Melvin Carter Projected To Win St. Paul Mayoral Race
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Incumbent St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter is projected to hold his position for another four years after earning about 62% of the first-choice votes.
With all precincts reporting as of Wednesday morning, the closest runners-up in first-choice votes were Dino Guerin with 13% and Paul Langenfeld with 9%.
Carter made history when he became the state capitol's first Black mayor in 2017.
MORE: Full 2021 Election Results
In his first term, the Democrat raised St. Paul's minimum wage to $15 an hour and established the People's Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot, a program which gives 150 struggling families $500 a month for 18 months. He also helped launch CollegeBound St. Paul, which gives every child born in the city a $50 college savings account.
However, he also faced a heated debate over the city's garbage collection and concerns about gun violence.
RELATED: WCCO's Full 2021 Election Coverage
Carter was endorsed by Gov. Tim Walz. He faced challenges from seven candidates: Miki Frost, Dino Guerin, Bill Hosko, Dora Jones-Robinson, Paul Langenfeld, Abu Nayeem, and Scott Evans Wergin.