Among the biggest races on the ballot in November is the mayor's race in St Paul, and incumbent Melvin Carter is running for a third term .

St. Paul, like most major urban areas, faces difficulties revitalizing its downtown and other neighborhoods in the post-pandemic era.

Carter played a key role in pushing Gov. Tim Walz to call back state workers to in-person work at least half of their work week. That has brought thousands of workers back to downtown St Paul .

The mayor continues to battle the impact of a rent stabilization limit passed in 2021. Housing permits dropped 80% after passage. That limit has been amended twice, including a recent exemption for buildings built after 2004.

"We worked with our city council a couple of months ago to pass an amendment that

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