Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced Thursday she would not seek reelection in 2026. 

Smith was first elected to the U.S. Senate in a 2018 special election to replace former Sen. Al Franken and won a full six-year term in 2020. Prior to the Senate, Smith worked behind the scenes in several election campaigns and became the Minnesota lieutenant governor in 2014.

Released before her retirement announcement, a KSTP/SurveyUSA poll had Smith at a 47% approval rating and a 28% disapproval rating.

In a video announcing her decision, Smith said her decision not to run was motivated by her desire to spend more time with her family, including her four grandchildren.

“This decision is not political, it’s entirely personal,” Smith said. “But it’s not lost on me that our country is in need of strong progressive leadership right now, maybe more than ever.”

Who is next?

Smith’s retirement decision gives high-profile Minnesota Democrats, whose opportunities for higher office were limited due to the many incumbent Democrats in the state, a chance in Washington D.C.

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said in a post on X that she will run for Senate in 2026.

“I love Minnesota and my intention is to run for U.S. Senate and continue to serve the people of this state,” Flanagan said in her post. “I’ll make a formal announcement later this month. In the meantime, I’m talking with community and family and friends.”

If elected, Flanagan would become the fifth Indigenous person and first Indigenous woman in the U.S. Senate. The only other Indigenous members of Congress are Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.).

Flanagan is not the only notable Minnesota Democrat considering a run. Gov. Tim Walz is considering running according to a person close to the governor, Politico reported.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is not ruling out a run either, a spokesperson told Politico.

“Congresswoman Omar will be talking with Minnesotans about the future of the Senate seat and DFL party in Minnesota,” a spokesperson said to Politico.

Other notable Democrats who could be top contenders for Smith’s old job if they ran include Attorney General Keith Ellison, Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) or newly elected Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.)

On the other side of the political aisle, Republican Royce White said he would run again for Senate shortly after he lost to Sen. Amy Klobuchar by nearly 16 points. The anti-establishment candidate posted on X reaffirming his intention to run alongside a photo with the new U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The University of Minnesota is among five colleges under investigation by Donald Trump’s Department of Education over allegations of antisemitism, according to the Education Department’s Monday press release.

The University and the four other colleges — Northwestern University, Columbia University, Portland State University and University of California, Berkeley — are facing Title IX investigations from the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights. The investigations stem from allegations that these colleges have tolerated antisemitism on their campuses since Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. 

“Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses,” Craig Trainor, the agency’s acting assistant secretary for civil rights, said in the statement.

The order also calls for an investigation into all antisemitism complaints, both pending and resolved, since Oct. 7, 2023. 

The office has not released why they decided on these five colleges. 

The University of Minnesota has seen several pro-Palestine Protests since Oct. 2023. These protests include one where several members of UMN Students for a Democratic Society were arrested after they barricaded themselves inside Morrill Hall.

This is not the first time Trump has taken aim at antisemitism on college campuses. On Wednesday, Trump promised to prosecute antisemitic students and revoke the visas of international students who were “Hamas sympathizers.”

Trump’s Department of Education has already made substantial changes to higher education in his first few weeks in office. Among the notable changes was ordering public institutions like the University of Minnesota to roll back their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs.

The University stands by its handling of antisemitism on campus and is actively reviewing the details of the investigation, according to a University statement sent to the Minnesota Daily.

“We are confident in our approach to combating hate and bias on our campus and will fully cooperate with this investigation. The University continues to stand firmly against antisemitism,” the University statement said. “We have and will continue to respond promptly and fully to any reports of harassment, intimidation, or bias against Jewish students — or any other members of our University community — in accordance with our University values, our own policies, and our responsibility under the law.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

The University of Minnesota will comply with federal court orders when it comes to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests, a University spokesperson said.

“Immigration laws are complex, and the ways in which the federal government enforces them varies. Given that, how the University responds would depend on the specifics of each situation,” University spokesperson Jake Ricker said in an email statement. “While the University does not have responsibility or an active role in federal officials enforcing federal law or court processes, as a public university and employer, we cannot ignore federal court orders or subpoenas.”

