If you’re looking up who is the mayor of Minneapolis Minnesota, you'll find a name that’s been synonymous with the city’s most turbulent and transformative years: Jacob Frey. As of early 2026, Frey is still the guy in the big office at City Hall. He’s currently serving his third term, having recently secured a victory in the November 2025 election.
Honestly, the political landscape in Minneapolis is kinda intense right now. Just a few days ago, on January 14, 2026, Frey was back in the national spotlight, calling for peace after a man was shot by a federal officer in North Minneapolis. He’s been pretty vocal lately, basically demanding that ICE stay out of the city, which has put him at odds with some folks in Washington.
The 2025 Election: How Frey Kept His Seat
A lot of people thought the 2025 race would be the one to finally unseat him. He was facing a serious challenge from State Senator Omar Fateh, who had a lot of momentum with the more progressive wing of the DFL.
Minneapolis uses ranked-choice voting, which makes things a bit of a nail-biter. In the first round, Frey didn’t actually have the majority; he had about 41.7% of the vote. But because of how the system works—where second and third choices get redistributed—he ended up winning with roughly 53% in the final round. It was a close one. Fateh put up a massive fight, but Frey’s "pragmatic progressive" brand seemed to resonate enough with voters who were wary of even more radical changes.
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From Professional Runner to City Hall
Frey isn't actually from Minnesota originally. He grew up in Northern Virginia and was a standout track athlete at the College of William and Mary. He was a professional distance runner—he even represented Team USA in the Pan American Games marathon back in 2007.
He moved to Minneapolis in 2009 after finishing law school at Villanova. He often tells the story of how he fell in love with the city while running the Twin Cities Marathon. He started out as a civil rights and employment attorney before jumping into the political fray (no pun intended) by winning a City Council seat in 2013.
The "Strong Mayor" Shift
One of the biggest changes during his tenure isn't just about him, but about the job itself. Before 2021, Minneapolis had what people called a "weak mayor" system. The City Council held most of the cards.
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That changed after a ballot measure passed. Now, Frey is the first person to operate under a "strong mayor" system. He has direct control over 11 city departments. This was a huge shift because it turned the City Council into a more legislative body, while the mayor became the true chief executive.
Why People Are Still Talking About Him
It’s impossible to talk about Frey without mentioning the 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd. That period defined his first and second terms and continues to shape his third. He’s often stuck in the middle—critics on the left say he hasn't done enough to reform the police, while critics on the right say he’s too soft on crime.
Currently, his biggest headache involves the Department of Homeland Security. In early January 2026, he famously called a DHS claim "bullshit" when they argued a shooting by an ICE agent was self-defense. This has reignited the debate over Minneapolis's "sanctuary" policies.
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What’s Next for Minneapolis?
If you're wondering what the rest of his term looks like, he’s signaled that this third term will be his last. He’s doubling down on a few specific things:
- Nicollet Mall Revitalization: He wants to turn it into a "pedestrian utopia" by getting rid of bus traffic and making it more of a social hub.
- Affordable Housing: His administration claims they’re producing way more deeply affordable housing than previous mayors.
- Climate Legacy Initiative: A push to get the city carbon-neutral by 2050.
Even though he's a veteran at this point, the job doesn't seem to be getting any easier. Whether you love his policies or find them frustrating, Jacob Frey remains the central figure in Minneapolis politics.
If you're looking to get involved or just want to see what the city is up to, you can check the official City of Minneapolis website for public meeting schedules or to see how the "strong mayor" structure is affecting local neighborhoods. Monitoring the City Council’s legislative calendar is also a good way to see where the friction points between the mayor and the council are currently sitting.