“Illegal in this country” wins mayor’s race

A Minnesota state legislator who openly declared “I am illegal in this country” on the House floor has just been elected mayor of St. Paul.

Story Snapshot

Kaohly Vang Her wins St. Paul mayoral race despite admitting family’s illegal entry and forged documents
Historic upset victory over two-term incumbent Melvin Carter in Minnesota’s capital city
Her becomes first woman and first Asian American mayor of St. Paul
Candidate promises to shield immigrant communities from federal immigration enforcement

Controversial Admission Sparks National Attention

Kaohly Vang Her made headlines in June 2025 when she stood on the Minnesota House floor and declared, “I am illegal in this country.” During the legislative session, Her revealed that her father allegedly forged documents during their family’s immigration process. This unprecedented public admission by a sitting state legislator drew national scrutiny and raised questions about transparency versus accountability in immigration matters.

Historic Victory Over Established Incumbent

Despite the controversy surrounding her immigration comments, Her secured a stunning upset victory against two-term incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter in November 2025. Her campaign successfully built coalitions across ethnic communities and secured crucial endorsements, including support from Firefighters Local 21. The victory represents a significant shift in St. Paul’s political landscape, with Her becoming the first woman and first Asian American to hold the city’s top office.

Watch: Kaohly Her wins St. Paul mayoral race

Immigration Status Clarification Raises More Questions

Following her election victory, Her attempted to clarify her earlier statements by asserting that her family came to the United States legally as refugees from Laos after the Vietnam War. However, she did not deny her father’s alleged document forgery during the immigration process. This clarification highlights the complex nature of refugee resettlement while raising concerns about the integrity of immigration documentation and the potential precedent set by her electoral success.

Woman Who Straight Up Claimed to Be Illegal Wins Mayoral Election in Major City https://t.co/jUDHpN4838

— Tom Souther (@TomSouther1) November 6, 2025

Policy Priorities Signal Progressive Agenda

Her has outlined an ambitious policy agenda that includes increasing city revenue without burdening residents, expanding business opportunities, implementing public safety reforms, and promoting diverse housing initiatives. Most notably, she has vowed to protect immigrant communities from federal immigration enforcement actions, directly challenging the Trump administration’s immigration priorities. This stance positions St. Paul as a potential sanctuary city, creating tension between local and federal immigration enforcement efforts.

Her’s election victory represents a concerning trend where candidates can openly admit to immigration violations and still achieve political success. This undermines the rule of law and sends a dangerous message about accountability in American politics. The fact that Her’s family allegedly used forged documents during their immigration process, regardless of their current legal status, raises serious questions about the vetting process for political candidates and the message this sends to law-abiding immigrants who followed proper procedures.