Rep. Kaohly Vang Her beat her former boss, incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter, after the ranked choice votes were tabulated Tuesday night.

The voters in Minnesota’s capital city have spoken. In a historic win, Kaohly Her will become the first woman and Hmong American mayor for the City of St. Paul.

It's been a whirlwind for St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Her since she defeated two-term incumbent Melvin Carter in an upset on Tuesday night, setting the stage for her to make history as the first woman and Hmong American to lead the capital city.

Carter won 66% of the city’s precincts and was the top vote-getter with 41% of the vote, but still lost the race after ballot reallocation.

Getting people pumped up has always been one of Melvin Carter’s strengths. Almost 30 years ago, the Star Tribune covered a teenage Carter delivering a speech on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “Carter’s greatest ability might be the way he tells stories,

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter is being challenged by Rep. Kaohly Her for his seat. Minnesotans across the state will choose local leaders who will make consequential decisions about property taxes and how to spend the people’s money, as well as important policies affecting schools, parks, local roads and police.