Emily Koski
{{Short description|American politician, born 1978}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Emily Koski
| image = Emily Koski at U of M Dems Mayoral Forum at Coffman Memorial Union, Minneapolis (cropped).jpg
| caption = Koski in 2025
| term_start = January 3, 2022
| relatives = Albert Hofstede (father)
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1978}}
| birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
| birth_name = Emily Hofstede
| office = Member of the Minneapolis City Council from the 11th Ward
| predecessor = Jeremy Schroeder
| term_end =
| successor =
| constituency = Ward 11
| party = Democratic
| spouse = Mike
| children = 2
| education = University of Saint Thomas
}}
Emily Hofstede Koski is an American businesswoman and politician from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Koski has served on the Minneapolis City Council, representing the 11th Ward in South Minneapolis, since 2022, and ran for mayor of Minneapolis in 2025.
Early life and family
Koski was born in Minneapolis to Albert Hofstede, then the mayor of Minneapolis, and Barbara Hofstede. Her mother died of breast cancer when Koski was eight years old; her father remarried, and her stepmother adopted her.{{cite news |last1=Mulrooney Eldred |first1=Sheila |title=Honoring two moms |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2007/06/17/honoring-two-moms/13798310007/ |work=Savannah Morning News |access-date=4 December 2024 |date=June 16, 2007}} Her father served as mayor for two terms, from 1974 to 1975 and from 1978 to 1979. Her aunt, Diane Hofstede, was a city council member from 2005 to 2013.{{cite news |last1=Kolls |first1=Jay |title=2 newly-elected Minneapolis City Council members have family roots at City Hall |url=https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/2-newly-elected-minneapolis-city-council-members-have-family-roots-at-city-hall/ |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=KSTP News |date=November 23, 2021}} Diane Hofstede was defeated by Jacob Frey in 2013.{{cite news |last1=Helal |first1=Liala |title=Defeated Minneapolis councilwoman: ‘A sense of anti-incumbency’ |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2013/11/09/defeated-minneapolis-councilwoman-a-sense-of-anti-incumbency |access-date=1 March 2025 |work=MPR News |date=9 November 2013 |language=en}} Her first job was at Target.{{cite news |last1=DeYoe |first1=Alexandra |title=Mayoral campaign Q&A with Emily Koski |url=https://mndaily.com/292288/city/mayoral-campaign-qa-with-emily-koski/ |access-date=12 February 2025 |work=Minnesota Daily |date=February 3, 2025}}
Political career
Emily Koski began her political career with a run for Minneapolis City Council in 2021. During her 2021 campaign, she opposed rent control and proposals to replace the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) with a Department of Public Safety, positioning herself as a moderate in alignment with incumbent mayor Jacob Frey.{{Cite web|date= December 4, 2024|title='The eyes of the country will be on Minneapolis' {{!}} Political analyst predicts significant shift in city council after election|url=https://www.kare11.com/article/news/politics/political-analyst-predicts-significant-shift-in-minneapolis-council-after-election/89-dd589240-af45-4f7e-be1a-4380624dde8a|access-date=2024-12-03|website=KARE news |language=en-US}} She was elected in the first round of ranked choice voting, defeating incumbent Jeremy Schroeder, who ran in favor of the ballot amendment replacing the MPD.{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2021/10/13/ward-11-minneapolis-emily-koski-jeremy-schroeder-mpd|title=What the Ward 11 results will tell us about the future of Minneapolis |newspaper= Axios Twin Cities| date=2021-10-13|access-date=December 3, 2024}}{{Cite news|date=2021-11-03|title=Two Minneapolis City Council incumbents defeated in election defined by debate over policing, public safety|url=https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2021/11/two-minneapolis-city-council-incumbents-defeated-in-election-defined-by-debate-over-policing-public-safety/|access-date=December 3, 2024|website=MinnPost|language=en-US}} In her first term, Koski largely voted with the moderate majority alongside then-council president Andrea Jenkins and vice president Linea Palmisano.{{cite news |last1=Stokes |first1=Kyle |title=Who votes with whom on the Minneapolis City Council? As election season heats up, a look at the current balance of power |url=https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2023/05/who-votes-with-whom-on-the-minneapolis-city-council-as-election-season-heats-up-a-look-at-the-current-balance-of-power/ |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=MinnPost |date=May 2, 2023}} One such vote was against a pause on homeless encampment evictions in 2022.{{cite news |last1=Birnstengel |first1=Grace |title=Minneapolis City Council declines pausing homeless encampment evictions |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/10/20/minneapolis-city-council-declines-pausing-homeless-encampment-evictions |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=October 20, 2022}}
Koski was re-elected in 2023 with 88.36% of the first-round vote against Socialist Workers Party candidate Gabrielle Prosser. In the beginning of 2024, she became the vice-chair of the Budget Committee and of the Climate and Infrastructure Committee.{{cite web | last=Minneapolis | first=City of | title=City Council organizes for new term | website=City of Minneapolis | date=2024-01-08 | url=https://www.minneapolismn.gov/news/2024/january/city-council/ | access-date=2024-12-04}}
In her second term, she gained attention as the council's most frequent swing vote.{{cite news |last1=Stokes |first1=Kyle |title=How the Minneapolis City Council voted — and what it means for the mayor |url=https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/02/12/minneapolis-city-council-votes-mayor-jacob-frey?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_minneapolis&stream=top |access-date=February 12, 2025 |work=Axios Twin Cities |date=February 12, 2025}} Koski opposed some of Frey's positions: she opposed a set of police bonuses, opposed the relocation of the third police precinct to a downtown location,{{cite news |last1=Stokes |first1=Kyle |title=Minneapolis’ Third Precinct dilemma: Will City Council members find a police station location before the election? |url=https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2023/10/minneapolis-third-precinct-dilemma-will-city-council-members-find-a-police-station-location-before-the-election/ |access-date=14 March 2025 |work=Minnesota Reformer |date=October 23, 2023}} and supported the redevelopment of the former Roof Depot site in the East Phillips neighborhood as an urban farm. {{cite news |last1=Haltzer |first1=Nick |title=Emily Koski breaks from Mayor Jacob Frey as one of his top city council allies |url=https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/11/28/jacob-frey-mayor-emily-koski-city-council-minneapolis-police |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=Axios Twin Cities}} In March 2024, she changed her vote to support an ordinance establishing minimum wage for rideshare drivers, overriding Frey's veto.{{cite news |last1=Galvan |first1=Alfonzo |title=In major victory for rideshare drivers, Minneapolis Council overrides mayor’s veto on minimum pay |url=https://sahanjournal.com/business-work/mayor-jacob-frey-veto-override-uber-lyft-leaving-minneapolis/ |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=Sahan Journal |date=March 14, 2024}} That October, her letter criticizing the delayed MPD response to the shooting of a Minneapolis resident by his neighbor again broke with Frey and gained media attention.{{cite news |last1=Godfrey |first1=Courtney |title=Minneapolis PD chief pledges full review of neighbor shooting |url=https://www.fox9.com/news/minneapolis-pd-chief-pledges-full-review-neighbor-shooting |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=Fox 9 KMSP |date=October 29, 2024}} By December, her vote was pivotal in overriding Frey's mayoral veto of the 2025 budget.{{cite news |last1=Timar-Wilcox |first1=Estelle |title=Minneapolis City Council overrides mayor’s veto of 2025 budget |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/12/12/minneapolis-city-council-overrides-mayors-veto-of-2025-budget |access-date=12 February 2025 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=December 12, 2024}} Frey-aligned PAC All of Mpls, which endorsed her past City Council campaigns, removed her from their marketing materials during this term.
On December 4, 2024, Koski announced her candidacy for mayor in the 2025 mayoral election.{{cite news |last1=Nace |first1=Aki |title=Minneapolis City Councilmember Emily Koski announces mayoral run |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/emily-koski-minneapolis-mayor-announcement/ |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=WCCO News |date=December 4, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Winter |first1=Deena |title=Minneapolis City Council Member Emily Koski announces mayoral run |url=https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-city-council-member-emily-koski-announces-mayoral-run/601190637 |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=December 4, 2024}} In her campaign, she has emphasized collaboration between the Mayor's office and the city council as a priority.
Personal life
Koski lives in South Minneapolis with her husband Mike. She has two children.{{cite news |last1=Cassel |first1=Em |title=Let’s Taco ‘Bout Politics: Racket’s Mayoral Mexican Food Interview With Candidate Emily Koski |url=https://racketmn.com/lets-taco-bout-politics-rackets-mayoral-mexican-food-interview-with-candidate-emily-koski |access-date=12 February 2025 |work=Racket |date=February 12, 2025}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change
|title = 2021 Minneapolis City Council election, ward 11, round 1
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
| candidate = Emily Koski
| votes = 7,789
| percentage = 58.33
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
| candidate = Jeremy Schroeder (incumbent)
| votes = 4,049
| percentage = 30.32
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independent
| candidate = Kurt Michael Anderson
| votes = 695
| percentage = 5.20
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
| candidate = Dillon Gherna
| votes = 455
| percentage = 3.41
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
| candidate = Albert T. Ross
| votes = 345
| percentage = 2.58
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 21
| percentage = 0.16
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 13,877
| percentage = 100.0
}}
| colspan="5" |Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services{{cite web | last=Minneapolis | first=City of | title=2021 Minneapolis City Council election results - Ward 11 | website=City of Minneapolis | date=2022-11-15 | url=https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/results-data/election-results/2021/council-ward-11/ | access-date=2024-12-03}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
|title = 2023 Minneapolis City Council election, ward 11, round 1
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
| candidate = Emily Koski
| votes = 5,259
| percentage = 88.36
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Socialist Workers Party (United States)
| candidate = Gabrielle Prosser
| votes = 460
| percentage = 7.73
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 233
| percentage = 3.91
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 5,952
| percentage = 100.0
}}
| colspan="5" |Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services{{cite web |access-date=December 4, 2024 |work=Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services |url=https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/results-data/election-results/2023/ |title=2023 Minneapolis City Council election results}}
{{Election box end}}