Kaohly Vang Her became St. Paul’s first female and first Asian mayor, winning a close race via ranked-choice voting.

Minnesota state Representative Kaohly Vang Her won the St. Paul mayoral race in a close contest decided by ranked-choice voting, defeating incumbent Melvin Carter. Her victory makes her the city’s first female and first Asian mayor. She previously disclosed that her family entered the U.S. using falsified immigration documents during the aftermath of the Secret War in Laos, claiming she was "illegal" due to her father’s use of false familial ties to qualify for refugee status. Despite the controversy, she became a U.S. citizen and emphasized her background as a refugee in her campaign, focusing on housing, public safety, and immigrant rights. The win reflects broader Democratic gains in urban areas and ongoing national debates over immigration and civic participation.