The University of Minnesota Police Department will not be involved in enforcing ICE operations and the University does not provide data unless ICE officials have a federal court subpoena or warrant, University Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations Gregg Goldman said in an email sent to University students.

The University does not disclose or track students’ immigration status, Ricker said in an email.

Under former President Joe Biden’s administration, ICE officers avoided carrying out enforcement orders in “sensitive areas” such as churches and schools. However, President Donald Trump rescinded that order on Jan. 21.

“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense,” a Jan. 21 Department of Homeland Security statement said.

While the Trump administration has empowered ICE officers to enter places like colleges, it does not necessarily mean they will. ICE officers are instructed to use their best judgment when it comes to where and when to arrest someone suspected of being in the country illegally, according to new ICE guidelines.

The Trump administration is aiming for at least 75 arrests per day for each ICE field office, including the one in St. Paul.

The University’s ability to fight a federal court subpoena or warrant is limited as there is an extent to which places do have to comply, Wilson Law Group immigration attorney Katherine Santamaria said.

“These so-called sensitive areas have been kind of off-limits for ICE. Typically, what they would do is wait outside school parking lots or outside hospitals,” Santamaria said. “Now, they’ve been giving broader authority to be able to enter these locations.”

However, Minneapolis officials have announced that they will not be cooperating with ICE.

“In Minneapolis, we have what is called a separation ordinance. And that separation ordinance states clearly that our city officials, police officers and beyond will not be gathering information showing who is or isn’t documented,” Mayor Jacob Frey said at a Tuesday press conference. “As for cooperation with ICE, the answer is no.”

Santamaria said students should get their Minnesota driver’s license so that they always have a valid form of identification on them. For students arrested by ICE officers, they should remain silent and contact an attorney.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

A tense legislative session has become more so as a death, forced resignation, burglary trial, threats of a temporary boycott and more are leading to major questions about party control in 2025.

Former state Sen. Kari Dziedzic (DFL-Minneapolis), who represented much of the University of Minnesota area, died Dec. 27 of ovarian cancer at 62 years old. Gov. Tim Walz scheduled a special election for Jan. 28 to replace the former DFL leader and primary elections for the seat on Tuesday.

Over a dozen candidates initially filed to run for the seat, but some withdrawals left the total number of candidates running at 10 — eight DFL and two Republican candidates.

Among the DFL candidates, former DFL Chair for the Senate District 60 Doron Clark, LGBTQ+ advocacy group Gender Justice Political Advocacy Director Monica Meyer and Legislative Director for the Sierra Club’s North Star Chapter Peter Wagenius earned the most major endorsements.

City Council President Elliott Payne (Ward 1) and Minneapolis mayoral candidate Emily Koski endorsed Clark, Rep. Ilhan Omar and Council Member Robin Wonsley (Ward 2) endorsed Meyer, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and state Rep. Katie Jones (DFL-Minneapolis) endorsed Wagenius.

While the DFL is heavily favored to win the Minneapolis Senate seat, Republicans Christopher Robin Zimmerman and Abigail Wolters are running as well.

The primary election begins Tuesday, Jan 14 with early voting starting Thursday, Jan 9. The general election starts Jan. 28 and early voting begins Jan. 22.

Republican sues to delay election to replace Dziedzic’s old seat

While candidates to replace Dziedzic in the state Senate are in the midst of their campaigns, the Republican Party of Minnesota filed a lawsuit alleging Walz violated election laws.

According to Republican officials, the earliest the special election can take place is 22 days after the legislative session begins, which would be Feb. 5, based on state law. 

“Gov. Walz did not follow the election law when he issued a writ on Dec. 27,” Minnesota Republican Party attorney Ryan Wilson said in a Monday press conference. “This lawsuit is being brought to ensure that the rule of law is being followed, that our election laws are followed and that we have a fair election in compliance with duly passed election laws by the Legislature.”

Republicans are asking the Minnesota Supreme Court to step in and delay the special election, according to the lawsuit filed.

In response, Walz said state law requires special elections to begin as soon as possible and that “Republicans are trying to use the courts to prevent democratic legislators from being seated,” according to reporting by KSTP.

