Council President Noecker transitions to Ramsey County Board of Commissioners in January, special election will be held for council seat in 2027

After serving 10 years with Saint Paul City Council, Council President Rebecca Noecker (Ward 2) will transition from the Saint Paul City Council to serve as Ramsey County Commissioner for District 5 in the new year. District 5 represents downtown Saint Paul and surrounding areas from Highland Park to the West Side.
Noecker was elected to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election, prevailing over State Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega by 119 votes. She had announced her candidacy after incumbent Commissioner Rafael Ortega announced he was not seeking reelection for District 5. Council President Noecker will continue serving on the Saint Paul City Council through December 31, 2026.
Next steps
1. City Council plans to appoint an interim Ward 2 representative by the end of January 2027. The Council expects to begin accepting applications online from interested residents this Friday, Nov. 13, with additional information about eligibility, deadlines, and the selection process to follow.
2 A special election is anticipated for 2027, when Ward 2 voters will elect a Councilmember to serve the remainder of the current term. The City Council will set the date of the election by resolution in 2027. The Councilmember elected through the special election would be sworn in as soon as is practical and then serve through Dec. 31, 2028.
 
Details for Noecker’s swearing-in as Ramsey County Commissioner will be announced by Ramsey County.