by Hayley Feland
Multiple Minneapolis City Council candidates declined to seek the endorsement of the Star Tribune Editorial Board this election, accusing the board of siding with “MAGA Republicans.”
“The Star Tribune should consider whether it’s worth keeping the editorial board, whose work undermines the credibility of the paper,” incumbent Ward 9 Council Member Jason Chavez (pictured above, left) wrote in a statement about why he did not seek the endorsement.
Other incumbents who did not seek the endorsement include Jeremiah Ellison (Ward 5), Elliott Payne (Ward 1) (pictured above, right), and Democratic Socialists Robin Wonsley (Ward 2) and Aisha Chughtai (Ward 10).
“Time and time again, the Editorial Board has sided with powerful and monied interests and against issues that matter to my Ward. I cannot in good conscience seek an endorsement from an organization that is working against my residents and my own fundamental values,” Chavez said.
Statement on not seeking the Star Tribune Editorial Board’s Endorsement.
I am proud to represent the most racially diverse Ward in the City of Minneapolis. I can always count on the residents of Ward 9 to stand up for what’s right. 1/ pic.twitter.com/Gfsq87sQIU
— Jason Chavez (@JChavezMpls) October 27, 2023
Both Chavez and Payne took issue with the board’s alleged enthusiasm for “MAGA Republicans” and their decision to not endorse Attorney General Keith Ellison in 2018 or 2022, even though he was running against “hateful Republican candidates.”
“The Star Tribune Editorial Board has become the type of political actor that manufactures conflict when they cannot locate a political narrative that would entice them,” Council Member Ellison, the attorney general’s son, wrote in a statement.
Wonsley said that the Star Tribune didn’t contact her about the endorsement process, which could be due to the fact that she’s running unopposed. She applauded her colleagues for not seeking the endorsement.
“Time after time, in the most consequential elections of our lifetime, the Star Tribune Editorial Board has shown they don’t share Minneapolis residents’ values and instead will side with MAGA Republicans,” Payne said. “Their clear bias undermines the credibility of the whole paper and many of the good reporters who work there.”
My statement on why I’m not seeking the Star Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsement.
If you want to learn more about my candidacy, I encourage you to check out the non partisan voter guides I’ve participated in (including the Star Tribune’s) or check out my website below. pic.twitter.com/YptrYCFN7x
— Elliott Payne (@ElliottForWard1) October 23, 2023
Payne said he doesn’t trust the editorial board to provide an unbiased opinion about the candidates because of its past endorsements of Republican Reps. Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber.
Chugtai said in her statement that she doesn’t want the endorsement of people who “want unhoused residents treated with cruelty, lose it when we say MPD does racist things, & want poor people displaced from our city.”
All 13 Minneapolis City Council seats are up for election Nov. 7.
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Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
