Saint Paul residents elected Kaohly Her as the city’s first woman and first Asian American mayor in 2025. Mayor Her was born in the mountains of Laos and came to the United States as a refugee at age three. A strong work ethic, her family’s tenacity, and support from her community propelled Mayor Her to the highest levels of our state government and now to City Hall. She earned her Bachelor’s in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MBA from Northeastern University, and is a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Saint Thomas. A finance professional, non-profit executive, stay-at-home mom, school board administrator, and State Representative, Mayor Her brings her years of lived experience across different sectors to help Saint Paul move forward.