MNSider Fluence Brief: Mayor Jacob Frey's Future

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He’s found a national audience about the way Minneapolis responded to ICE, and he is detested by the DSA and Minneapolis far-left city councilors.

Mayor Jacob Frey has led with a raw humanity and passed some of the toughest political tests Minnesota has ever seen.

His challenge, he’s in the middle of a party that isn’t moderating - yet.

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Blois

Blois - bloisolson@gmail.com

BOY MAYOR to BIG STAGE

On November 7, 2017 Mayor Jacob Frey defeated incumbent Mayor Betsy Hodges. On the same night fmr. Mayor Melvin Carter was elected in St. Paul. The “Boy Mayors” launched and each had a rising star. Speculation of who had the highest trajectory was a common question – and when it came to raw political talent – Carter was a clear winner. Carter was more energetic and could deliver a speech. A St. Paul native, compared to east coast outsider-lawyer in Frey – Carter on paper had a higher political season.

Fast forward 8 years and the status of Frey and Carter respectively is an illustration in the volatility of politics, the reality that all politics is local, and Frey is still a Mayor despite major tests, and Carter isn’t a Mayor despite raw talent as the favorite son of St. Paul.

Carter meanwhile was defeated by late entry and underestimated now Mayor Kaohly Her.

Frey, who has said he won’t run for a fourth term was long thought to not have a political path statewide, should now be on high on any short list as a viable statewide DFL candidate.

His run so far has been pretty much been an ultra-marathon of political and personal stamina.