Emily Koski Explained

Emily Koski
Term Start:January 3, 2022
Relatives:Albert Hofstede (father)
Birth Place:Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Birth Name:Emily Hofstede
Office:Member of the Minneapolis City Council from the 11th Ward
Predecessor:Jeremy Schroeder
Constituency:Ward 11
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Mike
Children:2
Education:University of Saint Thomas

Emily Hofstede Koski is an American businesswoman and politician from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Koski has served on the Minneapolis City Council, representing the 11th Ward in South Minneapolis, since 2022, and is running for mayor of Minneapolis in 2025.

Personal life

Koski was born in Minneapolis to Albert Hofstede, then the mayor of Minneapolis, and Barbara Hofstede. Her mother passed away of breast cancer when Koski was eight years old; her father remarried, and her stepmother adopted her.[1] Her father served as mayor for two terms, from 1974 to 1975 and from 1978 to 1979. Her aunt, Diane Hofstede, was a city council member from 2005 to 2013.[2]

Political career

Emily Koski began her political career with a run for Minneapolis City Council in 2021. During her 2021 campaign, she opposed rent control and proposals to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a Department of Public Safety, positioning herself as a moderate in alignment with incumbent mayor Jacob Frey.[3] She was elected in the first round of ranked choice voting, defeating incumbent Jeremy Schroeder, who ran in favor of the Department of Public Safety.[4] [5] In her first term, Koski largely voted with the moderate majority alongside then-council president Andrea Jenkins and vice president Linea Palmisano.[6] She voted with the majority against a pause on homeless encampment evictions in 2022.[7]

Koski was re-elected in 2023 with 88.36% of the first-round vote against Socialist Workers Party candidate Gabrielle Prosser. In her second term as a council member, Koski opposed some of Frey's moderate positions on matters including police bonuses, relocation of the third police precinct, and redevelopment of the former Roof Depot site in the East Phillips neighborhood. [8] In March of 2024, she changed her vote on an ordinance establishing minimum wage for rideshare drivers, overriding Frey's veto.[9] In October 2024, Koski's letter criticizing the delayed MPD response to the shooting of a Minneapolis resident by his neighbor again broke with Frey and gained media attention.[10] Koski is the sitting vice-chair of the Budget Committee and of the Climate and Infrastructure Committee.[11]

On December 4, 2024, Koski announced her candidacy for mayor in the 2025 mayoral election.[12] [13]

Electoral history

| colspan="5" |Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[14]

| colspan="5" |Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services[15]

Notes and References

  1. News: Mulrooney Eldred . Sheila . Honoring two moms . Savannah Morning News . 4 December 2024 . June 16, 2007.
  2. News: Kolls . Jay . 2 newly-elected Minneapolis City Council members have family roots at City Hall . 4 December 2024 . KSTP News . November 23, 2021.
  3. Web site: December 4, 2024. 'The eyes of the country will be on Minneapolis' Political analyst predicts significant shift in city council after election. 2024-12-03. KARE news . en-US.
  4. Web site: What the Ward 11 results will tell us about the future of Minneapolis . Axios Twin Cities. 2021-10-13. December 3, 2024.
  5. News: 2021-11-03. Two Minneapolis City Council incumbents defeated in election defined by debate over policing, public safety. December 3, 2024. MinnPost. en-US.
  6. News: Stokes . Kyle . Who votes with whom on the Minneapolis City Council? As election season heats up, a look at the current balance of power . 4 December 2024 . MinnPost . May 2, 2023.
  7. News: Birnstengel . Grace . Minneapolis City Council declines pausing homeless encampment evictions . 4 December 2024 . . October 20, 2022.
  8. News: Haltzer . Nick . Emily Koski breaks from Mayor Jacob Frey as one of his top city council allies . 4 December 2024 . Axios Twin Cities.
  9. News: Galvan . Alfonzo . In major victory for rideshare drivers, Minneapolis Council overrides mayor’s veto on minimum pay . 4 December 2024 . . March 14, 2024.
  10. News: Godfrey . Courtney . Minneapolis PD chief pledges full review of neighbor shooting . 4 December 2024 . Fox 9 KMSP . October 29, 2024.
  11. Web site: Minneapolis . City of . City Council organizes for new term . City of Minneapolis . 2024-01-08 . 2024-12-04.
  12. News: Nace . Aki . Minneapolis City Councilmember Emily Koski announces mayoral run . 4 December 2024 . WCCO News . December 4, 2024.
  13. News: Winter . Deena . Minneapolis City Council Member Emily Koski announces mayoral run . 4 December 2024 . . December 4, 2024.
  14. Web site: Minneapolis . City of . 2021 Minneapolis City Council election results - Ward 11 . City of Minneapolis . 2022-11-15 . 2024-12-03.
  15. Web site: December 4, 2024 . Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services . 2023 Minneapolis City Council election results.