Lisa Borgen Wins Moorhead Mayoral Race
Borgen, a former city council member, will succeed outgoing Mayor Shelley Carlson in the Minnesota city next year.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in City Hall
Live Poll
Do you think Moorhead is heading in the right direction under its new leadership?
Lisa Borgen won the election for mayor of Moorhead, Minnesota with 9,097 votes. She will assume leadership of the Moorhead City Council, succeeding outgoing Mayor Shelley Carlson.
Why it matters
Borgen's victory marks a leadership transition for Moorhead as the city continues ongoing revitalization efforts in its core. Her stated priorities include economic development, housing, and public safety.
Borgen received 9,097 votes in the Moorhead mayoral election. The extraction does not include vote totals for opposing candidates or the margin of victory.
The players
Lisa Borgen
Lisa Borgen is a former Moorhead City Council member who won the city's mayoral election.
Shelley Carlson
Shelley Carlson is the outgoing mayor of Moorhead, Minnesota.
Chris Larson
Chris Larson is a WDAY radio host who interviewed Borgen about the election results.
The details
Borgen joined WDAY radio host Chris Larson to comment on the election results, pointing to ongoing revitalization efforts in the city's core. She plans to enhance Moorhead's border city legislation to attract incentives for residents and businesses.
Timeline
Borgen is expected to assume the mayoralty in 2026, succeeding Shelley Carlson.
Political Context
Borgen's victory extends Moorhead's existing downtown revitalization push rather than departing from it. Her stated goal is to continue the city's current trajectory on economic development, housing, and public safety.
Residents will see a change in city leadership next year as Borgen takes over from Carlson. Her plans to enhance border city legislation could affect incentives available to residents and businesses in Moorhead.
The takeaway
Local elections can shape how a city handles economic growth, housing and public safety, so following council decisions in Moorhead offers a clear view of those priorities in practice.
Further reading
For more on local governance decisions, see City Hall coverage of Moorhead leadership changes.
Live Poll
Do you think Moorhead is heading in the right direction under its new leadership?
