Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty will not seek re-election next year.
Moriarty announced Wednesday evening she will instead focus on "creating enduring change in the system" during the final months of her administration.
Moriarty was elected in 2022 , winning by a 16-point margin. She previously served as the county's chief public defender. Moriarty is the first known, openly gay woman to serve in the role in Minnesota's most populous county.
"To keep the promises I made when I ran for this office, I have decided not to run for re-election," Moriarty said in a video posted to YouTube. "I want to focus on the work of running this office, not running for office. We've become accustomed to elected officials who are more invested in holding on to power, than doing the work of the people. That is not me."
WCCO Political Analyst Blois Olson says this comes after a fair amount of controversy during her first term.
"She's come sideways with some in her own party," says Olson. "The public has been frustrated by some of the lack of prosecutions, but she's put herself out there, she ran on a certain amount of reform. She certainly tried to achieve that."
Moriarity says her decision to not run for another term means that for the next 18 months, she can focus on finishing her work without having to consider the political implications of her decisions.
The decision comes after internal party disagreements between Moriarity and other county leaders.
"You just wonder what case is gonna come up where her not running is going to be implied in her decision," Olson adds. "That she doesn't have to face the voters if she makes that decision."
Moriarty's one term is a rare occurrence in the role. Her predecessor, Mike Freeman, served 24 years, from 1991-1999 and again from 2007-2023. Current U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar served as Hennepin County Attorney for eight years in between Freeman's two runs in the office.
There are no declared candidates running for County Attorney yet, but already state Rep. Cedric Frazier (DFL) says he is exploring a run for the office.