The candidate filing period for Brooklyn Park’s 2026 mayoral and city council races opened May 19 and runs through Tuesday, June 2. Brooklyn Park residents who want to shape the future of one of Minnesota’s largest and most diverse cities have until that date to file.

Those elected this November will serve four-year terms beginning January 4, 2027. The offices on the ballot include Mayor and City Council seats representing the East, Central, and West districts of the city. Brooklyn Park’s council governs a city of more than 85,000 residents — a community that has become a model of suburban diversity in the Twin Cities metro.

Filing closes June 2. The next mayor and council members of Brooklyn Park will be decided in November. Who runs is decided now.

What’s at stake

The 2026 election arrives at a consequential moment for Brooklyn Park. The City Council is actively deliberating a proposal to more than double the mayor’s salary — from $21,995 to $50,000 annually — a debate that was tabled in April pending a joint work session with the Charter Commission. Whoever wins the mayor’s race this November will inherit the outcome of that debate, as well as the city’s ongoing work on housing, public safety, and economic development.

How to file for mayor

To run for mayor, candidates must:

• File an Affidavit of Candidacy with the City Clerk

• Gather a petition signed by 75 registered voters who live in the city (signatures may only be collected during the May 19 – June 2 filing window)

• Pay a $75 filing fee

• Provide proof of residence at time of filing

How to file for city council

To run for a council seat, candidates must:

• File an Affidavit of Candidacy with the City Clerk

• Gather a petition signed by 25 registered voters from your specific representative district (signatures may only be collected during the filing window)

• Pay a $25 filing fee

• Provide proof of residence at time of filing

Eligibility requirements

All candidates for mayor or council must be a United States citizen, eligible to vote in Minnesota, at least 21 years of age upon assuming office, a Brooklyn Park resident for at least 30 days before the general election, and able to provide proof of residence when filing.

Primary and general election

If more than two candidates file for any single seat — mayor or a specific council district — a city primary election will be held to narrow the field to two finalists for the November general election. The primary date has not yet been set but follows standard Hennepin County election procedures.

Withdrawal deadline

Candidates who change their minds after filing must submit an Affidavit of Withdrawal with the City Clerk by Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 5 p.m. No withdrawals are permitted after that date.

TO FILE: Candidate packets are available at Brooklyn Park City Hall. Contact City Clerk Devin Montero at devin.montero@brooklynpark.org or 763-493-8180. It is strongly recommended that prospective candidates schedule an appointment before the June 2 deadline to ensure all forms are in order and petition signatures are valid.

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