Andrea Jenkins

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Andrea Jenkins

Nonpartisan

Minneapolis City Council Ward 8

Tenure

2018 - Present

Term ends

2026

Years in position

7

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 7, 2023

Education

High school

Lindblom Technical High School

Bachelor's

Metropolitan State University, 1999

Graduate

Hamline University, 2010

Personal

Birthplace

Chicago, Ill.

Religion

Spiritual

Profession

Oral historian

Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Official Twitter

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Andrea Jenkins is a member of the Minneapolis City Council in Minnesota, representing Ward 8. She assumed office on January 2, 2018. Her current term ends on January 5, 2026.

Jenkins (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Minneapolis City Council to represent Ward 8 in Minnesota. She won in the general election on November 7, 2023.

Elections in Minneapolis are officially nonpartisan, but the Minneapolis City Charter allows mayoral and city council candidates to choose a party label to appear below their name on the official ballot. Ballotpedia includes candidates' party or principle to best reflect what voters will see on their ballot.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Andrea Jenkins was born in Chicago, Illinois. She received a B.A. in human services from Metropolitan State University in 1999, a master's degree in community economic development from Southern New Hampshire University in 2002, and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Hamline University in 2010.

Jenkins' experience includes working as an oral historian and vocation counselor. She has been affiliated with the Human Rights Campaign, the Transgender Legal and Education Defense Fund, and the National Center for Gender Spectrum Health.

Elections

2023

See also: City elections in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2023)

General election

General election for Minneapolis City Council Ward 8

Select round: Round 2 Round 1

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Andrea Jenkins in round 2 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Andrea Jenkins	50.2	3,894	403	Won (2)
		Soren Stevenson	49.8	3,856	259	2
		Terry White	0.0	0	-544	1
	Submit photo	Bob Sullentrop	0.0	0	-418	1

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Andrea Jenkins	43.3	3,491	0	Won (2)
		Soren Stevenson	44.6	3,597	0	2
		Terry White	6.8	544	0	1
	Submit photo	Bob Sullentrop	5.2	418	0	1
		Undeclared Write-insUndeclared write-in candidates may advance past the first round in some ranked-choice elections. If the official source reports write-in votes by candidate name, Ballotpedia displays them alongside the ballot-qualified candidates. However, if write-in votes are reported without a name, they will instead be included in the total write-in votes figure in Round 1. Please consult the official elections source for more details about unnamed write-in candidate vote totals past Round 1.	0.1	9	0

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,059
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Jenkins in this election.

2021

See also: City elections in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2021)

General election

General election for Minneapolis City Council Ward 8

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Andrea Jenkins in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Andrea Jenkins	84.9	9,013	0	Won (1)
	Submit photo	Bob Sullentrop	13.8	1,468	0	1
		Undeclared Write-insUndeclared write-in candidates may advance past the first round in some ranked-choice elections. If the official source reports write-in votes by candidate name, Ballotpedia displays them alongside the ballot-qualified candidates. However, if write-in votes are reported without a name, they will instead be included in the total write-in votes figure in Round 1. Please consult the official elections source for more details about unnamed write-in candidate vote totals past Round 1.	1.3	133	0

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,614
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

2017

See also: Municipal elections in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2017) and Mayoral election in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2017)

Minneapolis, Minnesota, held a general election for mayor, all 13 seats on the city council, both elected members of the board of estimate and taxation, and all nine members of the park and recreation board on November 7, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was August 15, 2017.

Incumbents ran for re-election to all but two of the city council seats. Ward 3 Councilman Jacob Frey filed to run for mayor instead, and Ward 8 Councilwoman Elizabeth Glidden opted not to run for re-election. Andrea Jenkins defeated Terry White, April Kane, and David Holsinger in the general election for the Ward 8 seat on the Minneapolis City Council.

Minneapolis City Council, Ward 8 General Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Andrea Jenkins	73.09%	5,762
Terry White	12.77%	1,007
April Kane	9.01%	710
David Holsinger	4.91%	387
Write-in votes	0.22%	17
Total Votes		7,883
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services, "2017 Minneapolis Election Results," accessed November 22, 2017

Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Andrea Jenkins did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.

