The Minneapolis City Council members are the 13 elected legislators who represent the city’s 13 wards, pass local ordinances, approve the annual budget, and oversee city departments under Minneapolis’s Executive Mayor–Legislative Council system.1City of Minneapolis. Minneapolis City Charter The current council began four-year terms in January 2026 after the November 2025 election, which returned nine incumbents and brought in four new members.
The 13 Council Members for 2026–2029
Each council member represents one geographic ward. The full roster for the 2026–2029 term:2City of Minneapolis. City Council Members
- Ward 1 – Elliott Payne. Northeast and Southeast neighborhoods including Audubon Park, Columbia Park, and Windom Park.3City of Minneapolis. Ward 1 – Elliott Payne
- Ward 2 – Robin Wonsley. University of Minnesota campus area, Prospect Park, and Seward.
- Ward 3 – Michael Rainville. North Loop, Downtown East, and Nicollet Island.
- Ward 4 – LaTrisha Vetaw. North Minneapolis, including Folwell, Webber-Camden, and Victory.
- Ward 5 – Pearll Warren. Near North neighborhoods. Warren is new to the council, replacing Jeremiah Ellison.
- Ward 6 – Jamal Osman. Phillips, Cedar-Riverside, and surrounding areas.
- Ward 7 – Elizabeth Shaffer. Downtown West, Loring Park, and Bryn Mawr. Shaffer replaced Katie Cashman.
- Ward 8 – Soren Stevenson. South Minneapolis including Bryant and Kingfield. Stevenson replaced Andrea Jenkins.
- Ward 9 – Jason Chavez. Central, Corcoran, and East Phillips.
- Ward 10 – Aisha Chughtai. Whittier, Lowry Hill East, and East Isles.
- Ward 11 – Jamison Whiting. South Minneapolis neighborhoods including Hale, Page, and Tangletown. Whiting replaced Emily Koski.
- Ward 12 – Aurin Chowdhury. Longfellow, Hiawatha, and Keewaydin.
- Ward 13 – Linea Palmisano. Linden Hills, Armatage, and Lynnhurst.
The council elects a President and Vice President from among its own members at the start of each term. The president presides over meetings, controls the agenda, and assigns members to committees; the vice president fills in when needed.4City of Minneapolis. Council Leadership
Finding Your Council Member
If you are not sure which ward you live in, the city maintains a lookup tool that returns your ward number and your council member’s direct contact information when you enter your address.5City of Minneapolis. Find My Ward Each member’s page on the city website lists an email address, phone number, and a ward newsletter covering local projects and upcoming votes. Ward boundaries are redrawn after each decennial census, so neighborhoods near the lines sometimes shift between wards.
What Council Members Do
The city charter grants the council “general legislative, policymaking authority, and oversight,” and lets it act on the city’s behalf in any matter not reserved to the mayor or another body.1City of Minneapolis. Minneapolis City Charter In practice, the work falls into a few areas:
- Budget. The council reviews and adopts the city’s annual budget, deciding how tax revenue is divided among departments like police, fire, public works, and parks. The Budget Committee leads the review before the full council votes.6City of Minneapolis. Budget Committee
- Ordinances. Local laws covering business licensing, noise, rental housing standards, and much else originate with the council.
- Zoning and land use. The council controls how property can be developed and used, including rezoning requests and specific development proposals.
- Licensing and franchises. The council grants business licenses, limited to one-year terms, and regulates franchises including liquor licenses with specific zoning restrictions.
The council also provides a check on the mayor. Members confirm certain mayoral appointments to boards and commissions.7City of Minneapolis. The Appointment Process If the mayor vetoes a council action, nine of the 13 members can override that veto. The council did exactly that on a budget veto in late 2024.
Where the Work Happens: Standing Committees
Most legislation moves through one of six standing committees before reaching the full council:8City of Minneapolis. Council Committees
- Budget Committee
- Business, Housing and Zoning Committee
- Climate and Infrastructure Committee
- Committee of the Whole
- Enterprise and Labor Relations Committee
- Public Health, Safety and Equity Committee
The Council President assigns members to committees at the start of each term. The Committee of the Whole functions more as a briefing forum for citywide topics than as a working committee that shapes legislation.
Salary and Benefits
Council members in Minneapolis are full-time legislators. Their annual salary is approximately $110,000, placing them among the higher-paid city council members in the country. They receive health insurance through Medica with a choice of six provider networks, and the city pays 100% of dental premiums through Delta Dental for members and their dependents.9City of Minneapolis. Great Benefits
Members participate in the Public Employees Retirement Association pension, with both the member and the city contributing a percentage of pay. They can also contribute to a deferred compensation plan through the Minnesota State Retirement System on a pretax or after-tax basis.
How Council Members Are Elected
Minneapolis holds council elections every four years in odd-numbered years. The most recent election was November 2025; the next is in 2029.10City of Minneapolis. 2025 Election Results The 2021 and 2023 elections produced shortened two-year terms because redistricting after the 2020 census put every ward back on the ballot. The 2025 cycle restored the regular four-year schedule. There are no term limits.
All municipal races use ranked-choice voting, so voters rank up to three candidates in order of preference.11City of Minneapolis. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) If no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, the last-place candidate is eliminated and their voters’ ballots transfer to those voters’ second choices. The process repeats until someone reaches a majority. There is no separate primary for council races.
Attending a Meeting or Weighing In
Full council and committee meetings are held at City Hall and broadcast live on the city’s website. The official online calendar lists dates, times, and agendas.12City of Minneapolis. Meetings When a meeting includes a public hearing, you can sign up to speak on the third floor of City Hall near Room 392.13City of Minneapolis. Participate in a Meeting For issues that affect your block or neighborhood specifically, contacting your ward’s council member directly is often the faster route than waiting for a public comment slot.