2023 Wichita mayoral election

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2023 Wichita mayoral election
Flag of Wichita, Kansas.svg
  2019 August 1 (primary)
November 7, 2023 (general)
Officially non-partisan
2027 
Turnout15.93% (primary)
  Lily Wu (cropped).jpg Brandon Whipple speaking (cropped).jpg
Candidate Lily Wu Brandon Whipple
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Alliance Libertarian Democratic
Popular vote37,00426,841
Percentage57.22%41.50%

2023 Wichita mayoral election primary results by precinct.svg
2023 Wichita mayoral election runoff results by precinct.svg

Mayor before election

Brandon Whipple
Democratic

Elected mayor

Lily Wu
Libertarian

The 2023 Wichita mayoral election was held on November 7, 2023, to elect the mayor of Wichita, Kansas. The election is required to be non-partisan, but most candidates are known to be affiliated with political parties. Incumbent Democratic mayor Brandon Whipple unsuccessfully ran for re-election to a second term, losing to registered Libertarian candidate Lily Wu. [1]

Contents

Former TV news anchor Lily Wu finished first in the primary election, with Whipple narrowly defeating Republican city councilor Brian Frye to secure the second spot in the general election. Wu was backed by numerous prominent Republicans in the general election, including former U.S. Secretary of State and U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo. Despite Lily Wu being a registered Libertarian, the Libertarian Party of Kansas declined to endorse Wu because of her being a registered Republican shortly before the election. [2]

Without getting an endorsement from any political party, Wu pitched herself as a political outsider, while Whipple ran on his record. Wu defeated Whipple by a wide margin and became the first Asian-American and second female mayor in Wichita history. [3]

Candidates

Declared

Withdrew

Declined

Endorsements

Brandon Whipple

Individuals

Organizations

Lily Wu

County officials

  • Pete Meitzner, chair of the Sedgwick County commission and former Wichita city councilor (Republican) [8]

Organizations

Declined to endorse

Political parties

Results

Primary

2023 Wichita mayoral primary election [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Lily Wu 12,217 30.04
Nonpartisan Brandon Whipple (incumbent) 9,775 24.04
Nonpartisan Brian Frye9,07022.30
Nonpartisan Celeste Racette6,83116.80
Nonpartisan Jared Cerullo1,8704.60
Nonpartisan Sheila M. Davis2540.62
Nonpartisan Julie Rose Stroud2460.60
Nonpartisan Tom Kane2200.54
Nonpartisan Anthony Gallardo1820.45
Total votes40,665 100.00

General

2023 Wichita mayoral general election [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Lily Wu 37,004 57.22
Nonpartisan Brandon Whipple (incumbent)26,84141.50
Write-in 4150.64
Total votes64,260 100.0

References

  1. "November 7, 2023 2023 General Election Results Election | Sedgwick County, Kansas". www.sedgwickcounty.org. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "From The Chair Re: Election of Lily Wu as Mayor of Wichita, KS". Libertarian Party of Kansas. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  3. Swaim, Chance; Kelly, Matt; Rengers, Carrie (November 7, 2023). "'We need to do this together': Lily Wu will be Wichita's next mayor". The Wichita Eagle . Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Here's who's running for mayor in Wichita — and who might still jump into the race". February 9, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "City Council member Bryan Frye launches bid to become the next mayor of Wichita".
  6. "12 News anchor Lily Wu resigns, exploring run for mayor".
  7. "Celeste Racette, founder of Save Century II, enters race for Wichita mayor".
  8. 1 2 3 "Lily Wu announces run for ICT mayor with influential backers".
  9. "Wichita City Council member says he won't run for mayor".
  10. "Whipple says he'll make another four years as mayor count. It's 'about serving others'".
  11. "Did Democrats make an unforced error with partisan endorsement in Wichita mayor race?".
  12. "Americans for Prosperity-Kansas Endorses Lily Wu for 2023 Wichita Mayoral Primary Election". Americans for Prosperity. June 21, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  13. "Wichita mayor primary election results". KSN-TV. August 2, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  14. "November 7, 2023 2023 General Election Results Election | Sedgwick County, Kansas". www.sedgwickcounty.org. Retrieved January 11, 2024.

Official campaign websites