Incumbent Jacob Frey was elected for a third term as the mayor of Minneapolis on Nov. 4, beating fellow Democrat Senator Omar Fateh. During his campaign, Frey prioritized a variety of policies, mostly building off of initiatives from his previous terms. He is slated to begin his third lap as Minneapolis mayor in the first week of January and has shared the following plans.
Affordable housing is a top priority for Frey, who invested $400 million to minimize homelessness and create housing over his past two terms.
In his next term, he plans to increase funding to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, one of the methods by which the city builds and maintains affordable rentals. Through this program, priority goes to those making less than 30% of the median income in their area, and it is open to those who make less than 50% of the median income.
Additionally, Frey plans to continue 4d affordable housing, which allows a tax break and funding resources for property owners who promise to keep a portion of their controlled housing both affordable and green-energy run.
Another issue Frey aims to solve is the relationship between the public and police, which saw major damage after the death of George Floyd. A Minnesota Star Tribune study found that two out of three voters view the police force unfavorably.
In response, Frey plans to expand the response of the Behavioral Crisis Team originally established in 2021. The team is made up of unarmed mental health professionals who aim to resolve conflict through de-escalation techniques and provide culturally-responsive support.
Frey anticipates hiring new professionals, investing in materials, and developing a new support center to open in 2026, all of which are aimed at fixing the relationship between police and the public.
Frey also plans to increase economic inclusion in his third term. One way he promises to achieve this is through the Downtown Action Plan developed in partnership with local businesses. Frey plans to develop Nicollet Avenue, which experienced widespread looting and destruction during the 2021 George Floyd riots, affecting the area economically and culturally. The Downtown Action Plan aims to invest in renovating the warehouse district into entertainment-based businesses, hoping to revitalize the area.
In addition to the warehouse district transformation, Frey’s administration plans to subsidize rent for storefronts across downtown with a focus on revitalizing the cultural experience of the city and Upper Harbor Redevelopment, where plans include the development of a 20-acre park, new areas zoned for businesses to provide job opportunities for local communities, and biking and walking areas.
Previous attempts to redevelop the Upper Harbor area of Minneapolis with malls and storage orbs have fallen through. Instead, historic PFA pollution from the 3M company has contributed to water and wildlife degradation. Although the practice has stopped, it has continued to harm aquatic ecosystems.
The Frey administration plans to restore the presence of ethnic neighborhoods in Minneapolis by continuing to invest in the Cultural Districts it established in 2020. These include 38th Street South, Cedar Avenue South, and Central Avenue, which have connections to Black, Somali, and Eastern European immigrants, respectively.
One of Frey’s biggest plans is to help limit the city’s waste, which has grown to almost 3.3 million tons per year, resulting in overfilled landfills by 30%. Frey plans to increase recycling ordinances for major businesses in the metro, which in the past has decreased levels of waste and lowered CO2 emissions for the city.
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on Dec. 18, 2025
