Democratic State Representative Kaohly Vang Her was elected the next mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday night, defeating incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter in a ranked-choice election that concluded after a tabulation of second-choice votes.
Her, who was born in Laos and arrived in the United States as a refugee, has faced renewed scrutiny following past remarks in which she said both she and her parents were living in the country illegally.
🚨 A woman who previously declared she was living in the U.S. illegally won the election to become the next mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota.
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 5, 2025
Democratic State Rep. Kaohly Vang Her emerged victorious, defeating incumbent Democratic Mayor Melvin Carter. pic.twitter.com/c5CABNIVso
Her made the statement during a June 2024 debate in the Minnesota House of Representatives over a bill that extended Medicaid eligibility to illegal migrants.
“I am illegal in this country. My parents are illegal here in this country,” she said during the debate.
“I tell you this story because I want you to think about who it is that you are calling illegal. My family was just smarter in how we illegally came here.”
Democrat Minnesota State Rep. Kaohly Vang Her who ADMITTED to being an ILEGAL ALIEN, was just elected mayor of St. Paul, MN
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 5, 2025
Unreal.
She needs to be deported @DHSgov pic.twitter.com/2gmQANEVg5
The comments immediately drew attention at the time, prompting Her to later clarify her remarks.
Speaking to the Minnesota Reformer after the debate, she claimed that both she and her parents were American citizens and said her earlier statement was meant to “inspire empathy” during the policy discussion.
“Technically, you would say my father broke the law, right? But we would have come anyway,” she told the outlet, explaining that her family had entered the United States through the refugee process after fleeing Laos.
Her’s earlier remarks resurfaced following her victory on Tuesday night, as questions were raised about her eligibility to hold public office if her initial statements were accurate.
Under both federal and state law, individuals who are not U.S. citizens are prohibited from holding elected office.
Her, 43, will officially take office in January 2026.
She will be the first woman and the first member of the Hmong community to serve as mayor of St. Paul, a city of roughly 300,000 residents.
Prior to challenging Carter, she served as a policy advisor within his administration.
In her campaign, Her emphasized housing affordability, public safety reform, and expanding health care access for city residents.
Her campaign also focused on strengthening ties with immigrant and refugee communities in the Twin Cities area.
During the debate in which her controversial statement was made, Her spoke in support of extending public health benefits to individuals living in the U.S. without legal documentation.
Her comments about her own family’s immigration status were cited by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as part of a broader debate on how the state should define eligibility for taxpayer-funded programs.
The Minnesota House ultimately approved the measure that allowed certain illegal migrants to qualify for Medicaid coverage.
Since her election, neither the St. Paul City Council nor state election officials have announced any formal review into Her’s past remarks or immigration status.
The transition period for Her’s incoming administration is expected to begin early next year as the city prepares for a new leadership team to take over in 2026.
