On Monday morning, Minneapolis City Council Member Emily Koski announced she was dropping out of the Minneapolis mayoral race. Koski, who officially declared her candidacy last December, pointed to stressful fundraising, a toxic political environment, and finding a work-life balance as reasons for stepping away from the election.
In a statement, the Ward 11 Council Member said, her decision “comes after deep reflection on the challenges of running an authentic, community-focused campaign within Minneapolis’ current political climate.” Koski added, “But I’ve come to a hard truth: under the current political climate, I can’t be my authentic self and be a candidate in this race the way it demands.”
A local businesswoman and the daughter of two-term Minneapolis Mayor Albert Hofstede, Koski has served as a Council Member since 2021. Her ward includes Diamond Lake, Keewaydin, Hale and Tangletown, amongst other neighborhoods.
Koski is currently the vice chair of both the council’s Climate & Infrastructure Committee and its Budget Committee. Koski may have ended her mayoral bid but the ballot remains full of candidates.
DeWayne Davis, minister of Plymouth Congregational Church, Howard Dotson, a chaplain and counselor, Omar Fateh, the first Somali American to serve in the Minnesota Senate, Jazz Hampton, co-creator of the company TurnSgnl, and Brenda Short, a community advocate, are all still in the running against incumbent Jacob Frey.