DFL representation in the legislature falls, Republicans push for advantage

Following the November elections, the DFL had a 34-33 split in the state Senate and a 67-67 split in the state House. Going into the legislative session, the DFL and Republican parties discussed a power-sharing agreement.

However, Dziedzic’s death and a successful residency challenge to one DFL House member leaves the Legislature temporarily at a tie in the Senate and a one-seat Republican House majority. Additionally, the outcome of a burglary trial against DFL senator Nicole Mitchell could be another blow to the DFL’s legislative influence. 

While the DFL would be heavily favored in all three special elections, Republicans want to use the brief advantage to elect a House speaker and strategically control committees. Given how GOP control will in all likelihood be short-lived and a power-sharing agreement was already in the works, Democrats are opposed to this Republican effort.

“If there is no power-sharing agreement, we will not be here,” said DFL House Leader Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) at a Monday news conference.

To prevent this, House Democrats say they may no-show Tuesday at the start of the legislative session without a power-sharing agreement to prevent Republicans from controlling the speakership and key committees. Depending on what the Minnesota Secretary of State decides is a “quorum,” this would prevent Republicans from voting on anything.

“It completely begs the question of whether or not a true power-sharing was going to work when we see that Democrats are refusing to potentially even come in to work,” said Republican House Leader Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) at a Monday press conference.

Council Member Emily Koski (Ward 11) joined a crowded mayoral race Wednesday as she announced her campaign to unseat incumbent Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

Koski, a two-term council member, said in a press conference that Frey had divided the city and repeatedly failed to work with the Minneapolis City Council.

“Minneapolis is and always has been my home,” Koski said in a press conference. “We’re up against efforts to drive wedges between us and pit us against one another, and we need a strong, unifying leader to move us forward.”

Koski, once seen as one of Frey’s more consistent supporters on the city council, has become more critical of the mayor. She said Frey’s “inability” to work with the Minneapolis City Council, Hennepin County, state and federal government as well as advocacy groups was costing the city.

“His focus on creating conflict, turning every issue, every problem, into us versus them; building division, not solutions; and his failure to lead us through our toughest challenges,” Koski said in the press conference. “We can and we must do better.”

In a statement, Frey’s spokesperson Sam Schulenberg accused Koski of changing her beliefs since she was first elected.

“Over the last two years on the Minneapolis City Council, Emily Koski has changed her position on everything from paying police officers more to regulating Uber and Lyft,” Schulenberg said in the statement. “Minneapolis voters deserve a clear vision and Mayor Frey will continue to outline his. In the meantime, we look forward to seeing what the Council Member stands for in this election cycle.”

Koski is one of four other people who are challenging Frey in the 2025 election — State Sen. Omar Fateh, Rev. DeWayne Davis and former council member race contender Brenda Short (Ward 9) are the others.

While Frey has not officially announced his reelection bid, he said on a radio podcast that he would seek his third term.

State Sen. Omar Fateh kicked off his mayoral campaign Monday at city hall where he attacked Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s tenure.

Fateh said under Frey, it has become “harder to build our lives” and accused the current mayor of being a part of the failing status quo.

“Minneapolis residents are working hard for the city that they love, and they deserve a mayor that works as hard as they do,” Omar said. 

Fateh has represented the Phillips and Powderhorn neighborhoods in the state senate since 2020. At the event Monday, Fateh highlighted his work that guaranteed free college tuition for students whose families had a yearly income of $80,000 or less and secured around $19 million in public safety funding for Minneapolis.

If elected, Fateh promised a progressive tenure.

“As mayor, I’ll work with the progressive city council to achieve real wins for our neighbors and uplift those who are struggling to get by,” Fateh said.

Frey, first elected as mayor in 2017, said in a press release that Fateh is too radical for Minneapolis and would undo progress made under Frey.

“Mayor Frey’s responsible leadership has helped the city recover while making critical progress toward rebuilding the police department, leading the nation in affordable housing, and supporting workers and local businesses,” Frey said in the press release. “Senator Fateh, a Democratic Socialists of America member who supports removing the police department from the city charter, would jeopardize that progress by rubber-stamping the most extreme voices on the City Council.”