2021

Andrea Jenkins completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Jenkins' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am seeking a second term as City Councilmember representing Ward 8, in Minneapolis, MN. Ward 8 is the district in which George Floyd was murdered. Prior being elected to the City Council, I was the Oral Historian/ Assistant Librarian for the Transgender History Project at the University of Minnesota for three years. Prior to that I worked for twelve years as Senior Policy Aide to two different City Council members. In addition I am an adjunct professor of Poetry at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. I serve on the national boards of The Human Rights Campaign, and The Transgender Education and Legal Defense Fund. I m an Artist, Poet, Public Speaker and Author.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am committed to Racial, Economic and Gender Justice. I declared "Racism as a Public Health Crisis" on the council. uncil, that resolution passed unamaniously

• I am committed to Leadership. I was elected by my peers as Vice President of the Council.

• I am committed to ensuring access for ward and city residents to participate in their city government.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you balance the needs and desires of existing business and housing communities with new development? Would you take gentrification and displacement into consideration when planning neighborhood development?

I always consider gentrification and displacement in development efforts. We need to utilize community benefit agreements, co-op models and other tools to ensure a proper balance of business desires versus community needs

Community Question Featured local question

Please list the criteria you would use to evaluate which projects are worth maintaining or starting in Minneapolis when it comes to public infrastructure.

Public benefit

Jobs created for inner city residents and youth

Project readiness

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's environmental health? Would you make any changes to current policy?

Minneapolis has declared Climate Change a Public Health crisis, to that end we've established aggressive goals intended to address these concerns. I will work with advocacy groups, environmental and science professionals to identify and determine what shifts need to change or be implemented going forward.

Community Question Featured local question

What role do you feel police should play in Minneapolis? What are your thoughts on the city council’s proposed changes to the Minneapolis Police Department?

I believe that armed police officers that are well-trained, amenable to accountability, and committed to being a part of the community will play a large and important role in our public safety continuum. Bottom line, we need a system that upholds and enforces the laws of a mutual agreed upon society.

Community Question Featured local question

What would you like Minneapolis' public safety system to look like by the end of your term? What would you do to accomplish your vision of public safety?

My vision of our Public Safety continuum would be a comprehensive public health approach. This would mean mental health providers to respond to emotional crisis' , community based violence interrupters , unarmed traffic enforcement, civilian staff to to take low level property crime reports after the fact.

I will work with community stakeholders, organizers, policy makers and others to bring this vision into fruition.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about re-imagining Public Safety in the City of Minneapolis. We need systems that respect the humanity of all residents specifically African American and Indigenous communities and other marginalized communities.
I am passionate about addressing climate change, affordable housing and green jobs training to prepare young people of color the skills and tools necessary to compete in the 21st century as well as help address meeting the city's goals of 100 % renewable energy by 2030.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I admire former President Barack Obama. His vision, political courage and commitment to equity is something I aspire to replicate.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The book "Leadership on the Line" , Heifiez and Linsky

The movie "Malcolm X" by Spike Lee

The quote by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, " Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. "

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I love people, and want to help folks live better, healthier more productive lives.

I am well-educated, compassionate, experienced and knowledgeable.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want women, Trans and Gender Non Conforming folks to know that they too can aspire to and achieve leadership roles in our society.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The assassination of John F. Kennedy, I was 3 years old and remember seeing my grandmother crying for the 1st time in my life.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very 1st job was part of the CETA Program in Chicago, Illinois. It was a youth employment program, I worked as a program assistant at the Wabash YMCA. I worked there through my senior year in High School

What is your favorite book? Why?

'The Warmth of Other Suns" , by Isabel Wilkerson

It tells the story of the Great Black Migration from the South to the North, literally my family's story of how I ended up being born in Chicago, IL.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" Gil Scott Heron

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have struggled my entire life to overcome the oppressions of racism, transphobia, homophobia, sexism, poverty and now disability. These challenges have help me gain broader perspective and empathy for these communities, as well as provided me the strength to accomplish the goals i CONTINUE TO SET FOR MYSELF

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe that experience is enormously helpful but not necessary.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

The ability to connect with and listen to a broad range of stakeholders and synthesize that information to positively impact the most people. They must possess the skill to be knowledgeable about a wide range of topics. They absolutely should have empathy and awareness of issues that potentially negatively impact people and willing to work towards eliminating those barriers.

Tell us your favorite joke.

The comedian Chris Rock once joked that "I once asked a homeless white man if he would like to trade places with me a rich Black man, the homeless responded, "nah, Ima ride this white thing out for a little longer"

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.

Campaign website

• Click here to view an archived version of Jenkins' campaign website.

2017

Jenkins' campaign website highlighted the following issues. Click "show" on the boxes below for more information about her positions.

