Election 2023: St. Paul Council candidates

Four out of seven seats on the St. Paul council will be open this November on the 2023 ballot. Of the seven wards, only three have incumbent members running for re-election — this means the city of St. Paul is looking at some potentially major shifts in political dynamics on the council. 

City council members approve the city’s budget and consider ordinances as well as resolutions to issues that impact the lives of residents.

Here is a closer look at the races in St. Paul.  

Ward 1 (Frogtown, Summit-University, North End, Union Park):

Omar Syed

Suz Woehrle

Anika Bowie

James Lo

Yan Chen

Travis Helkamp

Lucky ‘Tiger Jack’ Rosenbloom

Jeff Zeitler

Russel Balenger was the seat holder — not running in the upcoming election

Watch the Ward 1 forum here:

Ward 2 (West 7th Street, the West Side, Summit Hill, Payne-Phalen, Lowertown, downtown):

Rebecca Noecker, incumbent

Noval Noir

Peter K. Butler

Bill Hosko

Watch the Ward 2 forum here:

Ward 3 (Highland Park and Macalester-Groveland):

Saura Jost

Isaac Russell

Troy Barksdale

Patty Hartmann

Chris Tolbert was the seat holder — not running in the upcoming election

Watch the Ward 3 forum here:

Ward 4 (Hamline-Midway, Saint Anthony Park, Union Park, parts of Mac-Groveland and Como):

Mitra Jalali, incumbent

Robert Bushard

Watch the Ward 4 forum here:

Ward 5 (North-Central St. Paul – Como, North End, Payne-Phalen):

Hwa Jeong Kim

Pam Tollefson

David Greenwood-Sanchez

Nate Nins

Amy Brendmoen (former Council President) was the seat holder — not running in the upcoming election 

Watch the Ward 5 forum here:

Ward 6 (East Side ward – Payne-Phalen):

Nelsie Yang, incumbent

Gary B. Unger

Watch the Ward 6 forum here:

Ward 7 (East Side ward – Dayton's Bluff and Battle Creek):

Pa Der Vang

Cheniqua Johnson

Alex Bourne

Kartumu King

Dino Guerin

Foua-Choua Khang

Jane Prince was the seat holder — not running in the upcoming election

Watch the Ward 7 forum here:

• School board member Virnig wins DFL primary for Minnesota House seat
• ‘My voice matters’: Felons vote at polls for first time after voting rights restored
• Minnesota school board election results