Samantha Wolf Leads Woodbury Council Race
Nicole Mitchell narrowly edges incumbent Steve Morris for the second seat in unofficial results with all 16 precincts reporting.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Samantha Wolf topped the 10-candidate Woodbury City Council field with 10,502 votes, or 17.78%, in unofficial results. Nicole Mitchell held a 101-vote lead over incumbent Steve Morris for the second seat.
Why it matters
The results could bring two new members to the council, with Mitchell's narrow margin potentially triggering a recount request. The outcome will shape the council's composition for the next four-year term.
Samantha Wolf received 10,502 votes (17.78%), while Nicole Mitchell held 7,837 votes (13.27%) and Steve Morris 7,736 (13.09%) out of 59,079 counted. The 101-vote gap for the second seat is unofficial and remains subject to canvassing and a possible recount.
The players
Samantha Wolf
Samantha Wolf is a five-year Woodbury resident who co-led the effort to allow backyard hens and led the council field in unofficial results.
Nicole Mitchell
Nicole Mitchell resigned from the Minnesota state Senate in July 2025 and was later convicted by a jury of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools.
Steve Morris
Steve Morris is the incumbent Woodbury City Council member who was the only incumbent in the field and trails Mitchell by 101 votes for the second seat.
The details
Voters could select up to two candidates in the 10-candidate field. Mitchell's narrow lead over Morris, the only incumbent in the race, would be subject to a recount request if the canvassed results preserve the margin. Wolf, a five-year Woodbury resident, co-led the effort to allow backyard hens.
Timeline
July 2025: Nicole Mitchell resigned from the state Senate.
November 4, 2026: Early returns showed Wolf leading and Mitchell narrowly ahead of Morris.
January 2027: Newly elected council members would begin four-year terms.
Political Context
Minnesota's local recount law allows a city-funded recount when a race's margin falls within a statutory threshold, and the 101-vote gap here sits within that range. Whether Morris files for a recount will determine if the second seat is finalized on the canvassed totals.
Woodbury residents will see two new council members take office in January if the results hold, with Wolf and Mitchell replacing the seats in play. A recount, if requested, could delay the final composition of the council.
The takeaway
Local council races are often decided by narrow margins, so checking canvassed results rather than early returns gives the clearest picture of who will serve. Voters should watch for official certification before drawing firm conclusions about the second seat.
What happens next
Steve Morris could request a city-funded recount by filing with the city clerk by 5 p.m. on the seventh day after the canvass, if the margin holds.
Further reading
For more on how local races are decided, see Elections coverage of Woodbury.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Woodbury News Net.
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