Moorhead, MN — Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson officially announced today her candidacy for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 4A, emphasizing her commitment to building a thriving, safe, and healthy community while elevating the priorities of Moorhead and the surrounding region.
Carlson, who served two years on the Moorhead City Council and five years as Mayor, has played an instrumental role in a record of transformational accomplishments—including the $500 million downtown redevelopment, Moorhead’s first-ever local option sales tax to help fund a new community center and library, the revitalization of Romkey Park and Moorhead Municipal Pool, and the completion of the long-awaited 11th Street underpass.
Carlson's current term as mayor ends on December 31, 2026, which makes her campaign for MN House District 4A a logical next step. “Serving Moorhead has been an honor, and together we’ve achieved work that will strengthen this community for decades,” Carlson said. “Now I’m ready to bring that same commitment, collaboration, and problem-solving to the Minnesota House.”
Carlson emphasized that she is not running with a personal agenda but with a deep desire to elevate her community's priorities. Her campaign focuses on three core pillars:
“For 20 years, Moorhead’s number one priority has been flood mitigation. I want to help us cross the finish line so families can finally stop paying for flood insurance,” she said. “We also need state support for a new fire station, a psychiatric residential treatment facility for youth, and continued investment in our schools, businesses, and parks.”
While focused on the future, Carlson also reflected on moments that revealed Moorhead’s character, including the community’s united response when the Moorhead–Fargo Islamic Community Center was vandalized. “That day, Moorhead showed up and supported each other wholeheartedly,” Carlson said. “We stood together. We rejected hate. And we lifted up our neighbors.”
Carlson has spent more than 30 years advocating for victims of crime—work she continues to this day—and says those experiences shaped her leadership style. “I’ve sat with families on their hardest days,” she said. “I know how to advocate for people who feel unheard. I know how to navigate complex systems. And I know how to show up.”
Carlson concluded: “I love this community. I believe in Moorhead. And with your support, I’ll bring our voices to St. Paul and continue building a thriving, safe, and healthy District 4A.”
For media requests, email Shelly4MNHouse@gmail.com.