Fateh joins a crowded mayoral race as Rev. DeWayne Davis and former City Council Member Brenda Short (Ward 9) have already announced their campaigns.

City Council Member Emily Koski (Ward 11) said she is interested in a mayoral race and is expected to officially announce her run at a campaign event on Wednesday.

While Frey has not officially announced his campaign, he said on a radio podcast that he would seek a third term.

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), the first Gen Z member of Congress, campaigned at the University of Minnesota Tuesday to support the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz presidential campaign.

The congressman spoke to classrooms, drove students to the polls, visited Coffman Memorial Hall, and held a tabling and chalking event on the Washington Avenue Bridge.

Throughout the day, Frost and his team encouraged students to vote at the Weisman Art Museum’s early voting event, which took place from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

“We’re out here promoting Harris-Walz and Democrats up and down the ticket,” Frost said. “We’re not taking (student) votes for granted.”

Frost said University students were engaging with the tabling event and enthusiastic about voting.

“This is amazing weather. Really good energy here and a lot of the students are really interacting with the organizers as they’re asking them to vote which is really cool,” Frost said.

Prior to being elected, Frost was an organizer with the American Civil Liberties Union and a national organizing director for the gun control group March for Our Lives.

Frost became the youngest member of Congress when he was elected in 2022 to represent Florida’s 10th Congressional District which encompasses Orlando.

While typically aligned with progressives in the Democratic Party compared to the more moderate Harris, Frost said he’s worked with Harris before and that her antitrust and pro-labor positions speak for themselves.

“When it comes down to this election between Donald Trump and Harris, I’m with Harris. It’s a super binary choice,” Frost said.

Harris ran the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which was created with an executive order but based on a bill written by Frost.

When voting, Frost said students should be “selfish” by considering what their most important issues are. For him, that issue is housing.

“Vice President Harris is the first presidential candidate to really lead with a housing platform,” Frost said.

The day’s events

Frost and a team of about 15 volunteers were planted near the Washington Avenue Bridge from 9 to 11 a.m. in sight of the early voting event at the Weisman Art Museum. They asked passing students to vote early over at the Weisman.

The group also chalked the words “Vote Harris Walz” and “Go Vote” onto the ground.

“I think students are excited. It is 10 a.m., so they’ll be on the come up soon,” University of Minnesota Democrats club Vice President Lexi Cornolo said.

At 11:15 a.m., Frost shared his journey and experience in Congress with a U.S. Campaigns and Elections class in Anderson Hall.

While campaigning, Frost said he took a major financial risk running for Congress. Had he lost his election, he said he would be in financial ruin.

This heavy financial burden of running for office, Frost said, disincentivizes many young people from seeking political office, which is why people in Congress tend to be far older.

“You don’t get paid to run for Congress. I got priced out of my apartment and I was homeless for two months. I drove Uber every night for about a year to pay my bills and live off credit cards,” Frost said to the class. “It’s just too damn impossible to run for office.”

After being elected, he recalled people telling him that he could either be loud and stand up for what he believes in or be quiet and effective. Frost said that idea is “BS” and a “false binary choice.”

Afterward, the congressman headed to Coffman and met with local state House Rep. Mohamud Noor, who is also up for reelection.

The pair went to the second floor of Coffman and spoke to Mi Gente, Feminist Student Activist Collective, Queer Student Cultural Center, Black Student Union and more, advising students to make an early voting plan.

Once Noor and Frost had spoken with everyone on the second floor, they went downstairs and again implored the around 50 students waiting in line for the Nutritious U Food Pantry to vote early.

Frost’s day in Minnesota ended with a “knock and drag” event where he knocked on doors and offered to drive people to the polls.

Frost already held an event in Ohio the day prior, and he plans to visit the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina in the next five days.

Minnesota’s 2024 primary election ended Tuesday night with many of the expected winners taking home the victory.

Primary elections for the 5th District, U.S. Senate and State Legislature were all on the ballot in 2024.

Rep. Ilhan Omar wins again

After defeating challenger Don Samuels by only two percentage points or around 2,000 votes in 2022, incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar had a much easier time against Samuels this time around.

