeAction Minnesota, and the Bernie Sanders-aligned Our Revolution Minnesota.[1][2][3] Progressive-backed candidates also unseated incumbents in Ward 4, Ward 5, and Ward 11. Click here to read more about the 2017 challenges to DFL incumbents from the left.
In addition to the 13 members of the city council, the mayor, the two elected members of Minneapolis' board of estimate and taxation, and all nine members of the park and recreation board were on the ballot in Minneapolis on November 7. The board of estimate and taxation helps manage the city's debt and sets maximum tax levies for the city council, the park and recreation board, and the public housing authority.[4] The park and recreation board is charged with preserving, protecting, and enhancing the city's natural resources and recreational opportunities.[5] The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was August 15, 2017.
Elections in Minneapolis are officially nonpartisan, but candidates can select a party label to appear on the ballot.[6] In addition to 12 of the 13 city council seats, the DFL held the mayorship, eight of the nine seats on the park and recreation board, and both elected seats on the board of estimate and taxation heading into the 2017 election.[7][8][9][10] Those numbers didn't change in 2017, as Green Party candidate LaTrisha Vetaw replaced retiring Green Party member M. Annie Young in one of the at-large seats on the park and recreation board, Green Party member Gordon held his Ward 2 seat on the city council, and the DFL retained all of the other seats.
The DFL and the Republican Party both make endorsements in city races. Click on the "Endorsements" tab below to read more about the two major parties' 2017 city council and city board endorsements, their endorsement processes, and the historical link between the DFL endorsement and electoral outcomes in Minneapolis city races. For information about DFL and Republican endorsements for mayor, click here.
Elections[edit]
Although municipal elections in Minneapolis are officially nonpartisan, Ballotpedia identified known partisan affiliations for information purposes. An asterisk (*) indicates that the candidate won the DFL or Republican Party endorsement. The parties did not endorse candidates in all races, and not all DFL and Republican candidates sought their parties' endorsements. To notify us of additions or updates to these partisan affiliations and endorsements, please email us.
City council[edit]
City boards[edit]
Board of Estimate and Taxation, At-Large[edit]Two at-large seats were up for election. Park and Recreation Board, At-Large[edit]Three at-large seats were up for election. Incumbents John |
Park and Recreation Board, District 1[edit]Incumbent Liz Wielinski withdrew from the race after Park and Recreation Board, District 2[edit]Incumbent Jon Olson opted not to run for re-election.[12] Park and Recreation Board, District 3[edit]Incumbent Scott Vreeland withdrew from the race after Park and Recreation Board, District 4[edit]Incumbent Anita Tabb opted not to run for re-election.[12] Park and Recreation Board, District 5[edit]☑ Steffanie Musich (i) Park and Recreation Board, District 6[edit]☑ Brad Bourn (i) |
Campaign finance[edit]
The table below presents the campaign finance information available as of November 2, 2017, for the candidates for Minneapolis City Council. The figures are presented as reported on the Hennepin County Elections website.
Endorsements[edit]
2017 endorsements[edit]
The tables below present the endorsements Ballotpedia had identified as of October 27, 2017. To notify us of other endorsements, please email us.
Party endorsement procedures[edit]
The DFL uses a caucus and convention process to make endorsements in Minneapolis city races. Delegates selected at caucuses vote on endorsements at the conventions. A candidate must win 60 percent of the vote or more at the convention to secure an endorsement from the DFL.[13]
The DFL held its 2017 caucuses on April 4. The table below presents the schedule for its 2017 conventions.
| DFL Ward and City Conventions, 2017 | |
|---|---|
| Seats | Date |
| Wards 4, 5, 7 & 10 | April 22, 2017 |
| Wards 1, 8, 9, 11 & 13 | April 29, 2017 |
| Wards 2, 3 & 12 | May 6, 2017 |
| Ward 6 | May 20, 2017* |
| Mayor Board of Estimate & Taxation Park & Recreation Board |
July 8, 2017* |
| *The Ward 6 convention was rescheduled from May 6 to May 20, and the citywide convention was rescheduled from June 24 to July 8.[14] | |
The Republican Party held its endorsing convention on July 18, 2017.[15]
Candidates who won a DFL or Republican Party endorsement are marked with an asterisk (*) in the candidate lists. Failing to receive an endorsement does not preclude a candidate from running in a Minneapolis election, although some candidates pledge to withdraw if they don't win the endorsement. Learn more about the DFL's caucus and convention process by clicking here or here.[16][17] More information about the city's Republican Party is available here.
