Rent Control, Rent Stabilization & the 2025 Minneapolis Election: What Duplex Owners Need to Know

If you own or hope to own a duplex—or any small rental—in Minneapolis, the November 2025 city elections matter more than you might think.

The next council and mayor will decide how far Minneapolis goes down the road of rent control, rent stabilization, and broader tenant-protection policies that could reshape the local rental market for years.

Let’s look at where the major City Council and  candidates stand, and what that means for property owners, renters, and anyone trying to keep up with rising costs while keeping units full.

City Council Candidates

While the current council leans progressive, there’s a clear divide between those who want strong rent caps and those who favor incentives and production instead.

Citywide candidates by ward

• Elliot Payne –  incumbant – Favors strong caps on rents with exemptions for new construction, vacancy control, Just Cause Evictions and TOPA.
• Edwin Fruit – While not expressly on record on the issues, his public statements suggest he may favor rent and vacancy control as well as TOPA.
• Brian Strahan – While his positions on landlord/tenant issues are not known, he has a housing industry background. He has stated he believes the solution to the housing crisis is increased supply.

Ward 2

• Robin Wonsley – incumbant – Favors a 3% cap on rent increases without new construction exemption, opposes vacancy decontrol, supports Just Cause Evictions and TOPA.
• Shelly Madore – Would back a researched rent stabilization but has not named a cap number. In favor of TOPA and Just Cause Eviciton protections.
• Michael Baskins – No clearly stated public positions.
• Max Theroux – While his positions have not been clearly stated, he is a renter himself, and has expressed concerns about rent increases.

Ward 3

• Michael Rainville (incumbent) Opposes a St. Paul–style cap, favoring an “Oregon model” that ties rents loosely to inflation (CPI + 7%). This model also exempts new construction, and favors vacancy reset. He does, however, say he would vote to advance TOPA.
• Marcus Mills — Supports rent stabilization; cites a “Plan 5–style” policy with a percentage cap, paired with TOPA/social housing. Open to studying new-construction exemptions.

Ward 4

• LaTrisha Vetaw (incumbant) – Opposes rent and vacancy control. Her positions on Just Cause Evictions and TOPA are unknown.
• Marvina Hayes – While her positions aren’t clearly known, she has a background in renter-advocacy and tenant organizing.
• Leslie Davis – Positions unknown.

Ward 5 (formerly held by Jeremiah Ellison)

• Ethrophic Burnett  – Supports rent control with a 3% cap, vacancy control and TOPA.
• Anndrea Young  – Also progressive; from a questionnaire she supports rent control with a 3% cap, vacancy control and TOPA.
• Tinitha “Pearll” Warren – Has a background in Habitat for Humanity and home-ownership development. She supports a cap tied to inflation, with a 10–15-year new-construction exemption. Her positions on TOPA, JCE and vacancy decontrol are unknown.
• Miles Wilson – his positions are unknown.

Ward 6

• Jamal Osman (incumbent) Favors a 3–5% cap (or tied to inflation), plus just-cause eviction. Also supports new-construction exemptions.  Supports vacancy decontrol and TOPA.
• Mohamoud Hassan – Positions unknown.

Ward 7

• Katie Cashman (incumbant) – Opposes rent control, and while not expressly stated, appears to oppose vacancy control. She is in favor of  Just Cause Evictions, and her position on TOPA is unknown.
• Elizabeth Shaffer – Opposes all forms of rent or vacancy control, and TOPA. Her position on Just Cause Evicitons is unknown.

Ward 8 (formerly Andrea Jenkins)

• Soren Stevenson – Supports rent control, Just Cause Evictions and TOPA.
• Josh Bassais — His campaign site emphasizes “expand affordable options” but does not clearly specify a cap or vacancy control stance.
• Philip Galberth — No questionnaire responses located that specify his stance on rent stabilization.
•  Bob Sullentrop  — No clear public statement found on rent-control/rent-stabilization.

Ward 9

• Jason Chavez (incumbent) – His “Housing for All” platform says housing is a human right and emphasizes increasing affordable rental stock, reducing evictions, enhancing renter protections. His positions on rent and vacancy control, TOPA and Just Cause Evictions are unknown,
• Dan Orban – Positions unknown.

Ward 10

• Aisha Chughtai (incumbent) – Supports rent control tied to inflation, vacancy control, and stronger tenant protections. Has not stated publicly her positions on TOPA or Just Cause Evictions. However, other public statements suggest she is strongly in favor of tenant protections.
• Lydia Millard – Opposes a strict rent-control policy capped at 3% annually and is not open (according to her response) to a version of rent control that differs from that cap. She favors addressing housing affordability through increasing supply. Her positions on the other issues have not been stated.

Ward 11

• Mariam DeMello —Describes herself as a moderate focused on solving housing issues through increased supply.
• Jamison Whiting — Opposes rent control and believes increased supply is the answer to housing issues.
• Jim Meyer — His positions on these issues are unknown.

Ward 12

• Aurin Chowdhury (incumbent) — Open to rent stabilization with new-construction exemptions and vacancy decontrol. Was instrumental in increasing pre-eviction notice from 14 to 30 days, and mandatory landlord disclosure of tenant rights.
• Edward Bear Stops — Has not publicly stated his positions.

Ward 13

• Linea Palmisano – Opposes rent control, vacancy control and TOPA. Recent position unknown on Just Cause Evictions.
• Bob Carney Jr. – Positions unknown.

If you’re a housing provider in Minneapolis, it’s important that you vote. Remember, the mayor has veto power to rent control proposals. And if the council overrides that veto and gets it on the city ballot during a future election, voters will make the decision on rent control