2023 Bloomington, Minnesota municipal election
November 7, 2023
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The 2023 Bloomington, Minnesota municipal election was held on November 7, 2025. Bloomington's mayor was up for election, as well as all six city council seats. Additionally, voters decided three ballot measures concerning the establishment of a local sales tax to fund infrastructure projects. It was the second election to use ranked-choice voting in the city, and voters ranked up to three candidates per city office. City council Districts I, II, and the at-large special election were up for two-year terms, while the mayoral race, city council at-large, and Districts III and IV were up for four-year terms. [1]
Bloomington's mayor and five city councilmembers were re-elected. In the open District IV race, conservative Victor Rivas was elected, a change from previous unanimously progressive councils.[2]
Mayor
Incumbent mayor Tim Busse is seeking re-election to a second term. Busse has been in office since 2020.[3] In the previous year's election, he garnered 55.74% of the popular vote.
Candidates
Filed
- Tim Busse, incumbent mayor
- David Clark, airline captain and small business owner[4]
Endorsements
Labor unions
Results
| Mayor results | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Round 1 | |
| Votes | % | |
| Tim Busse (incumbent) | 11,859 | 58.11 |
| David Clark | 8,512 | 41.71 |
| Write-ins | 37 | 0.18 |
| Total active votes | 20,408 | 100.00 |
| Source: Bloomington City Clerk's Office[6] | ||
City Council
Due to redistricting and an at-large special election, all six seats on the Bloomington City Council are up for election, including both at-large seats and all four district seats.[7]
At-large
Incumbent Jenna Carter is seeking an additional four-year term.[8]
Candidates
Declared
- Jenna Carter, incumbent councilmember (at-large)
- Bruce Colton
Endorsements
Organizations
Results
| At-large results | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Round 1 | |
| Votes | % | |
| Jenna Carter (incumbent) | 12,173 | 61.65 |
| Bruce Colton | 7,539 | 38.18 |
| Write-ins | 32 | 0.16 |
| Total active votes | 19,744 | 100.00 |
| Source: Bloomington City Clerk's Office[6] | ||
At-large (special election)
Incumbent Chao Moua was appointed to this seat in February 2023, filling a vacancy, and is seeking election. This special election is for a two-year term.[1][8]
Candidates
Declared
- Chao Moua, incumbent councilmember (at-large)
- Jonathan A. Minks
- Maxwell Collins
Endorsements
Organizations
Results
| At-large (special election) results | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Round 1 | Round 2 | |||
| Votes | % | Transfer | Votes | % | |
| Chao Moua (incumbent) | 8,757 | 45.19 | +1,069 | 9,826 | 54.56 |
| Jonathan A. Minks | 7,760 | 40.04 | +424 | 8,184 | 45.44 |
| Maxwell Collins | 2,828 | 14.59 | -2828 | Eliminated | |
| Write-ins | 33 | 0.17 | -33 | Eliminated | |
| Total active votes | 19,378 | 100.00 | -2,861 | 18,010 | 100.00 |
| Source: Bloomington City Clerk's Office[6] | |||||
District I
District I covers the southeast quadrant of Bloomington. Incumbent Dwayne Lowman is seeking re-election.[9]
Candidates
Declared
- Dwayne Lowman, incumbent councilmember (District I)
- Al Noard
Endorsements
Organizations
Results
| District I results | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Round 1 | |
| Votes | % | |
| Dwayne Lowman (incumbent) | 2,713 | 54.83 |
| Al Noard | 2,225 | 44.97 |
| Write-ins | 10 | 0.20 |
| Total active votes | 4,948 | 100.00% |
| Source: Bloomington City Clerk's Office[6] | ||
District II
District II covers the southwest quadrant of Bloomington. Incumbent Shawn Nelson is seeking re-election.[8]
Candidates
Declared
- Paul King
- Shawn Nelson, incumbent councilmember (District II)
Endorsements
Organizations
Results
| District II results | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Round 1 | |
| Votes | % | |
| Shawn Nelson (incumbent) | 3,070 | 55.96 |
| Paul King | 2,405 | 43.84 |
| Write-ins | 11 | 0.20 |
| Total active votes | 5,486 | 100.00 |
| Source: Bloomington City Clerk's Office[6] | ||
District III
District III covers the northwestern quadrant of Bloomington. Incumbent Lona Dallessandro is seeking re-election.[8]
Candidates
Declared
- Lona Dallessandro, incumbent councilmember (District III)
- Mike Hartley
Endorsements
Organizations
Results
| District III results | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Round 1 | |
| Votes | % | |
| Lona Dallessandro (incumbent) | 3,180 | 54.07 |
