Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

The DFL has controlled the Minneapolis mayor's office for more than 30 years, but Cam Winton hopes to break that streak.

"I'm not seeking the endorsement of any party, because I want to call it like I see it," said Winton, who 

 tonight. "I want to talk about potholes and police officers and what we can do to make it easier for businesses to start here and grow here."

The 34-year-old attorney argues the city needs to simplify its regulatory bureaucracy, hire more police and spend more on road repair. To help pay for those priorities, he'd divert money earmarked for building new bike lanes and buying expensive software licenses.

Winton contributed $500 to the Republican Party of Minnesota last year, according to reports filed with the 

. But he says his support for same-sex marriage and 

 will help him court the votes of the liberals who dominate city politics.

Democrat Barack Obama captured 80 percent of the Minneapolis vote last year; Republican Mitt Romney got less than 17 percent.

The last non-DFLer to be elected mayor of Minneapolis was independent Charles Stenvig, who served in the 1960s and '70s. The last time Minneapolis elected a Republican mayor was 

The office of mayor is technically non-partisan, but candidates are free to list any party affiliation or political philosophy they like on the ballot as long as it's three words or fewer.

, including "Edgertonite National Party" and "Moderate Progressive Censored." One candidate, named Joey Lombard, simply asserted he "Is Awesome."

No one identified themselves as a Republican, and Winton won't, either. He's going with "Fresh leadership now."

Minnesota News

The Cities Blog

Curtis Gilbert

Author

The DFL has controlled the Minneapolis mayor's office for more than 30 years, but Cam Winton hopes to break that streak.


Republican runs for Minneapolis mayor

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox