Ranked Choice Voting Spotlight: Phillipe Cunningham
In Minneapolis, ranked choice voting made history. In the second round of the ranked choice voting (RCV) count, Phillipe Cunningham, a transgender Black man was elected to represent Minneapolis’ 4th Ward.
In a four (4) candidate race for the 4th Ward, Cunningham narrowly trailed Barb Johnson, the incumbent, 40.6% to 42.9% of the first choice votes. With ranked choice voting, Cunningham crossed the 50% majority threshold when the second choices of Dana Hansen and Stephanie Gasca were counted.
Cunningham joins Andrea Jenkins, a transgender Black woman, as the two first transgender candidates to be elected to the Minneapolis City Council. During a press statement, Cunningham elaborated on the role of ranked choice voting in his election:
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