Impact of the DFL endorsement[edit]
As of August 2017, two previous cycles of city council and city board endorsements were available on the DFL's website: 2009 and 2013.[18] There was a strong correlation between endorsement by the DFL and electoral success in those two cycles. All 12 of the DFL-endorsed city council candidates, five of the seven DFL-endorsed park and recreation board candidates, and the sole DFL-endorsed board of estimate and taxation candidate won their elections in 2009.[19] The same was true for all ten of the city council candidates, seven of the eight park and recreation board candidates, and both of the board of estimate and taxation candidates the party endorsed in 2013.[20]
That correlation continued to hold in 2017. All eight of the candidates the party endorsed for city council won their elections, as did both of the DFL-backed candidates for board of estimate and taxation and six of the eight DFL candidates for the park and recreation board.[21]
The DFL endorsement was not the only factor in those races. Thirteen of the 20 candidates the party endorsed in 2009 and 2013 and nine of the 18 it endorsed in 2017 were incumbents, who tend to have an electoral advantage, and some of the DFL's candidates faced little or no opposition. However, the DFL endorsement comes with advantages. According to the Twin Cities Daily Planet, DFL endorsees receive phone banking, canvassing, direct mail, event, and other support from the party, and DFL candidates who fail to win the endorsement often drop out of the race to leave the general election path clearer for the party's endorsee.[22]
Additional elections on the ballot[edit]
- See also: Minnesota elections, 2017
The elections for Minneapolis City Council, Board of Estimate and Taxation, and Park and Recreation Board shared the ballot with the election for mayor of Minneapolis.
Issues[edit]
Divisions within the DFL[edit]
Heading into the 2017 election, no Republicans had held a seat on the Minneapolis City Council since Dennis Schulstad opted not to run for re-election in 1998. Only one member of the 2017 city council—Green Party Councilman Cam Gordon—was not affiliated with the DFL, and DFL-ers held both of the elected seats on the city's board of estimate and taxation and eight of the nine seats on the park and recreation board.[23][24] Click "show" on the boxes below to see the partisan affiliations of Minneapolis' city councilmembers, board of estimate and taxation members, and park and recreation board members as of August 2017.
| Partisan composition of the Minneapolis City Council, August 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ward | Councilmember | Partisan affiliation | |
| 1 | Kevin Reich | DFL | |
| 2 | Cam Gordon | Green Party | |
| 3 | Jacob Frey | DFL | |
| 4 | Barb Johnson | DFL | |
| 5 | Blong Yang | DFL | |
| 6 | Abdi Warsame | DFL | |
| 7 | Lisa Goodman | DFL | |
| 8 | Elizabeth Glidden | DFL | |
| 9 | Alondra Cano | DFL | |
| 10 | Lisa Bender | DFL | |
| 11 | John Quincy | DFL | |
| 12 | Andrew Johnson | DFL | |
| 13 | Linea Palmisano | DFL | |
| Partisan composition of Minneapolis City Boards, August 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Member | Partisan affiliation | |
| Board of Estimate and Taxation, At-large |
Carol Becker | DFL | |
| Board of Estimate and Taxation, At-large |
David Wheeler | DFL | |
| Park and Recreation Board, At-large |
John Erwin | DFL | |
| Park and Recreation Board, At-large |
Meg Forney | DFL | |
| Park and Recreation Board, At-large |
M. Annie Young | Green Party | |
| Park and Recreation Board, District 1 |
Liz Wielinski | DFL | |
| Park and Recreation Board, District 2 |
Jon Olson | DFL | |
| Park and Recreation Board, District 3 |
Scott Vreeland | DFL | |
| Park and Recreation Board, District 4 |
Anita Tabb | DFL | |
| Park and Recreation Board, District 5 |
Steffanie Musich | DFL | |
| Park and Recreation Board, District 6 |
Brad Bourn | DFL | |
The DFL was expected to retain strong majorities on the city council and city boards through the 2017 election. Less clear was exactly what its majorities would look like.
