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Ward 10 Showdown: Millard Challenges Chughtai for City Council Seat

Lydia Millard is aiming to replace Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai in the competitive race for Ward 10.

The Minnesota Star Tribune

October 9, 2025 at 11:00AM

Aisha Chughtai and Lydia Millard are competing for a seat on the Minneapolis City Council representing Ward 10, which encompasses Uptown. (Provided)

Uptown’s Political Landscape: A Microcosm of Minneapolis

The race for Uptown’s representation on the Minneapolis City Council is a vivid reflection of the city’s divided political climate. Aisha Chughtai, a democratic socialist and a prominent critic of the mayor, is defending her position in this liberal stronghold. Her challenger, Lydia Millard, advocates for enhanced public safety to rejuvenate Uptown’s business districts.

On a bustling Tuesday night, Queermunity hosted a League of Women Voters forum where the candidates, including DeShanneon Grimes, presented their visions. Queermunity, located on Hennepin Avenue, is a central gathering spot in Uptown.

Community Support and Campaign Dynamics

Millard has garnered significant backing from local business interests, evident from the enthusiastic reception at a spring event focused on a new improvement district. However, businesses don’t cast votes. While Millard’s signs are visible on many lawns, most residents of the ward reside in apartment complexes.

Predicting the election outcome remains challenging. Chughtai secured re-election in 2023 with just 3,800 votes. More people likely attended the Open Streets event on Hennepin Avenue in late September, where both candidates were actively campaigning.

City Council Candidate Lydia Millard engages with attendees at Hennepin Open Streets in September. (Eric Roper)

Millard’s Vision for Uptown

Amid the vibrant festival atmosphere, Millard expressed her concerns about Uptown’s decline. “I’ve witnessed our neighborhood turning into a ghost town,” she remarked. “I aim to change that by focusing on public safety, supporting businesses, and enhancing constituent services.”

Chughtai’s Defense and Future Plans

Chughtai, the council’s vice president, has been a vocal opponent of Mayor Jacob Frey. At the forum, she emphasized her commitment to her constituents’ priorities, despite frequent clashes with the mayor over issues like taxing polluters and preserving affordable housing. She also plans to pursue rent control legislation in her next term.

Chughtai highlighted the city’s efforts to subsidize rents and provide technical assistance as positive steps for Uptown’s recovery.

Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai speaks during a Minneapolis City Council meeting in December. (Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Forum Highlights and Campaign Controversies

The forum was intense, with Millard accusing Chughtai of being unresponsive, while Chughtai criticized Millard for accepting Republican donations. The full discussion is available on YouTube.

The backdrop of this race includes efforts to establish a business improvement district to attract more businesses to Uptown. Andrea Corbin, president of the Uptown Association and a key figure in this initiative, has been actively involved in the council races.

Corbin, who owns a flower shop on Lyndale Avenue, launched a political action committee, We Love Minneapolis, which spent over $16,000 supporting Millard’s campaign. The Ward 10 convention ended without an endorsement in May.

Historical Context and Future Implications

The last significant race in Ward 10 was Lisa Bender’s victory over Meg Tuthill in 2013, which led to progressive housing and transportation policies. Since then, the ward has leaned further left, with Chughtai’s election in 2021 and strong support for democratic socialist mayoral candidate Sheila Nezhad.

Will the political pendulum swing back? The answer will unfold in the coming weeks.