A woman who previously declared she was living in the U.S. illegally won the election to become the next mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Democratic State Rep. Kaohly Vang Her emerged victorious late Tuesday night in the St. Paul mayoral election, defeating incumbent Democratic Mayor Melvin Carter after a tabulation of second-choice votes, according to election results . 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, but later walked those claims back.

“I am illegal in this country. My parents are illegal here in this country,” Her said in June during a Minnesota House of Representatives floor debate over Medicaid eligibility for illegal migrants.

“I tell you this story because I want yo

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