Equity in Public Safety

"FAIR POLICING FOR ALL Our city and nation are in a crisis when it comes to police interactions with people of color, especially the senseless murder of young black men by police officers. We must also address intra-community violence. Minneapolis must begin to invest in our young people to prevent crime, rather than relying on a policing-only strategy. We need to: understand and address youth violence as a public health issue evaluate and repeal ordinances that unfairly target people of color and the poor decriminalize marijuana ensure Minneapolis remains a sanctuary city strengthen and expand mental health programs that assist police when dealing with people in mental health crises hold police accountable when they violate protocol that results in unjust actions and fatal outcomes analyze and change all protocol that supports unjust actions and fatal outcomes."

Equity in Transportation

"FAIR ACCESS FOR ALL We must develop smart transportation policies that support the dramatic growth in the city’s population. Minneapolis leads the nation in bicycle infrastructure, but our bike-related policies must afford equal access to everyone, including communities of color. We need to: prioritize pedestrian safety, bike safety, and transit safety for all communities ensure that large transportation projects include opportunities for people of color, women, and small businesses incentivize the development of vibrant streets and sidewalks."

Equity in Our Environment

"FAIR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR ALL Minneapolis is a leader in addressing climate change, but we must seek measures that improve health and build wealth for low-income communities and communities of color. We need to: implement policies like the Green Zones Initiative that invest in neighborhoods that have been historically neglected and subjected to environmental injustices educate communities of color and low-income communities about zero waste, composting, and recycling to reduce waste and fight climate change increase energy efficiency in all housing stock as a means of maintaining affordability continue to create more 'green,' living-wage jobs as opportunities for communities of color to gain entry into the workforce."

Equity in Affordable Housing

"FAIR HOUSING FOR ALL We are experiencing a major growth in market-rate housing in Minneapolis. But this is also creating an untenable rise in rents for low-income families. We must implement creative mechanisms to develop more affordable housing options. We need to look at zoning policies that discourage families and friends from creating affordable living situations. We need to lower the price points for single-family homeowners to convert their properties to include opportunities for rentals. We need to: support seniors by addressing rises in property taxes that make their homes unaffordable develop more affordable senior housing options so that seniors can stay in their neighborhoods work with our regional partners—like the Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, and the State of Minnesota—to create more affordable housing policies throughout the region continue to strengthen our partnerships with entities like the City of Lakes and Community Land Trust increase wages through policies like the $15.00 minimum wage so that low-income workers are better able to find housing that costs less than 30% of their income."

Equity in the Arts

"FAIR ACCESS TO THE CREATIVE ECONOMY FOR ALL The 2015 Minneapolis Creative Vitality Index states that 'Minneapolis is the arts and cultural powerhouse for our state as measured by the number of creative workers and economic outputs.' But artists of color still face tremendous disparities accessing those opportunities. We need to: work with foundations and others to support individual artists of color continue to incorporate artists into city government through projects like Creative City Making, a partnership with Intermedia Arts that pairs arts with city departments develop a dedicated, coordinated, and funded Office of Arts and Culture to strengthen, enhance, and support our artists and cultural workers who make our city great analyze and support changes in zoning policies to allow more artists to live and work in Minneapolis."

Equity in Access to Democracy

"FAIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO PARTICIPATE The realm of government beyond the voting booth is still a mystery to many, but it shouldn’t be. Democracy works best when we are all actively involved, bringing our best ideas to the table. We need to: have more community engagement opportunities to discuss issues of importance to neighborhoods and our city, in communities and locations where people live and work, not just in City Hall support initiatives like Participatory Budgeting that allow residents to incorporate their values into the budgeting process include more renters and young people in our government decision-making process end voter suppression of felons, immigrants, and poor people who cannot afford government-issued identification, as well as unfair distribution of voting locations adopt an Open Data policy work with our partners across jurisdictional boundaries to create more transparency in governmental systems."

Endorsements

2017

Jenkins received endorsements from the following in 2017:

• AFL-CIO-Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation
• AFSCME Minnesota Council 5
• Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota
• Our Revolution
• OutFront Minnesota Action
• Minnesota Nurses Association
• SEIU Minnesota State Council
• Stonewall DFL
• TakeAction Minnesota
• Trans United
• Victory Fund
• Womenwinning
• Minneapolis City Councilwoman Elizabeth Glidden

See also

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Officeholder

Minneapolis City Council Ward 8

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	Minneapolis City Council Ward 8 2018-Present	Succeeded by -