Terry White is a regular contributor. He is also the author of the Better Minneapolis newsletter and podcast. He lives in Field.
With DFL precinct caucuses scheduled for Feb. 3, a new election cycle is underway for the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. In District 3, incumbent Commissioner Marion Greene is seeking another term as three challengers campaign for the party’s endorsement ahead of the 2026 election.
The Hennepin County Board oversees a $3.15 billion budget, and commissioners will earn up to $134,753 annually beginning in 2026. Despite the scope of the role, county races often receive less media attention than contests for mayor or City Council.
District 3 includes St. Louis Park and parts of southwest Minneapolis and downtown Minneapolis.
Marion Greene, Incumbent
Greene, elected to a third term in 2022. On her campaign website, she highlights her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, including directing federal relief dollars toward rental assistance, housing stabilization and eviction prevention programs. She also points to investments in mental health services, maternal health initiatives, gun violence prevention efforts and anti-hate programming.
Greene emphasizes her work on climate and sustainability, including the adoption of Hennepin County’s first Climate Action Plan and the creation of a Climate and Resiliency Department. Her broader priorities include reducing racial and economic disparities, expanding affordable housing, improving transit and strengthening community connections. Greene endorsed City Council Members Katie Cashman (Ward 7) and Aisha Chughtai (Ward 10) in the 2025 election.
https://mariongreene.org
The Challengers
Three candidates are currently running to challenge Greene.
Josh Bassais
Bassais says he is running to “lower costs, improve services, enhance safety and deliver accountable, community-focused leadership.” He describes growing up in south Minneapolis, working as a union business representative with LIUNA and UNITE HERE, managing multimillion-dollar private-sector budgets and serving as president of the Lyndale Neighborhood Board.
His platform frames public safety as “real safety,” supported by mental health care, treatment access, stable housing and community-based responses. He also emphasizes faster pathways to housing assistance, stronger transit connections and modernizing county services so residents can get clear answers rather than bureaucratic dead ends. Bassais lost to Ward 8 City Council Member-elect Soren Stevenson in 2025, securing an impressive 4,600 votes on the first ballot.
https://www.joshfordistrict3.com
Kevin A. Chavis
Chavis describes himself as a lifelong Minnesotan with experience in the Minnesota Army National Guard, labor organizing and eight years working for Hennepin County supporting people in substance-use treatment programs.
His platform focuses on “stable homes,” expanding safety-net programs and ensuring communities have meaningful input in transit planning. Chavis also supports maintaining HCMC as a publicly owned safety-net hospital. Another key priority is a “zero waste” strategy that includes broader organics access for multifamily buildings and businesses, along with long-term planning to close the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center.
https://kevinchavis.org
Abdihakim Ibrahim
Ibrahim, a member of the St. Louis Park School Board, describes himself as an immigrant, parent and engineer whose campaign is rooted in “lived experience” and results for families. His platform emphasizes affordable housing, community-centered public safety built on trust, economic opportunity and environmental responsibility.
He also highlights youth and school-focused priorities, including expanded mental-health supports, Safe Routes to School initiatives and stronger after-school programs. Ibrahim supports more frequent bus service, improved winter maintenance of transit stops and broader climate resilience strategies.
https://abdihakimibrahim.com
