Emily Larson

Emily Larson (born 1973) is an American politician and the current mayor of Duluth, Minnesota. She is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Emily Larson
Larson at a rally for Amy Klobuchar in 2019, prior to the announcement of Klobuchar's 2020 presidential campaign
39th Mayor of Duluth
Assumed office
January 4, 2016
Preceded byDon Ness
Member of the Duluth City Council
In office
January 2, 2012 – January 4, 2016
Preceded byJeff Anderson
Succeeded byElissa Hansen
Personal details
Born1973 (age 49–50)
St. Paul, Minnesota
Political partyMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
SpouseDoug Zaun
Alma materCollege of St. Scholastica (BA)
University of Minnesota (MSW)

Larson was elected mayor of Duluth in November 2015 and inaugurated on January 4, 2016, the first female mayor in the city's history. She won reelection in 2019. Prior to becoming mayor, she was a member of the Duluth City Council.

Life and education

Emily Larson was born and raised in St. Paul, the youngest of three children. Her mother, a poet, and her father, an information technology worker, divorced when she was 10 years old, but both later remarried.[1] She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in social work from the College of St. Scholastica and later earned a Master's Degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. A graduate of the Intermedia Arts Creative Community Leadership Institute, Larson served on the advisory committee that developed the Duluth Energy Efficiency Program (DEEP).

She has worked in Duluth for CHUM, a charity assisting homeless people and people at high risk for homelessness, and as a consultant to other non-profit organizations.[2] She owns a small business that specializes in helping non-profits.[3]

Political career

Larson finished first in the 2011 election for an at-large city council position, and was elected president of the Duluth City Council. She served for one term until she was elected mayor of the city.[2]

Mayor of Duluth

In November 2015, Larson won election as the first female mayor of Duluth, with almost 72% of the total votes.[4][5] She succeeded popular mayor Don Ness, who in his second term held a nearly 90% approval rating.[6] Larson was inaugurated on January 4, 2016, during a ceremony at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC).[7]

She was again reelected in 2019, this time with about 64% of the total votes.[8]

In December 2022, Larson announced her reelection bid, making her the first Duluth mayor to run for a third term since Gary Doty in 1999.[9]

Personal life

She is married to Doug Zaun, co-owner of Duluth-based design firm Wagner Zaun Architecture, and together they have two sons.[1][3]

Larson is an active trail runner and fitness enthusiast.[3]

Electoral history
2011 Duluth City Councilor At-Large election[10]
Candidates Primary
(Sep 13)		 General election
(Nov 8)
VotesA % VotesA %
Emily Larson 4,918 40.12 13,216 38.96
Linda Krug 4,860 39.65 12,186 35.92
Tim Riley 947 7.73 4,459 13.14
Chad Smith 645 5.26 3,920 11.56
Eric Edwardson 446 3.64
Gareth W. Bates 442 3.61
Write-in 142 0.42
Total 12,258 100 33,923 100

^A Voters could cast up to two votes

2015 Duluth Mayoral Election[11]
Candidates Primary
(Sep 15)		 General election
(Nov 3)
Votes % Votes %
Emily Larson 5,456 67.32 15,352 71.94
Chuck Horton 1,505 18.57 5,862 27.47
Howie Hanson 732 9.03
James Mattson 117 2.18
John Socha 111 1.37
John Howard Evans 51 0.63
Thomas Cooper 45 0.56
Robert D. Schieve 27 0.33
Write-in 125 0.59
Total 8,044 100 21,339 100
2019 Duluth Mayoral Election[8]
Candidates Primary
(Aug 13)		 General election
(Nov 5)
Votes % Votes %
Emily Larson 5,225 66.87 13,340 63.65
David Nolle 992 12.70 7,509 35.83
John Socha 450 5.76
Daniel Weatherly 285 3.65
Donald Raihala 220 2.82
Caleb Anderson 206 2.64
Jesse Peterson 193 2.47
Corey Ford 160 2.05
Doris Queen Lavender 83 1.06
Write-in 110 0.52
Total 7,814 100 20,959 100

See also

References
  1. Passi, Peter (October 10, 2015). "Duluth mayoral candidate Emily Larson says conflict taught her to be a more effective city councilor". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  2. "News Tribune's top 10 stories of 2016". Duluth News Tribune. December 24, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  3. "Emily Larson for Duluth Mayor". Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  4. Passi, Peter (November 4, 2015). "Larson will be Duluth's next mayor". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  5. Enninga, Heidi (January 2, 2017). "Duluth Mayor Emily Larson Looks Back at Year One". WDIO. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  6. National Research Center, Inc. (2014) The National Citizen Survey™ Duluth, MN DuluthMN.gov
  7. "Gallery: Emily Larson, the first female mayor of Duluth". Star Tribune. January 4, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  8. "2019 Election Results". Duluth, Minnesota. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  9. Passi, Peter (December 13, 2022). "Duluth mayor to seek third term, citing unfinished business, including new library". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  10. "2011 Election Results". Duluth, Minnesota. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  11. "2015 Election Results". Duluth, Minnesota. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
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