After being sworn in Friday as St. Paul’s first female and Hmong mayor, Kaohly Vang Her pledged to fight for residents as the city faces significant challenges, from the Trump administration to high property taxes and costs of living.
Speakers and community members called the day “historic” and “extraordinary.” Her, 52, nodded to the moment, saying that while she may be the first, she won’t be the last to shatter glass ceilings in the city.
Her said she plans to focus on economic prosperity by helping businesses downtown and in other corridors. She also wants to rebuild and maintain public assets, like the Grand Casino Arena, home to the Minnesota Wild NHL team.
She also emphasized supporting immigrants, and said she’ll work with City Council members to establish ordinances to limit federal immigrant agents’s access, such as banning them from organizing in public parks and spaces. Immigration agents stepped up enforcement in the Twin Cities last month, arresting Somali, Hmong and Latino immigrants.
Breaking down communication barriers between police and community members during federal actions is also key, she said, potentially referring to a November immigration incident that drew criticism to the police department.
“One thing we know about this [presidential] administration is that they won’t play by the rules, but it is important we stand up for our neighbors and set those rules first,” Her said.
Hundreds of guests packed The O’Shaughnessy auditorium at St. Catherine University for Her’s inauguration. They cheered after she took the oath on her family Bible, flanked by her husband, two children and father.
“Across our city, young women, my Hmong family and refugee and immigrant communities will know that no office is too high for them to dream of or reach,” she said in her inaugural address. “I may be the first in some of these categories, but I will not be the last.”
Her was born in Laos, and immigrated to the United States as a young child after spending time in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her family lived in Wisconsin before moving to North St. Paul.
Community members at the ceremony emphasized the importance of having a mayor who reflects the diverse city. The Twin Cities metro is home to the largest concentration of Hmong people in the country.
“It feels good to see someone who looks like me, who looks like us, who looks like our future,” Her’s friend, Kaying Thao, told Sahan Journal.
Va Xiong said Her’s victory shows the progress Hmong people have made since they first arrived in the United States 50 years ago.
“It’s a step forward; it’s history being made,” he said.
Her defeated incumbent Melvin Carter in November; she announced her campaign just three months before Election Day. Her candidacy threw a curveball in what had been a relatively slow mayoral race as Carter sought a third term. Her’s campaign attributed its success to field work such as door knocking and phone banking.
Her said she was inspired to run for mayor after her friend and colleague, Representative Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark were assassinated last year at their Brooklyn Park home. Her wiped away tears during her speech as she spoke of Hortman.
“Melissa made us better representatives by expecting us to fight for our seats and the right to represent our constituents,” she said.
Her said during her inauguration address that she promises to “always show up” for residents and help the city get “back to the basics” of functioning well.
“Getting our government back to doing the basics right may not be flashy, but it is important for every facet of our city, from renters to business owners to visitors to homeowners,” she said.
Her said a central symbol during her campaign was a Hmong baby carrier made of cloth that is used to wrap a baby to someone’s front or back, specifically one her grandmother stitched.
“Just as the women in our culture carried us, I want to honor and carry our city through these times,” she said.
Her has previously said she wants to focus on “core city functions,” such as ensuring that residents have access to basic needs like food, health care and affordable housing. She also wants to prioritize safe streets.
Her previously represented St. Paul in District 64A in the Legislature, which includes Macalester-Groveland, Cathedral Hill, Lexington-Hamline and Merriam Park in the Minnesota House. She got her start in politics by working as Carter’s policy director during his first term.
Speakers at Friday’s ceremony commended her work ethic and track record as a lawmaker, which they said prepared her for mayor.
“She walks into rooms not built for her, because she knows that it matters,” said Bo Thao-Urabe, a social entrepreneur and friend of Her’s. “When something aligns with her values, she moves forward with confidence.”
Due to St. Paul switching to even-year elections, Her will serve a three-year term.
