Anders Folk

The next county attorney will shape the lives of people who are arrested and will also play a central role as the whole community looks for ways to improve safety in Minneapolis and Hennepin County.

Here is a summary of my interview with Anders Folk from December 2025.

Anders Folk, a lifelong Minnesotan and former federal prosecutor, is running for Hennepin County Attorney with a focus on restoring public safety and rebuilding the office's reputation.

Drawing on his experience in the Marine Corps, At the Department of Justice and earlier in the Hennepin County Attorney General Division, Folk argues that the office has suffered from weakened relationships with law enforcement and poor communication with the public.

He stresses the importance of professionalism, transparency, and collaboration across the county's public safety system.

And the reason I say some is because, frankly, there was a lot of strong emotions both on stage and in the audience because there was some things to debate.

The two folks who were in conversation at the Bryant-Lake Bowl on Tuesday night were Representative Cedrick Frazier and Anders Folk.

They're both running for Hennepin County Attorney.

And if you aren't familiar with these Theater of Public Policy events, they both take these forms of conversations with candidates, elected officials, et cetera, and combine them with some real moments of comedic improv, because a group of improvisers sits and watches this conversation happen and then reacts to it in long-form improv.

And actual criminals who shoot people, not as enthusiastic.

In terms of that race with Cedric Frazier and, uh, and, uh, and Folkes, um, you think Folkes has a, has a, a better chance at this? I know he's sort of the lesser, he's viewed as the lesser of two evils from those that's already examining this.

But I'm curious if, uh, if you know what kind of support he's getting right now, Anders Folkes.

Well, I don't think there's been any polling whatsoever.

I haven't seen any polls in that race.

Mary is no longer going to run for Hennepin County Attorney.

If, uh, if Anders Folk wins, perhaps some sanity could return to the job of prosecuting criminals.

I think the city would've been a lot safer under Mary's reign if she had, uh, in fact, prosecuted people and got tough with them, but she did not.

She had no intention to But that's what all but two of the 20 cities in Hennepin County voted for Mary.

Senate seat and governor, uh, they're the, uh, you know, Peggy Flanagan, Amy Klobuchar, and, uh, Keith Ellison are running against Trump.

Yep.

Anders Folk is running against Cedric Frazier.

Oh, wait.

What is that one about?

So thir- uh, October 13th on the Theater of Public Policy, we are having the two candidates for Hennepin County Attorney, Cedric Frazier and Anders Folk.

Uh, and we are going to have the two of them on stage together.

I'm gonna moderate a little conversation/debate, uh, between the two of them.

A judge is reviewing the county's request.

Cedric Frazier and Anders Folk, the two candidates looking to replace the current county attorney, both said a judge should reject the sentence reduction request.

That's after the murder victim's father condemned the idea.

I'm Kate Kelly.