Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks at a city event as he campaigns for a third term, highlighting his focus on housing, safety and climate goal (Photo: Pinterest)
Jacob Frey is once again in the spotlight as Minneapolis heads toward the 2025 mayoral election. Early polling places him narrowly ahead of his challengers, signaling a tight race that could define his legacy.
If re-elected, Frey will serve his third and final term as mayor with a tenure that has been marked by both steady governance and intense public scrutiny. The key question now facing voters is whether Frey represents stability or stagnation in a city still rebuilding its identity.
Jacob Frey is an American attorney, former athlete and public servant who has guided Minneapolis through some of its most transformative years. He is known for a pragmatic leadership style and entering politics with a background far from the normal party machinery, he earned a reputation for being accessible, articulate and policy focused.
Born and raised in northern Virginia, Frey attended Oakton High School before attending the College of William & Mary on a track scholarship. He graduated with a degree in government in 2004. His civic life later deepened when he attended Villanova University School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2009. His early years combined academic rigor with athletic discipline with a blend that shaped his political temperament.
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After law school, Frey started working as an attorney, then moved to Minneapolis and became involved in community organizing. His first big political role was being elected to represent Ward 3 on the Minneapolis City Council. He ran for mayor in 2017 and won, campaigning on housing, safety reform and inclusive growth as a new generation leader.
Frey has kept much of his personal life with his family private, his upbringing in Virginia greatly influenced his core values perseverance, discipline and service.
Frey married Michelle Lilienthal in 2009, but the couple divorced in 2014. Two years later he married Sarah Clarke, a lobbyist and advocate for small businesses and nonprofits. They live in Northeast Minneapolis with their two daughters, Frida Jade and Estelle.
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Frey's estimated net worth remains undisclosed, though his key income sources are his mayoral salary and other legal work. In 2024, public records showed he earned $140,812, a modest increase from the previous year.
Frey represents the DFL, Minnesota's version of the Democratic Party. Affordable housing, climate action and police reform are some of the policy areas he has concentrated on during his two terms.
The 2025 election could determine whether Minneapolis opts for continuity or change. Frey's supporters praise his stability and policy focus, while critics argue that the city needs fresh leadership after years of upheaval. Whatever the outcome, Jacob Frey remains one of the most consequential figures in Minneapolis politics in recent memory.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information. It is intended for informational and editorial purposes only, not as an endorsement.