Our Revolution Minnesota, a local version of the organization founded to advocate the progressive policies of former presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), endorsed candidates for 12 of the 13 seats on the Minneapolis City Council in 2017 and seven of the nine seats on the park and recreation board. Twelve of the group's endorsees also won the DFL endorsement, and another five helped prevent a DFL incumbent from winning the 60 percent of the convention vote required to secure the party's endorsement. Two park and recreation board incumbents who failed to win the DFL endorsement—District 1 Commissioner Liz Wielinski and District 3 Commissioner Scott Vreeland—subsequently withdrew from their races.[12] Click on the "Endorsements" tab above to read more about the impact of the DFL endorsement in Minneapolis city elections.[25]
Other progressive groups also participated in Minneapolis' city elections in 2017. TakeAction Minnesota circulated a questionnaire asking candidates how they would "co-govern with TakeAction Minnesota's, and other progressive groups', memberships."[2] Neighborhoods Organizing for Change formed a political action committee to back candidates who supported a $15 minimum wage, racial-justice focused protections for the environment, and accountability and alternative-policing approaches to criminal justice.[1] Click "show" on the box below to view the three progressive groups' endorsements.
| Progressive Endorsements, 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Neighborhoods Organizing for Change | Our Revolution Minnesota | TakeAction Minnesota |
| City Council, Ward 1 |
Jillia Pessenda | Jillia Pessenda | Jillia Pessenda |
| City Council, Ward 2 |
- | Cam Gordon (i) | Cam Gordon (i) |
| City Council, Ward 3 |
- | Steve Fletcher | Steve Fletcher |
| City Council, Ward 4 |
- | Phillipe Cunningham & Stephanie Gasca | Stephanie Gasca |
| City Council, Ward 5 |
Jeremiah Ellison | Jeremiah Ellison | Jeremiah Ellison |
| City Council, Ward 6 |
- | Mohamud Noor | Mohamud Noor |
| City Council, Ward 7 |
- | Janne Flisrand | Janne Flisrand |
| City Council, Ward 8 |
- | Andrea Jenkins | Andrea Jenkins |
| City Council, Ward 9 |
Alondra Cano (i) | Alondra Cano (i) | Alondra Cano (i) |
| City Council, Ward 10 |
- | Lisa Bender (i) | Lisa Bender (i) |
| City Council, Ward 11 |
- | Erica Mauter & Jeremy Schroeder | Erica Mauter |
| City Council, Ward 12 |
- | Andrew Johnson (i) | Andrew Johnson (i) |
| City Council, Ward 13 |
- | - | - |
| Park and Recreation Board, At-large |
- | Londel French, Russ Henry & Devin Hogan | Londel French, Russ Henry & Devin Hogan |
| Park and Recreation Board, District 1 |
- | Chris Meyer | - |
| Park and Recreation Board, District 2 |
- | - | - |
| Park and Recreation Board, District 3 |
- | AK Hassan | - |
| Park and Recreation Board, District 4 |
- | Jono Cowgill | - |
| Park and Recreation Board, District 5 |
- | - | - |
| Park and Recreation Board, District 6 |
- | Brad Bourn (i) | - |
The result of the progressive groups' involvement in 2017, according to Ward 11 Councilman John Quincy (D) and media outlets the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Twin Cities Daily Planet, was a markedly progressive candidate pool. Quincy told the state and local politics magazine Governing that many incumbent councilmembers faced challenges in 2017, and they "are definitely coming from the left."[26] The Star Tribune and the Daily Planet noted that wins by the progressive challengers had the potential to fundamentally shift the power in city government from officeholders perceived as moderate to a more progressive base.[1][3]
Ward 1 Councilman Kevin Reich, Ward 6 Councilman Abdi Warsame, and Ward 7 Councilwoman Lisa Goodman turned back challenges from progressive-backed candidates Jillia Pessenda, Mohamud Noor, and Janne Flisrand, respectively. However, progressive endorsees met with success in other races, winning the open seats in Ward 3 and Ward 8 and unseating Ward 4 incumbent Barbara Johnson, Ward 5 incumbent Blong Yang, and Ward 11 incumbent John Quincy. They also held the District 6 seat on the city's park and recreation board and picked up one of the open at-large seats and the District 1, District 3, and District 4 seats.
