Councilwoman Betsy Hodges elected mayor of Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Betsy Hodges, a Democratic member of the Minneapolis City Council, has been elected as the mayor of Minnesota's largest city.

Hodges emerged as the winner Thursday night. She received the most votes of the 35 candidates but fell shy of an outright majority.

Minneapolis uses ranked-choice voting, which lets people make up to three choices of candidates on their ballots.

The 44-year-old Hodges has served on the council since 2006. She has chaired its influential budget committee since 2010, where she has been an ally of Mayor R.T. Rybak. She did split from Rybak by voting against city funding for the Minnesota Vikings stadium.

Rybak decided against seeking a fourth term. While he praised Hodges and several other candidates, Rybak stayed neutral.

Political Coverage Powered by You

Your gift today creates a more connected Minnesota. MPR News is your trusted resource for election coverage, reporting and breaking news. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.