Minnesota Report
Yesterday, we learned State Representative Kaohly Her (DFL-64A, St Paul) is committed to file for mayor of the Capitol City when the filing opens on April 29th. She is a four-term legislator, Hmong woman, who had the fortune to be in the right place at the right time in 2018, when Rep Erin Murphy (DFL-64A, St Paul) received the DFL endorsement and began her unsuccessful bid for Governor, falling to Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN01).
In this instance, Her’s bid is a direct affront to the incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter III (DFL-St Paul) and politically, they share the left lane. If the two of them carve up this path, and as we speculate the political landscape, in even a community like St Paul, is changing. Now, because her job is listed as a a Saint Paul, Minnesota (Policy Director), we are unclear as to what this entails but there are references to her working in this capacity directly for Carter. Its clear something must have transpired between the two if she seeks to challenge her old boss.
We also see her campaign slogan being as simple as Vote for Her.
As we understand, the pending field now includes Yan Chen (DFL-St Paul), a pragmatic, and fiscally-responsible Democrat, University of Minnesota Biophysics researcher, a landlord in residential housing and Chinese immigrant, and Mike Hilborn, a businessman and self-declared Independent, who ran as a Republican for the state House in 2024. We have heard other potential names, but at this time, these are the only people making moves.
The question over the impact of Ranked Choice Voting, and its cummulative effect, as the votes are reallocated, will provide an interesting spate of tabulations. A simplistic view of the field is Carter v Three (Her, Chen, and Hilborn) and this could set the stage for a novel approach to the system and something we abhor, the idea of collusion campaigning.
If there is a more moderate, or even conservative sentiment occurring, it might be a reflection of Donald J Trump’s (R) influence, but not likely, it probably is a result of the negative perception extending from the alt-left agenda of entities like the Democratic Socialists, and the challenges emanating from transgender inclusion in girl’s and women’s sports. These realities are some of the challenges facing a party overly focused on social issues rather than pocketbook issues.
We have learned of analysis by the DFL Party, which has growing concerns of significant loses in its base in the Twin Cities. They have numbers reflecting this, showing a 40% loss in Minneapolis in the DFL voting base and 30% in St Paul. If these two candidates carve up the left side of the formula, it leaves room for other candidacies.
Now, one issue of which we have been exposed is the ludicrous idea of putting an elevated bicycle path on both sides of Summit Avenue. One major feature being the destruction of over 900 boulevard trees and a redevelopment of the cities, sewer and water system. This coupled with a property tax increase of 25% on the homes on Summit to pay for the project. It’s clear, this is an idea needs to go back to the drawing board and get another look and analysis, especially, since the proposal lacks any reflection of the changes in none automobile transportation. The increased use of electric bicycles and scooters—which as transportation vehicles, should not be allowed on bicycle paths—is something worth serious consideration.
The state of affairs in St Paul is dismal. It downtown is a wasteland, businesses a fleeing. The loss of the Lunds/Beyerlys downtown is a direct example of the decay caused by shoplifting, lack of law enforcement, and unmitigated urban decay caused by the rampant drug use of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine. Additionally, the Midway Cub Foods is set to close due to theft of shopping carts, and shoplifting. Anyone pushing a shopping cart off of the cite to which it belongs, is a perpetrator and warrants a citation. If the pockets of homelessness and the gatherings of the drug crowd are not squelched it will be hard to reclaim the streets of St Paul from the users over then needs of the productive members of society.
We call for Zero Tolerance for any public drug use, and even believe allowance of smoking Marijuana should be curtailed to designated areas outside of one’s home. No more walking down the street with a blunt. Drinking and eating cannabis products are fine, but no more public smoking.