Few candidates filed to challenge incumbent mayor Melvin Carter III, and he easily won a second term with over 60% of first-preference votes.

[5] During his first term, Mayor Carter presided over the unrest in the Twin Cities after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis; making policing and public safety top of mind for voters in Saint Paul.

[5] Carter campaigned on achievements like an initiative to provide newborns with a college savings account,[6][5] a pilot program that distributed guaranteed income for some low-income families,[5] and rethinking public safety.

[6] Despite entering the race unopposed, Carter was facing several opponents by the close of the filing deadline on August 10, 2021.

[7] Most of Carter's opponents supported lowering crime rates[7] and implementing better social systems in the city of St.