Melvin Carter
Minnesota Democratic Governor nominee?
$482.5K
AUG 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer Mayor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age47 years old (Jan 8, 1979)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationMinnesota
BackgroundPolitician
EducationSaint Paul Central High School
Notable personal detailsMelvin Whitfield Carter III is an American politician who served as the mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota from January 2018 to January 2026, after previously serving on the Saint Paul City Council (Ward 1). He has also held state-level executive roles focused on early learning and children’s initiatives in Minnesota. He is a graduate of Saint Paul Central High School, earned an undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University, and earned a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports raising local taxes (property tax levy increases) to fund city services, housing and public safety investments while opposing some narrowly designed tax measures he views as insufficient or poorly scoped. Has proposed multi-year property tax levy increases and budgets that prioritize expanded spending on housing, public safety, and targeted programs funded in part by higher local levies.
Healthcare
As Mayor of Saint Paul, Melvin Carter has supported actions to increase access to healthcare and reduce financial barriers to care, including a city Medical Debt Reset Initiative that uses public funds to purchase and erase residents’ medical debt. He has framed medical-debt relief as improving community health and partnered with nonprofit organizations and health systems to implement relief programs. Endorsements from health worker groups highlight his focus on equitable public-health solutions rather than market-based rollbacks of coverage.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Supports protections for immigrants and refugees, including city programs that assist naturalization and legal defense, and opposes local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Has led St. Paul to maintain a sanctuary-style stance and join legal actions defending the city’s ability to serve residents regardless of immigration status.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports abortion access and opposed the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade; he participated with Democratic leaders at a Planned Parenthood clinic visit to highlight protecting reproductive health care. His public appearances and statements align with protecting access to reproductive health services in Minnesota.
Climate & Energy
As mayor of Saint Paul Melvin Carter has led adoption of an official Climate Action & Resilience Plan with targets to cut emissions roughly in half by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and has advanced municipal clean-energy initiatives including an electric vehicle fleet, geothermal projects, and building energy-efficiency programs. His administration has pursued clean-energy investments and partnerships to expand renewables and reduce building and transportation emissions.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports strong gun violence prevention measures including bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, universal background checks, red-flag laws, and local ordinances restricting firearms in sensitive public spaces; also advocates safe storage requirements and using city authority to act when state preemption is lifted. Positions reflect a public-health approach to reducing gun violence and support for empowering cities to adopt stricter local rules.
News
Melvin Carter is in the news as Minnesota heads into a crowded 2026 election season, with early voting opening for the primary and several major races drawing attention. The reporting does not give a specific new development about Carter himself, but it places him in the broader field of competitive Minnesota contests. Recent coverage has focused more on the state’s Senate and governor races and the debate over immigration raids than on any confirmed move by Carter.
From fraud allegations to federal force, Minnesota faces widening crisis
ICE raids reshaped Minnesota politics. Now they’re driving a Senate race.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar announces Minnesota governor campaign
Minnesota Gov. Walz says he won't run for public office again
Endorsements
Endorsers of Melvin Carter for Minnesota Democratic Governor nominee?
SEIU Minnesota State Council
Elected official
SEIU Minnesota State Council endorsed Melvin Carter for re-election as St. Paul mayor.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising