Kaohly Her won a historic election victory, You Xiong had plenty of pride in the incoming St. Paul mayor — and plenty of ideas for her. For starters, Xiong said, how about a traffic signal and wider road in front of the Hmong Village Shopping Center.

Here’s what she said qualified her to be mayor, her thoughts on the role of government and her priorities as mayor.

Her is the first woman to lead St. Paul and will work with the City Council made up of all women. Carter had sought a third term.

Kaohly Vang Her, a Lao refugee turned state representative, will be the first woman and first Hmong American to serve as St. Paul mayor.

State Rep. Kaohly Her pulled off a historic victory on Tuesday, defeating Mayor Melvin Carter to become the next leader of St. Paul.

St. Paul mayoral winner Kaohly Vang Her, who was born in Laos and entered the U.S. as a refugee, once claimed during a public debate that she and her family were illegal migrants.

The leading candidates for St. Paul mayor — incumbent Melvin Carter and state Rep. Kaohly Her — have broadly similar goals for the city, with both campaigns leaning into messages of economic development and affordable homes.