Mai Chong Xiong

County Commissioner

Ramsey County

St. Paul, MN USA

“My vision and hope is that everyone gets to reach their fullest potential. Regardless of the family they grew up in or their life circumstances, they’re afforded the opportunity and the investment.”

Videos

By Roadtrip Nation

Mai Chong Xiong

Milestones

My road in life has been direct.

I was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

As refugees, my parents faced struggles supporting our family, so I started working at a young age while simultaneously trying to navigate government assistance programs.

I realized early on that going to college would help me better support myself and my family—so I attended the College of Saint Benedict and earned my bachelor’s degree in political science.

After graduating, I joined advocacy groups like TakeAction Minnesota, where I gained experience in grassroots community organizing and found support from leaders who looked like me.

I also gained experience working as a legislative aide for the Saint Paul City Council.

In 2023, I was elected to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners representing District 6—I’m the first Asian, first Hmong American, and youngest person to serve!

Keep following my journey

Education

High School

Bachelor
Political Science
College of Saint Benedict

Career

County Commissioner

I champion community investment, focusing on housing, transit, and youth to address disparities.

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

Government

Politics

Helping People

Day to Day

Every day, I strive to harness the power of my role to make tangible differences in District 6 and beyond. My focus is on securing investments that will empower our community—be it through improving housing, enhancing transit, or equipping our youth to lead tomorrow. From navigating meetings aimed at bridging disparities in health, income, and homeownership, to strategizing on how best to allocate funds for maximum impact, my days are a blend of advocacy, planning, and community engagement.

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Society in General:

"Poor families just don't work hard enough."

As refugees, my parents faced struggles supporting our family. I realized that the narrative that people told about poor families just wasn't true. People think that we don't work hard enough to prosper. My family worked very hard. My dad worked hard to secure a good job. I started working very young to help support my family. We also did our best to navigate government assistance programs. Now it's my vision that everyone is given the opportunity and investment to reach their full potential.

Mai Chong Xiong

County Commissioner

Videos

Mai Chong Xiong

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Government

Politics

Helping People

Day to Day

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Society in General:

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