Omar took home 56.2% of the vote while Samuels earned 42.9% of the vote.

In a speech after her victory was announced, Omar attacked Samuels’ campaign for focusing on hateful messaging.

“This campaign has been one of the ugliest, most disgusting campaigns against me that I have ever witnessed,” Omar said. “I hope they reflect on the shameful way they decided to divide our district and the incredible people we are grateful to represent.”

Primary elections for members of the progress “squad” have faced tough primary reflections in 2024. Jamal Bowman in New York and Cori Bush in Missouri both lost their primary elections to more moderate challengers.

In his concession speech, Samuels said he was happy with the campaign he ran and called it a privilege to run for Congressional office.

“Even tonight, on this tragic loss, I have a deep sense of gratitude to have been afforded the privilege to have participated in the American democratic process in an effort to make our union more perfect, to make our district more well served, to hear the voice of the unheard, to amplify the voices of the muted, to go to places where people feel neglected and let them know they are seen and heard,” Samuels said. “It is a privilege that I cannot put a value on.”

Samuels said he still “had the energy” to run for public office again.

Lesser-known candidates like Nate Schluter and Abena McKenzie earned 0.5% and 0.4% of the vote, respectively.

Given the heavily Democratic-leaning district Omar represents, Omar is all but guaranteed to win in November when she faces off against Republican challenger Dalia Al-Aqidi. This area of Minnesota last elected a Republican to Congress in 1960.

Royce White officially the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate.

After earning the Republican Party endorsement, Royce White won the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

White received 38.5% of the vote while his main Republican challenger Joe Trista earned 29.3% of the vote. Other candidates like Raymond Petersen and Alycia Gruenhagen earned 8.3% and 7.7% respectively.

In his acceptance speech, White promised he would not “sell out” his ideals.

“We face an enemy that intends to bastardize our citizenship through an idea called globalism. We must begin to understand how the global affects the local and take a stand for God, family and country,” White said. “I have fought against the corporate community responsible for this globalist agenda. Send me to Washington so I can continue that fight on the Senate floor in the swamp.”

White is a former professional basketball player and boxer. White previously ran as a Republican to challenge Omar in 2022 but lost.

White will be facing off against incumbent Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar for the November election. Sabato’s Crystal Ball, an election forecaster, lists the race as “safe Democratic.”

Other results

Primary elections for the Minnesota State House and State Senate around the University of Minnesota were fairly uncompetitive with most incumbent candidates in Minneapolis running uncontested.

Incumbents Rep. Jay Xiong of St. Paul and Rep. Samantha Vang of Brooklyn Park both ran unopposed.

The DFL race to represent the downtown Minneapolis district of 61A was among the closer races on the ballot. 

Will Stancil, a University researcher, was not able to translate his Twitter fame into a primary election victory. Katie Jones has worked on climate and transit policies in the District and Isabel Rolfes was a policy aide for a former Minnesota State House majority leader.

Jones won the election with 43.2%, Stancil got second with 36.4% of the vote and Rolfes earned 20.4% of the vote. 

Only 50 votes separated the DFL candidates in the primary election for 38A in Brooklyn Park.

Huldah Hiltsley narrowly won with 51.3% of the vote and Wynfred Russel earned 48.7% of the vote.

For the Minneapolis School Board, incumbent School Board Vice Chair Kim Ellison will face preschool tutor Shayla Owodunni.

All election results can be found here.

Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate on Tuesday.

Lt. Gov Peggy Flannagan will become the governor and President of the State Senate Sen. Bobby Joe Champion will become the Lieutenant Governor if Walz is elected or steps down as part of the race.

Harris said that Walz’s drive to fight for those he represents motivated her to select him for the job.

“One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle-class families run deep,” Harris said in an Instagram post announcing her decision. “We are going to build a great partnership. We are going to build a great team. We are going to win this election.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Walz was an excellent choice for vice president because he would be a difference maker that would energize the voter base.

“I can’t wait for the rest of the country to get to know @Tim_Walz,” Frey said on X. “Cheers to the ticket that’s going to energize people across the nation.”

