Max Theroux, an Eden Prairie High School graduate and University of Minnesota senior, ran for the Minneapolis City Council’s Ward 2 seat in the Nov. 4 election. Photo provided by Max Theroux
Eden Prairie High School class of 2022 graduate Max Theroux, 21, lost the Nov. 4 Minneapolis City Council Ward 2 election to incumbent Robin Wonsley.
Theroux, a senior at the University of Minnesota, was inspired to run for the council after a conversation with his father about road construction in Dinkytown. He said his youth should not inhibit him from running for office and believes young people need to be involved in politics.
Other candidates in the Ward 2 race included Shelley Madore and Michael Baskins.
The Star Tribune reported that Theroux and Baskins each received 4% of the vote, Madore received 32%, and Wonsley received 60%.
Theroux said the campaign was a valuable learning experience that helped him understand the inner workings of a political campaign.
“I really enjoyed it,” Theroux said. “I got to talk to a lot of fun people and meet a lot of interesting people.”
After his experience running for office this fall, Theroux said he would consider doing it again and is eager to apply what he learned from his first campaign. The biggest lesson, he said, was the importance of making the people around him feel heard.
“I think all the experiences I’ve gained from this are invaluable,” Theroux said. “And, you know, it’s not something I could have just learned without actually doing it the first time.”
He kept a diligent schedule to balance his life as a college student and his campaign, spending some days on schoolwork and others working with his campaign manager, he said. Now that the campaign is over, he plans to enjoy the rest of his senior year.
After graduation, Theroux said he plans to search for a job and later attend law school.
Theroux said he hopes his campaign inspires others to make their voices heard and see that they can make a difference. He saw the impact of his own advocacy when he posted an Instagram video showing potholes within a two-block radius around his apartment.
“A few weeks later, most of those potholes were filled,” Theroux said. “Seeing people realizing that it actually does matter and you actually can make a difference, you just need to step up and either vote or make your voice heard.”