| Mike Hartley | 2,686 | 45.67 |
| Write-ins | 15 | 0.26 |
| Total active ballots | 5,881 | 100.00 |
| Source: Bloomington City Clerk's Office[6] | ||
District IV
District IV covers the northeastern quadrant of Bloomington. Incumbent Patrick Martin is not seeking re-election.[2]
Candidates
Declared
- Victor Rivas, candidate for this district in 2021[10]
- Luqman Abdi
- Isaak Rooble
Endorsements
Organizations
Results
| District IV results | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Round 1 | |
| Votes | % | |
| Victor Rivas | 1,613 | 52.02 |
| Isaak Rooble | 1,170 | 37.73 |
| Luqman Abdi | 307 | 9.90 |
| Write-ins | 11 | 0.35 |
| Total active votes | 3,101 | 100.00 |
| Source: Bloomington City Clerk's Office[6] | ||
Ballot measures
Three ballot measures were presented on the establishment of a 0.5% local option sales tax to fund three community projects, collectively known as "Bloomington Forward": a new community center, improvements to the Bloomington Ice Garden, and renewal of the Nine Mile Creek corridor and its associated parks.[11]
City Question 1
Sales and Use Tax for Community Health and Wellness Center
Shall the City of Bloomington impose a one-half of one percent (0.5%) sales and use tax for up to 20 years for $100 million plus the cost of interest and of issuing the bonds, to build a new Community Health and Wellness Center?[12]
Results
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 11,575 | 56.18 |
| No | 9,030 | 43.82 |
| Total votes | 20,605 | 100.00 |
| Source: Bloomington City Clerk's Office[6] | ||
City Question 2
Sales and Use Tax for Bloomington Ice Garden Improvements
Shall the City of Bloomington impose a one-half of one percent (0.5%) sales and use tax for up to 20 years for $35 million plus the cost of interest and of issuing the bonds for improvements to the Bloomington Ice Garden (“BIG”)?[12]
Results
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 10,920 | 53.05 |
| No | 9,665 | 46.95 |
| Total votes | 20,585 | 100.00 |
| Source: Bloomington City Clerk's Office[6] | ||
City Question 3
Sales and Use Tax for Nine Mile Creek Corridor Renewal
Shall the City of Bloomington impose a one-half of one percent (0.5%) sales and use tax for up to 20 years for $20 million plus the cost of interest and of issuing the bonds for new construction and restoration of the Nine Mile Creek Corridor, including Moir and Central Parks?[12]
Results
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 10,757 | 52.30 |
| No | 9,812 | 47.70 |
| Total votes | 20,569 | 100.00 |
| Source: Bloomington City Clerk's Office[6] | ||
References
- ^ a b "2023 Election Guide" (PDF). City of Bloomington, MN. September 2023. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
- ^ a b Albertson-Grove, Josie (2023-11-13). "After elections, Bloomington's progressive council gets a check". Minnesota Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
- ^ Klecker, Mara (2019-11-06). "Tim Busse elected Bloomington mayor, city's first new one in 20 years". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ Hanks, Mike (2023-08-25). "Clark announces bid for mayor of Bloomington". Bloomington-Richfield Sun Current. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g "MRLF Votes 2023 Endorsements for Local Races Minneapolis City Council, Bloomington City Council and Mayor, and Anoka-Hennepin School Board Endorsements Approved". Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation. 11 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "2023 Official General Election Results" (PDF). City of Bloomington, MN. November 13, 2023. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "2023 Municipal Candidate Information" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-11-27.
- ^ a b c d "Bloomington Briefing" (PDF). City of Bloomington, MN. January 2024. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
- ^ "City Councilmembers and district maps". City of Bloomington, MN. 2021-03-15. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
- ^ "Election Results Declaration" (PDF). August 2022.
- ^ "Local option sales tax". City of Bloomington, MN. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
- ^ a b c "A RESOLUTION ADOPTING TITLE AND BALLOT LANGUAGE PERTAINING TO A LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX AUTHORIZED BY THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON AT THE GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 7, 2023" (PDF). City of Bloomington, MN. 2023. Retrieved 2025-11-28.