Minneapolis elects a progressive City Council majority

Four out of five endorsed MPLS for the Many Candidates have secured their seats on the City Council


Minneapolis, MN – Tuesday's election results were an unequivocal, resounding mandate for change. The voters of our city were presented with a crystal-clear choice: to cling to an obstructionist status quo approach to governing or to usher in a new era of leadership committed to guiding Minneapolis into a brighter and more inclusive future.

We launched Minneapolis for the Many with a simple yet powerful goal: electing a progressive majority to the City Council in the 2023 municipal election. We believed that the existing leadership was failing to deliver results and the essential services our city deserves, and we were convinced that change was not just an option but an imperative to move our city forward.

Tuesday’s results show that the power for change lies firmly within the hands of the people of Minneapolis. Our city rejected the same old business-as-usual candidates that cling to an era of an inaccessible city with corporate-backed leaders who consistently fall short of their promises. The message was loud and clear - the time for change is now.

“This victory is a significant step toward building a Minneapolis that works for all of us–a city that doesn’t leave behind our working-class or unhoused neighbors, a city that’s committed to building a public safety system truly rooted in safety and not lip service. A City that will prioritize good governance and the provision of essential city services that we all deserve,” said Chelsea McFarren, Chair of Minneapolis for the Many.

Despite being outspent 4-to-1, four of the five candidates we endorsed have won: incumbents Jeremiah Ellison and Aisha Chughtai and new leaders Katie Cashman and Aurin Chowdhury. Our fifth endorsed candidate, Soren Stevenson, came agonizingly close to unseating incumbent and Council President Andrea Jenkins, falling short by just 38 votes.

Solutions to the issues our communities face will require authentic leadership from those who have the courage to chart our path forward — we trust that our new progressive majority will meet this moment. 

However, we’re not done yet. We still have a long way to go towards building the city we deserve, and many important elections are ahead of us. We remain committed to staying engaged, organizing, and diligently working to build a Minneapolis for the many, not just the few.



  • Minneapolis, MN – Today, Minneapolis for the Many launched its campaign to elect a council majority that will put Minneapolis back on a safer, more progressive path. The independent expenditure has already raised six figures in donations in support of the organizing and communications effort, which will support candidates with the vision and determination to humanely address homelessness and public safety challenges, as well as the deterioration of other city services overseen by Mayor Frey and his majority on City Council.

    Minneapolis for the Many accompanied its launch with the public release of polling conducted by Public Policy Polling. The overwhelming majority of voters want a change in Minneapolis’ leadership and a commitment from their elected leaders to take on the issues Mayor Frey and his council majority have abandoned:

    Mayor Frey: Favorable 31%; Unfavorable 48%

    Minneapolis Police Department: Favorable 28%; Unfavorable 55%

    Municipal Sidewalk Plowing: Support 69%; Oppose 19%

    Rent Stabilization: Support 66%; Oppose 23%

    “Housing First” Policy to Replace Encampment Evictions: Support 67%; Oppose 9%

    Has MPD undertaken reforms to prevent another incident like murder of George Floyd? Yes 21%; No 55%

    “From snow removal to public safety, most voters want the same thing: New leadership that’s up to the challenge of getting our city back on a functional, progressive path,” said Chelsea McFarren, Minneapolis for the Many spokesperson. “Minneapolis is ready to move on from Jacob Frey’s city council majority and elect progressive leaders who won’t hide from their constituents or run from our most pressing issues. We’re going to speak directly to the voters about a Minneapolis where everyone feels safe in every neighborhood, where we can all rely on the city to efficiently and equitably provide public goods and services, and where all of us have affordable, secure housing.”

    Over the coming weeks, Minneapolis for the Many will announce its coalition of partners who are ready to serve as a check on the developers, the police union, and other entrenched interests that have held too much sway in City Hall for too long.