By: Singyi Lo

For decades, the Hmong community has existed in the shadows of this nation. Though we were always vaguely known for our contributions and sacrifices during the Vietnam War, it was common for many to not be aware of who we are. Today, however, this is proven to be different and a change in our community.

Kaohly Her has just been elected the newest mayor of St. Paul, the capital of Minnesota.

As a child, it was always difficult to find representation within media, politics and other life-changing fields. First, it was Sunisa Lee, the first female Hmong Olympian who made waves during our rise. Now, it’s Her’s turn to prove her ability and stick to her commitment to “always show up.”

Early Wednesday morning, Her told supporters: “My family came here as refugees. Never in their wildest dreams would I be standing here today accepting the position of mayor — mayor of the city that gave them the opportunity to live the American dream.”

These words resonate heavily with the Hmong community and the hardships we had to go through historically. From persecution and fleeing from country to country, many Hmong now claim America as their home. A vast population of Hmong resides in the Twin Cities, California and Wisconsin. To feel safe enough to be able to make a change for a city as large as St. Paul symbolizes the growth for the Hmong. In other words, to come here as refugees and sacrificing everything to succeed is finally paying off — Kaohly Her’s victory is proof of this.

In her acceptance speech, Kaohly reflected on the early days of her career working for her predecessor, Melvin Carter. She acknowledged the service he provided for the city and “will always be grateful for that opportunity.” Her then went on to remind us of the deaths of Mark and Melissa Hortman, who were both brutally assassinated with their dog, Gilbert, over the summer. The late House Speaker had once said that “These seats do not belong to us and that we need to go out and earn the right to represent people.” This was the heart of Kaohly’s campaign as she and her team organized communities of color and overlooked areas of the city because “every voice matters in democracy.”

Some other notable feats of Her’s career are passing the End Child Marriage Bill in 2020, which raised Minnesota’s legal marriage age to 18 without exceptions. Then, in 2023, Her introduced the English Language Learner Bill, which aimed to help increase “the per-pupil funding for students learning English, and will eliminate the English Language Learner cross-subsidy by 2027.”

This is just the beginning of Her’s political career, and we cannot wait to see how she will continue to grow.