Axe For Mayor

08/06/2026

The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce candidate profiles are live, and I want you to read all of them.

Here’s the number I put in mine: three straight years above $1 billion in permit value — while non-Mayo private investment in the DMC district declined six consecutive years. Growing and concentrating at the same time. Every business in this town should know that number. And it’s fixable.

Growth isn’t cranes. It’s whether local businesses survive, workers can afford to live here, and every ward sees the return.

Businesses belong at the table before policy, construction, fees, or zoning changes hit them — not after the barricades go up.

Read every candidate’s answers, compare them side by side, and hold whoever wins to what they wrote:
https://www.rochestermnchamber.com/mayor/

Your voice matters. Your vote counts.

Mayoral Candidate Profiles DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in the candidates responses are the sole views of their own. They do not reflect the opinions or views of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce or its members. The candidate statements below do not imply the expression of any endorsement...

08/06/2026

Six days. The primary is Tuesday, August 11.

News-Talk 1340 KROC AM & 96.9 FM put together a guide to all eight of us running for mayor — how long we’ve been here, what we do, what we’ve done for this city, and why we’re running. Read it. Read all of us.

I’m proud of what mine says. Rochester native. John Marshall grad (once a Rocket—always a Rocket!*). Raising my 3 kids with my high school
sweetheart in the city that raised me. I’m lucky and proud to have grown up here.

Then check the part a guide can’t tell you: which of us has already done the work before asking for the vote.

Mine is live right now at openrochester.org — every question a resident submitted, answered. And the work to bring City Hall to the fingertips of every resident. Understandable. Accessible not just available,

Tuesday belongs to Rochester residents. Bring one with you and share our mission. Go Vote!

https://kroc.com/who-is-running-rochester-mn-mayor/

Thank you to 106.9 KROC FM Carly Ross

*Now live 1 mile away from our home and in century territory; so once a panther—always a panther? Ha! Always love the rivalry and always will. This one is to all my classmates, teammates, rivals (at times teammates during AAU), parents, coaches, and friends that make this city truly remarkable—much love to you all. Thank you for the support!

08/06/2026

NO-ONE CAN CALL IT REPRESENTATION WHEN IT IS FUNCTIONALLY JUST MANAGED PARTICIPATION.

How was the AMA? It went well and I’ll share more shortly but this question and my answer underscores my entire reason for running for mayor. Available does not mean accessible.

When residents, who ELECTED their City Council
Members, are required to show up 30 minutes BEFORE a City Council session starts at 6pm on a Monday night, then MUST be the first 1 of 10 for a 20 minute SPEAKING window, and are ALLOWED only TWO MINUTES to speak ONCE A MONTH. THAT IS NOT REPRESENTATION — THAT IS MANAGED PARTICIPATION.

Until Rochester residents have real input BEFORE their representatives vote on city council agenda then nothing will change.

The requirement is clear: make every RESIDENT HEARD, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD SEEN, and ROCHESTER COMMUNITY SERVED BY CITY HALL.

If you think otherwise: Answer these 2 questions and link where it shows those answers:

1. How did your city council member vote on housing in the last three years (assuming you even know your ward or CC member)?

2. When was the last time your city council member asked you or showed up in your neighborhood to have your input on issues affecting you?

It is technically a weak mayor—strong council system and we elected our CC to represent us right so we are, as residents, in control. But.

The honest answer is: YOU CAN’T.

My answer is in the screenshots.

I will flip the entire system on its head. No ask or permission.

More to come from the AMA. Go out and vote and make your voice heard as a starting point. Research every candidate, scrutinize every point then decide. Whatever you do, don’t be idle. Every vote makes an impact on your life and on our lives.



Edit: Added source material for open comment period guidelines. Straight from the source. Read it for yourself and then tell me clearly if we are being represented and if we are being heard. *CAPS used for emphasis. Reposted because a quick edit on FB after posting suppresses a post based on algorithm, FYI. 🙂

08/03/2026

Tomorrow after the City Council meeting, I’m holding a Reddit AMA on r/RochesterMN at 8:00 PM.

Ask Me Anything.

City Hall. Council power. Public comment. Taxes. Housing. Public safety. DMC. RPU. OpenRochester. The sports complex. Homelessness. Roads. Development. All of it.

I’ll answer directly.

Residents deserve more than slogans, silence, and two minutes at a microphone every month.

Representation should leave a record.

Tomorrow. 8 PM. Reddit.

08/02/2026

The Post Bulletin asked how I would lead when the City Council makes a decision I disagree with; and when I would use the mayor’s veto.

My view: say what you fought for, put your reasons on the record, and then get back to work.

Residents don’t need a mayor who narrates grievances for four years. And “I didn’t have a vote” is not an answer.

The honest answer is:
Here’s what I pushed for.
Here’s where it landed.
Here’s what I’m doing about it now.

That’s also why I built openRochester.org before asking anyone for their vote.

A mayor who publishes the record doesn’t have to spin it.

Read my full response below.

https://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/axe-abdimajid-ahmed-on-council-decisions-and-the-veto

Rochester mayoral candidates were sent to sets of questions related to council decisions and the mayor's power to veto. Here are the questions and how Ahmed responded:

07/22/2026

Catch me tomorrow at Art Heads Emporium!

Come learn more about me and the campaign—and, most importantly, share your thoughts about Rochester and its future. I’d love to hear what matters to you.

07/22/2026

Tonight at the In the City for Good forum, I discussed why Rochester receives $41 per resident in state aid while Duluth receives about $450—and how an outdated funding formula shifts more of the cost onto local taxpayers.

If you want more information like this check out how OpenRochester.org.

So I built a civic game to make learning about Rochester’s local government a little more fun.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

07/21/2026

Apparently we’re now one of the Post Bulletin top fans. Fair enough — we read the local news in our house.

Strong local journalism matters. An informed public needs reporters asking hard questions, checking the record, and helping residents understand the decisions shaping Rochester.

Keep reporting. We’ll keep reading!

07/21/2026

What a fun night connecting with people, exchanging ideas, and talking honestly about Rochester’s future.

Thank you to Walé for Rochester for sharing the conversation, to Matt and Eric at The Shoe Beverage Bar for welcoming us, and especially to everyone who came out, asked questions, and shared what matters to you.

This is what local democracy should look like.