Walz, who is in the middle of his second term as Minnesota governor, also served as a congressional representative for the 1st district and as a public school teacher.

Minnesota Republican Rep. Tom Emmer for the 5th District, who was nearly the House speaker before former President Donald Trump opposed him, said in a post on X that Walz’s selection was unsurprising and criticized the Minnesota governor.

“He embodies the same disastrous economic, open-borders and soft-on-crime policies Harris has inflicted on our country the last four years,” Emmer said on X. “Walz is an empty suit who has worked to turn Minnesota into Harris’ home state of California, and solidifies this ticket’s full embrace of a radical, America-last agenda.”

Walz beat out other potential vice presidential hopefuls like Pennslyvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.

Flannagan would be the first female Native American governor in U.S. history.

If elected, Walz would become the third Minnesotan to become vice president behind Walter Mondale and Hubert Humphrey.

Walz and Harris will face off against former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance in the November election.

Editor’s Note: Information on Flannagan potentially taking over for Walz has been updated for clarity.

Two years after voters approved a ballot question to allow the Minneapolis City Council to build rent control policies and with no rent control policy in sight, the Nov. 7 election will decide the future of rent control in Minneapolis.

The council’s latest rent stabilization effort was cut short in June after a vote to craft a new policy was held while three Muslim rent control supporters on the council were away observing Eid al-Adha. The policy, recommended by a workgroup composed of renters, advocates and realtors, would have banned annual rent increases of more than 3% with exemptions for maintenance improvements.

The policy’s death may have been inevitable since Mayor Jacob Frey vowed to veto it if passed over fears it would negatively impact affordable housing. However, supporters argue the vote was Islamophobic and eliminated any opportunity for compromise or public input.

C Terrence Anderson, director of community-based research at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA), said as the housing crisis worsens more renters are pushing the council to support rent control.

“Tenants are interested in rent control because of more or less the condition of housing and the price of housing,” Anderson said. “Rents are rising faster than their income.”

The median cost of apartments for new renters in Minneapolis was more than $1,700 in May 2022, according to a report from Redfin, a national real estate analysis company.

Rent control advocates said rent control is needed to curb rising housing prices, according to Anderson. Opponents said rent control will lead to fewer real estate developments in Minneapolis which will ultimately hurt renters.

Daniel Suitor, a HOME Line housing attorney providing legal help for renters and a member of the city’s workgroup, said in the two years since the ballot question, Frey and the council have not allowed the public to debate or contribute to rent control.

Suitor said for rent control to pass, it will either require a weaker policy or more rent control supporters on the council.

“Any kind of rent stabilization policy is going to have to learn how to count to nine to get a veto-proof majority,” Suitor said. “I don’t think the mayor will approve any rent stabilization policy. I just don’t believe it.”

The number of rent control supporters on the Council will determine the strength of a rent control policy or if a policy is even made at all, according to Suitor. With nine supporters, there would be enough votes to override a potential Frey veto.

Suitor added if the initial rent control effort passed, councilmembers would have debated and compromised on a policy that could have been sent to voters for approval.

Ed Goetz, director of CURA, said in a majority-renter city, many voters will vote for a candidate based on the candidate’s rent control beliefs.

“Most of the voters are renters,” Goetz said. “A candidate’s position on rent stabilization is going to be very important.”

Of the 13 wards up for election, 11 of them have candidates who stand on both sides of the argument.

While there is no rent control ballot question this upcoming election, Suitor said the makeup of the next council will decide the future of rent control in Minneapolis.

“If the council elections go the right way, there will definitely be an option to get some rent stabilization policy on the ballot,” Suitor said.

Renter and University student Kyle Berg said the council needs to create a policy to strengthen renter protections.

“I’m absolutely hoping the council moves forward with a rent control ordinance of some kind,” Berg said. “It’s absurd when landlords are able to raise a rent that some tenants aren’t even able to pay.”

Suitor said as renters struggle to make payments, it is important the council brings rent control to voters, even if the policy is not as strong as he would like.

“Getting something is better than nothing,” Suitor said.