Minnesota Report
It’s not often that we’re caught off guard by political chatter, but lately, the growing sentiment against St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter III has been surprising—even for us.
What’s striking isn’t just the frustration itself, but how widespread and bipartisan it seems to be. With the mayoral filing period opening next week, names are beginning to surface as potential challengers. One of the most talked-about is political newcomer Yan Chen, a bold voice with fresh ideas. She’s already launched a campaign website here and has been in conversations across the city.
We’re curious if she’s savvy enough to advertise with Checks & Balances, especially considering our long history of shaping St. Paul politics. It’s worth noting—we played a significant role in helping Melvin Carter III secure the DFL endorsement when he first ran for Ward One City Council. It was our publication of the now-notorious Gun Letter that arguably propelled him to victory in the mayoral race. Yet despite this clear advantage, none of Carter’s campaigns ever chose to advertise with us. Go figure.
The more unexpected development came from a respected source who reached out to say: “There’s real support building against Melvin Carter.” We were skeptical, so we started making calls.
Over the course of three hours, we contacted several St. Paul property owners, asking a simple question: In the eight years of Carter’s tenure as mayor, can you name one thing he’s done that directly benefited you?
Of the seven who responded, not a single person could identify a meaningful action the mayor had taken to improve their lives. One media professional—we won’t name names—mentioned that Carter eliminated library fees. Others cited free access to swimming pools and youth employment programs. While commendable on the surface, both initiatives represent budget reductions, not bold leadership.
We pressed further: St. Paul now has the highest sales tax in Minnesota. Crime is rising, or at the very least, the public perception of safety is declining. What are you getting in return for your tax dollars?
Again, silence.
The conclusion? Confidence in Mayor Carter is eroding, and the word most frequently used to describe his leadership was “incompetent.” One person even drew a comparison to J.D. Vance—someone who was elevated to high office without the merit or experience to justify it.
Perhaps that’s why Carter’s former rival, Pat Harris, still won’t return our calls.