The Humphrey School of Public Affairs is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Awards, who will be recognized at an awards celebration on September 17.
This year's awardees are Hubert H. (Skip) Humphrey III, who served as Minnesota Attorney General for 16 years and championed Minnesotans' health, safety, and consumer protection; the Carter Family, whose multigenerational public service in St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood spans law enforcement, county government, the mayor's office, and maternal health care; Norman Ornstein, a Minnesota native and longtime American Enterprise Institute scholar who has shaped national conversations on democratic institutions; and the Civic Spirit of Minnesota, honoring the Minnesotans who showed up for their neighbors with compassion and collective leadership.
The awards were established in honor of the Humphrey School’s namesake, Hubert H. Humphrey, to recognize individuals who have contributed to the common good through leadership and service.
About the honorees
Hubert H. (Skip) Humphrey III
Hubert H. (Skip) Humphrey III, a lifelong public servant and champion of Minnesotans' health, safety, and consumer protection. As Minnesota Attorney General for 16 years, he led landmark public health victories, empowered informed communities, and protected older adults from exploitation. The son of our School's namesake, Humphrey has carried forward a legacy of principled service that continues to shape Minnesota's well-being and civic leadership.
Carter Family
The Carter Family, a multigenerational St. Paul family whose roots in the Rondo neighborhood have produced decades of groundbreaking public service. Melvin Carter Jr. helped integrate the St. Paul Police Department and founded Save Our Sons, a youth intervention organization that became a model for community safety. His daughter Toni Carter made history as the first African American elected to a county board in Minnesota, serving Ramsey County with distinction. His son Melvin Carter III became St. Paul's first African American mayor, continuing the family's commitment to the city they have long called home. Dr. Sakeena Futrell-Carter, a certified nurse midwife, carries that legacy into women's health advocacy and maternal care.
Norman Ornstein
Norman Ornstein is a prominent political scientist, longtime scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and Minnesota native. He has helped shape national conversations around America’s political institutions and elections with clarity, insight, and a deep commitment to democratic values. He established a foundation in honor of his late son Matthew to advocate for mental health initiatives and urban debate programs.
Civic Spirit of Minnesota
The Civic Spirit of Minnesota honors the Minnesotans who showed up for our neighbors when it mattered most. We celebrate all those who opened their doors, mobilized resources, met immediate needs, supported families and students, and helped protect rights and navigate complex systems. They demonstrated the compassion, courage, and collective leadership that define the very best of Minnesota.
These remarkable recipients join a prestigious list of honorees that includes Vice President Walter Mondale, pioneering scientist and community activist Reatha Clark King, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Friedman, retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justices Margaret Chutich and Alan Page, and polar explorers Will Steger and Ann Bancroft. See the list of previous award recipients.
"The Humphrey School's Public Leadership Awards celebrate individuals and communities whose leadership has strengthened our democracy, improved people's lives, and advanced the public good," said Nisha Botchwey, dean of the Humphrey School. This year's honorees remind us that meaningful change comes through visionary leadership, dedicated public service, and the collective action of people who choose to show up for one another.”
The recipients will be honored at a gala event on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis. Proceeds support the Humphrey Public Leaders Fellowship fund.
Since its inception in 2003, the Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Awards have recognized 88 recipients and raised more than $2 million for student scholarships.
