Melvin Carter is the first African American mayor in the city St. Paul, Minnesota, after he won the race and received 59.89 percent of the vote. Carter is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party, just like his predecessor Chris Coleman. Carter carried several prominent endorsements into the election, among which Coleman and Democratic National Committee vice chair Keith Ellison, The Hill reports.
“With you by my side, I’m ready to get to work,” Carter told his supporters.
Carter’s platform was focused on issues like police reform, affordable pre-kindergarten education and expanding public transportation. He is not the only one who surprised everyone.
The city of Hoboken, New Jersey, now has the first Sikh mayor in the history of the state. His name is Ravi Bhalla. Bhalla received the endorsement of outgoing mayor Dawn Zimmer, even though he faced many challenges.
“Thank you for having faith in me, for having faith in our community, faith in our state, and faith in our country; this is what America is all about. We’ve been through a bruising campaign…but now is the time we come together and see who we can work with to bring this city forward,” he told supporters.
Meanwhile, Democrat Vi Lyles became the first female African American mayor of the city of Charlotte, North Carolina after she won 58 percent of the votes.
“With this opportunity you’ve given me, you’ve proven that we are a city of opportunity and inclusiveness. You’ve proven that a woman whose father didn’t graduate from high school can become this city’s first female African-American mayor,” Lyles said in a speech.
Lyles’s platform included economic and social justice in Charlotte, including improving the relationship between Charlotte’s police department and citizens and increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
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