Shelley Madore

Shelley Madore

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Democratic Party

Candidate, Minneapolis City Council Ward 2

Prior offices

Minnesota House of Representatives District 37A

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Elections and appointments

Next election

November 4, 2025

Personal

Birthplace

Hartford, Conn.

Religion

Unaffiliated

Profession

Government administration

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Shelley Madore (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Minneapolis City Council to represent Ward 2 in Minnesota. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

Madore (Democratic Party) was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 37A. She assumed office in 2007. She left office in 2009.

Madore completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

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

Shelley Madore was born in Hartford, Connecticut. Her career experience includes serving as a community organizer and state agency director.

Elections

2025

See also: City elections in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2025)

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Minneapolis City Council Ward 2

Incumbent Robin Wonsley, Michael Baskins, Shelley Madore, and Max Theroux are running in the general election for Minneapolis City Council Ward 2 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Robin Wonsley (Democratic Socialists of America)
		Michael Baskins (D)
	Submit photo	Shelley Madore (D)
	Submit photo	Max Theroux (D)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Endorsements

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Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Shelley Madore completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Madore's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a former DFL state representative and lifelong community organizer with significant experience navigating city, county, state, and federal government operations. As the parent of two adult children - one a graduate of the University of Minnesota and the other of Augsburg University, I understand firsthand the importance of creating a city where families can thrive, students can build meaningful careers, and seniors can retire with dignity.

I am running for office because Minneapolis is poised for a comeback. To get there, we need leaders who are ready to rebuild our neighborhoods, restore trust in public institutions, and create a city that is a beacon of opportunity, hope, and prosperity for all.

My priorities are clear: ensuring public safety rooted in accountability and trust, expanding access to affordable housing, and driving sustainable economic growth. I will bring people together to help solve our problems: community leaders, city staff, the mayor’s office, and voters. Collaboration will deliver real results and ensure that Minneapolis continues to move forward.

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?

• Public safety means every resident feels secure walking to work, running a business, or enjoying their neighborhood. Real safety requires well-lit streets, access to mental health services, youth programming, and community-based violence prevention. Prevention and accountability must go hand in hand. I will partner with community leaders, campus groups, and residents to build a responsible safety system that invests in prevention, supports law enforcement accountability, and strengthens trust. Safety must be proactive, equitable, and rooted in community partnerships, ensuring that every resident of Minneapolis is protected and supported.
• Every resident deserves safe, stable, and affordable housing; however, Minneapolis faces two urgent challenges: a shortage of options for growing families and rising costs that push people out. I will work to expand affordable housing for renters and first-time buyers by diversifying our housing stock by building new homes, protecting existing affordable and workforce housing, and removing outdated zoning barriers. I will also strengthen partnerships with developers, nonprofits, and community groups to ensure solutions are fair and accessible. By expanding supply, protecting affordability, and creating more options, we can maintain Minneapolis as a place where families, young professionals, and seniors can all thrive.
• Rebuilding downtown Minneapolis must be a top priority. Our downtown is the economic and cultural heart of the city, yet too many businesses still face challenges recovering and growing. If elected, I will cut red tape by simplifying permits, inspections, and licensing so businesses can open and expand more easily. I will advocate for targeted loans and grants to help small and new businesses. I will expand workforce training in healthcare, IT, and construction to connect residents with good jobs and strengthen our economy. A vibrant downtown means safer streets, stronger neighborhoods, and a prosperous Minneapolis for all.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Transportation is about equity, sustainability, and opportunity. Every resident deserves safe, affordable, and reliable ways to move through Minneapolis regardless of their mode of transit: bus, bike, or sidewalk. Investing in transit and infrastructure strengthens equity, connects people to jobs, housing, and schools, and ensures accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities. By building a transportation system rooted in fairness and climate responsibility, we can revitalize downtown, support small businesses, and ensure every neighborhood thrives.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The ability to collaborate with others to enact meaningful change is the most important for an elected official characteristic an elected official must have. Working together with colleagues, staff, and the community to deliver solutions that address real problems faced by residents must be valued above personal ideology, political capital, and benefits to private stakeholders. I will work with any council member, mayor, city staff, or resident of Minneapolis who has ideas to address an issue faced in any ward of our city.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

For 30 years, I’ve been an ally to people with disabilities and their families. Through volunteering, organizing, and serving I have worked for true inclusion and empowerment.

While in the Legislature, I chaired the Disability Working Group and authored many bills focused on improving the lives of people in the disability community. One of these bills was the 4-hour parking allowance for individuals who had disability parking placards in Minneapolis. I authored legislation that requires school districts to allow students with disabilities to participate in their high school graduations, regardless of the completion of a transition program.
I spearheaded legislation that removed barriers to fully investigating complaints at state facilities by The Office of Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. This bill allowed for the investigation of the use of restraints at a state facility that led to The Jensen Settlement, which established Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan.

Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan helps state agencies set and meet inclusive goals to better the lives of people in the disability community. I served as the Director of the Olmstead Implementation Office, which manages the Minnesota Olmstead Plan. Working alongside the disability community, I established public work groups to drive policy innovation that would influence state agency leaders.

My lived experiences have shaped the way that I am a part of our community. Every decision I make is centered around the inclusion and the empowerment of all people.

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.

See also

2025 Elections

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Candidate

Minneapolis City Council Ward 2

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