We are at a critical time in the history of our city and the planet. We must take bold action now to build the city we all need and deserve—a city that works for all of us, whether we are Black, brown, Asian, white, Indigenous or immigrant.

Hello, Minneapolis Neighbor!

My name is Kate Knuth. And I’m running for mayor because I want to build a path forward with you to a better, just future for Minneapolis.

I am running for mayor of Minneapolis because I feel a strong sense of urgency at a time when this city isn’t working for so many of us. And I believe that right now, together, we can and must build the city—and the city government—we all need and deserve.

We are facing an unprecedented moment in our city: the murder of George Floyd by police; the uprisings and ongoing civil unrest; the COVID-19 pandemic and economic instability; deep racial disparities; and the increasingly obvious impacts of climate change.

Yet in these challenges are opportunities to co-lead in a vision for our collective future, together.

Through my work as a Minnesota state legislator, appointed city and state official, transformation scholar, and climate policy strategist and advocate, I know first-hand what good government looks like. I know when we work together we can build strong government systems and services that support people, our planet, and a healthy, multiracial democracy.

This critical time in our city is a call to action we can’t ignore.

I know we are up to this task. And I look forward to building a better Minneapolis alongside of you.

Together:

We can build a city that is safe for everyone - in which everyone can live their lives with safety, dignity, economic security, and in a place and neighborhood to call home.

We can build a city with a strong, multiracial democracy - in which everyone has the power and autonomy to shape their individual lives and our collective lives together.

We can build a city of opportunity - in which we have thriving small businesses, a great workforce, usable transportation choices, youth-development options, and targeted wealth-building.

We can build a city that takes climate change seriously - in which we respond with purpose and intention to quickly reduce emissions and build resilience in environmentally just systems.

+ Here’s what I believe:

Every person in Minneapolis deserves to feel safe in their home, and in our city regardless of race, gender, sexuality, income, zip code, or level of ability.
We must develop a new and better public safety system that values the life and safety of all people.
We must dismantle systems of white supremacy that perpetuate harm towards Black, brown, and Indigenous people, immigrant and LGBTQ communities, and women.
Minneapolis should be at the forefront of climate action.
We must promote environmental justice and health by investing in communities that bear disproportionate impacts of pollution and toxins.
We can advance a truly multiracial democracy in which every person lives with dignity and can act with power in public life.
Housing is a human right. The city has a responsibility to ensure that every person has a safe, decent, and affordable place to live.
We must build economic prosperity and workers’ rights for all so every person in our city has the opportunity to thrive.
Our streets should make it safe and comfortable for everyone to get around, no matter how they choose to do so.
The effects of the pandemic and recession have hit historically marginalized communities the hardest. We must rebuild equitably.

+ The courage to lead—together.

The work of building a better Minneapolis for all of us takes all of us.

We know our city is facing deep challenges—civil unrest, deep racial disparities, COVID-19, economic and housing instability, and impacts of climate change.

Yet it is in these moments that we have also shown our great courage as Minneapolitans, the courage to step up and lead together, and the courage to reimagine the Minneapolis we want and deserve to be.

It’s this kind of courage that helps us continue to dig deep to imagine a better, safer city for everyone —Black, brown, Asian, immigrant, Indigenous, white, young, old, wealthier, or those dealing with financial insecurity. The kind of courage that helps us work towards healing and transformation. And the kind of courage that calls on us to commit to building stronger, better systems rooted in racial, economic, and environmental justice for everyone.

Using smart policies to change and build better systems is at the core of my work: As a Minnesota state legislator, I chief-authored and led the Green Solutions Act on climate change and led nation-leading policy on toxic chemical regulation called the Toxic Free Kids Act.

As a state- and city-appointed official and university leader, I’ve collaborated across government silos and with community members and subject experts to make real progress on complex challenges. Complex challenges like building a society with truly equitable educational and wealth-building opportunities; community and public safety not just for some, but for all; and resilience in the face of climate change impacts and disasters.

I am running for mayor because I feel a deep sense of responsibility to step up right now for Minneapolis —my city and my daughter’s hometown. I feel a responsibility to bring my tested leadership and collaborative approach to the work we need to do together in Minneapolis.

I am running because I know so much is possible for our city—and for each other—when we work together to solve problems and build systems that work for all of us.

As the world watches us move through the deeply painful year we’ve experienced as a city, we have the opportunity to show what it looks like to turn toward the city each of us deserves now and in future generations.

+ As we begin this campaign, I commit to you the following:

I will work hard every day to show up with my best.
I will communicate about what we are building as a city in many contexts and in many ways. I will add to this work the value of transparency as an essential way to make government more responsive and to build the trust in government that matters so much for making real progress.
I know that we have significant healing and work to do together, and it will get messy. I will take responsibility when I screw up. I will continue to show up, even when it gets uncomfortable. I commit to learning, prioritizing strong relationships, and getting better. I hope you will help me do this.
I will actively reach out to hear different perspectives on our city, its challenges, and our path forward. I will surround myself with people who will help me do this. We will work to build new processes and reimagine old ones in order to make sure the full diversity of our city is represented in powerful ways in city government.
I will seek out both the expertise of lived experience in our community and of research to find answers and solutions that have the best chance of really working.
I will strive to proceed with the joy and love that make life great. We are, in the end, building something wonderful – our city – together.

I ask for your support and partnership.

Onward,