A Minneapolis that invests in us, where everyone has what they need to thrive.

My name is Aisha Chughtai—

When I moved to Ward 10 nearly a decade ago, the first thing I noticed was that our neighbors shared my belief that our communities are strongest when everyone has what they need to thrive. That’s why I chose to make this community my home, and that’s why our community chose me to represent us at City Hall. 

I’ve spent my whole life fighting against the people and systems determined to hold working class people back. Growing up, it was made clear to me that people in power had no interest in listening to families like mine. They told us to speak quietly, worship away from public view, and sit passively in the back — because that is where this system and the people who prop it up believe we belong. The time for passivity, the time for the status quo, the time where we were silenced — is over.

I’m running for re-election because while we’ve achieved historic wins together, we still have so much more to accomplish. And just like our neighbors I’m not backing down.

In Donald Trump’s America, the Federal government is moving in the wrong direction. That leaves it up to local governments to move us forward. Unfortunately, as frightening as Trump’s administration is, we have our own cynics and detractors right here in our city. They’ve recruited an opponent funded by Ward 10’s landlords, developers, and their proxies to run against me — because they want a Council Member who works for them, and I have always worked for you.

We all deserve local leaders who invest in and fight for us. 

That’s why I remain committed to solutions delivered in partnership with you — not empty platitudes. Because that’s how we make our City work for us. 

I feel more clear than ever that our opposition is threatened by the power we have built together. When they say they want to move this city forward, they mean the direction of their corporate benefactors. And while they handpicked a candidate to run in Ward 10, I don’t believe for a second they can buy our election. 

Because here in Ward 10, we believe in people over profit. With neighbors who do everything they can for each other, I want to ensure we are building a city that invests in us.

This election presents us with a choice: are we going to keep moving forward with the progress we have made, or are we going to move backwards? We cannot allow proxy candidates in the politics of petty personal grievances to represent us. In the face of the Trump Administration, now is not the time for us to back down, it is the time to stand together, make bold choices about who we are and what future we are building for our families and our community.

I hope to earn your support again so we can continue building a Minneapolis that invests in us where everyone has what they need to thrive. 

In solidarity,

Aisha Chughtai