About the city[edit]
- See also: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota. As of 2010, its population was 382,578.
City government[edit]
- See also: Mayor-council government
The city of Minneapolis uses an uncommon version of a mayor-council government. In Minneapolis, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body while the mayor serves as the city's chief executive. However, the mayor has fewer powers with more limitations than most strong mayor and city council systems.[27]
Demographics[edit]
The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.
| Demographic Data for Minneapolis, Minnesota | ||
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | Minnesota | |
| Population | 382,578 | 5,303,925 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 53 | 79,625 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White | 63.6% | 82.8% |
| Black/African American | 19.2% | 6.4% |
| Asian | 5.9% | 4.8% |
| Native American | 1.4% | 1% |
| Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% |
| Two or more | 4.8% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 9.6% | 5.4% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate | 90% | 93.1% |
| College graduation rate | 50.4% | 36.1% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income | $62,583 | $71,306 |
| Persons below poverty level | 19.1% | 9.7% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2010). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2014-2019). | ||
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Recent news[edit]
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Minneapolis Minnesota election. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also[edit]
| Minneapolis, Minnesota | Minnesota | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links[edit]
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Minneapolis Star Tribune, "In Minneapolis City Council Races, So Far There's Left, and Further Left," January 2, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Minneapolis Star Tribune, "Co-Govern? Make a No-Veto Promise? Minneapolis Candidates Face All Kinds of Questions," May 23, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Twin Cities Daily Planet, "Seven Candidates Could Shift the Balance of Power on the Minneapolis City Council," January 9, 2017
- ↑ City of Minneapolis, "Board of Estimate & Taxation," accessed August 19, 2017
- ↑ Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, "Vision & Values," accessed August 19, 2017
- ↑ Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services, "Ranked-Choice Voting," accessed August 2, 2017
- ↑ Twin Cities Daily Planet, "Seven Candidates Could Shift the Balance of Power on the Minneapolis City Council," January 9, 2017
- ↑ Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, "Endorsed Candidates," accessed August 24, 2017
- ↑ Twin Cities Daily Planet, "Annie Young's Life Story Like a History of the Civil Rights Movement," March 4, 2014
- ↑ Minneapolis Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, "2017 DFL Endorsed Candidates," accessed August 24, 2017
- ↑ Star Tribune, "Elizabeth Glidden won't seek re-election to Minneapolis City Council," December 12, 2016
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 Southwest Journal, "Forney Announces She'll Remain in Park Board Race," August 15, 2017
- ↑ Twin Cities Daily Planet, "DFL Caucuses and Conventions: How They Work," April 14, 2013
- ↑ Facebook, "Minneapolis DFL," accessed May 9, 2017
- ↑ Minneapolis Republicans, "Home," accessed June 27, 2017
- ↑ Twin Cities Daily Planet, "DFL Caucuses and Conventions: How They Work," April 14, 2013
- ↑ MPR News, "DFLers Caucus Tonight in Minneapolis," April 16, 2013
- ↑ Minneapolis Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, "Endorsed Candidates," accessed August 19, 2017
- ↑ Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services, "2009 General Results," accessed August 19, 2017
- ↑ Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services, "2013 Minneapolis Election Results," accessed August 19, 2017
- ↑ Minneapolis DFL, "2017 DFL Endorsed Candidates," accessed November 9, 2017
- ↑ Twin Cities Daily Planet, "Minneapolis Candidates Eschew DFL Endorsement Process and Challenge the Notion of a 'One-Party Town,'" May 1, 2017
- ↑ Minneapolis Star Tribune, "In Minneapolis City Council Races So Far There's Left, and Further Left," January 2, 2017
- ↑ Minnesota Public Radio, "Dennis Schulstad Won't Seek Re-Election," March 24, 1997
- ↑ MinnPost, "What We Learned from the Minneapolis DFL Convention," July 10, 2017
- ↑ Governing, "In Minneapolis, Liberal Isn't Good Enough for the Left," August 2017
- ↑ MinnPost, "With Minneapolis' weak-mayor system, does it really matter who gets elected?" August 29, 2013
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