Tonight Hennepin County voters will select the next county attorney, a position that commands a staff of more than 500 and an annual budget exceeding $92 million. The race pits DFL State Rep. Cedrick Frazier against former federal prosecutor Anders Folk, each offering distinct visions for the office.
Candidate backgrounds
Cedrick Frazier, a resident of New Hope, began his legal career as a Hennepin County public defender before serving as director of equity and diversity for Minneapolis Public Schools. In that role he investigated discrimination and harassment complaints, later moving to the district’s general counsel office to manage litigation. For the past decade he has worked as a staff attorney for Education Minnesota, the state’s largest teachers union. Frazier entered politics with a 2018 victory on the New Hope City Council and was elected to the state House two years later.
Frazier told the Sahan Journal that his own upbringing on the south side of Chicago, where he lost loved ones to gun violence, gives him a “well‑rounded perspective necessary to lead this office.” He says he will prosecute violent crimes, protect public safety, and also uphold workers’ rights, defend abortion access, safeguard the environment, protect immigrant communities from unjust prosecutions, and support survivors of domestic and sexual assault.
Frazier enjoys the endorsements of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, U.S. Senator Tina Smith, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, and 29 state lawmakers, as well as dozens of local officials. He also secured the DFL endorsement for the nonpartisan Aug. 11 primary.
Anders Folk’s experience
Anders Folk, a Minneapolis resident and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, began his legal career as a local prosecutor in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office under then‑Attorney Amy Klobuchar before being called to active duty after the September 11, 2001 attacks. He served as a criminal‑defense attorney in the Marine Corps and later as a military prosecutor.
Folk spent five years as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota, handling cases involving gangs, terrorism, organized crime, fraud, and violent offenses. After nearly a decade in private practice, he returned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, serving as acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota after being appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
Speaking before the Aug. 11 primary, Folk said Hennepin County needs an experienced prosecutor with a “public safety‑first mindset.” His platform focuses on four priorities: creating a task force to investigate and prosecute federal agents involved in Operation Metro Surge, concentrating on violent repeat offenders, using data‑driven approaches for violence prevention and juvenile justice, and expanding collaboration with police, educators, elected officials, and community members.
Folk’s endorsements include Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt, former U.S. Attorney Andy Luger, and five Minneapolis City Council members, among other local leaders.
What’s at stake
The county attorney’s office prosecutes felony‑level adult criminal cases, all juvenile cases, and handles civil matters such as child support and child protection. The winner will shape how the office approaches violent crime, public safety, and community‑focused initiatives in Minnesota’s most populous county.
Live updates on vote totals will be posted throughout the evening, with polls closing at 8 p.m. and results refreshed approximately every ten minutes.
Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.
