Minneapolis Mayoral Election Results Are In

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Jacob Frey has been elected mayor of Minneapolis, defeating incumbent Betsy Hodges. Frey, 36, had the lead in first-choice votes Tuesday night, but officials did not declare him the winner until Wednesday afternoon when second and third-choice votes were tallied.

“Serving as Mayor of Minneapolis is the greatest honor of my life," Hodges said in a statement after the results were announced. "Thank you to my world-class supporters, volunteers, staff, friends, family, and the coalition of progressive organizations and leaders without whom I would not have had this incredible privilege. You have all been stronger, wiser, more talented, and more committed than I could have ever hoped for. And thank you, my beloved Minneapolis, from the bottom of my heart."

Police shootings, racial justice, and affordable housing were the dominant themes of the election, which took place less than four months after the city made global headlines when a police officer fatally shot 40-year-old Australian woman Justine Damond.

During the campaign, Frey pushed for affordable housing, solutions for homelessness, public safety, police reform, improved public transit and climate change. He will take office in 2018.

Frey grew up in Oakton, Virginia and attended the College of William & Mary on a track scholarship, graduating in 2004. He received a law degree from Villanova University. He moved to Minneapolis in 2008 to begin his law career at Faegre & Benson (now Faegre Baker Daniels) and then Halunen Law.

Frey later took his experience as a civil rights attorney to the Minneapolis City Council, defeating incumbent Diane Hofstede in 2013.

Related: Jacob Frey, Oakton Native, Wins Minneapolis Mayor Election

Image: Patch