2023 Wichita mayoral election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_date = August 1 (primary)
November 7, 2023 (general)
{{nobold|Officially non-partisan}}
| election_name = 2023 Wichita mayoral election
| ongoing = no
| flag_image = File:Flag of Wichita, Kansas.svg
| previous_election = 2019 Wichita mayoral election
| previous_year = 2019
| next_election = 2027 Wichita mayoral election
| next_year = 2027
| 1blank = Primary
| 2blank = General
| image1 = Lily Wu (cropped).jpg
| candidate1 = Lily Wu
| party1 = Nonpartisan politician
| popular_vote1 = 37,004
| percentage1 = 57.22%
| image2 = Brandon Whipple speaking (cropped).jpg
| candidate2 = Brandon Whipple
| party2 = Nonpartisan politician
| popular_vote2 = 26,841
| percentage2 = 41.50%
| type = presidential
| title = Mayor
| before_election = Brandon Whipple
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election = Lily Wu
| after_party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| alliance1 = Libertarian
| alliance2 = Democratic
| turnout = 15.93% (primary)
| map = {{switcher
|x200px | Primary results by precinct
|x200px | General results by precinct
|default=2}}
| map_caption = {{col-begin}}
{{col-5}}
Wu
{{legend|#fffae0|20–30%}}
{{legend|#FFEEAA|30–40%}}
{{legend|#FFDD55|40–50%}}
{{legend|#F1C92A|50–60%}}
{{legend|#DEB02A|60–70%}}
{{legend|#CE9B1E|70–80%}}
{{legend|#B98A35|80–90%}}
{{legend|#A58100|90–100%}}
{{col-5}}
Whipple
{{legend|#DFEEFF|20–30%}}
{{legend|#BDD3FF|30–40%}}
{{legend|#A5B0FF|40–50%}}
{{legend|#7996E2|50–60%}}
{{legend|#6674DE|60–70%}}
{{legend|#584CDE|70–80%}}
{{legend|#0d0596|90–100%}}
{{col-5}}
Frye
{{legend|#FFE0EA|20–30%}}
{{legend|#FFC8CD|30–40%}}
{{legend|#FFB2B2|40–50%}}
{{legend|#A80000|90–100%}}
{{col-5}}
Racette
{{legend|#C0F0C0|20–30%}}
{{legend|#AAE5AA|30–40%}}
{{legend|#87DE87|40–50%}}
{{legend|#37C837|60–70%}}
{{legend|#165016|90–100%}}
{{col-5}}
Tie
{{legend|#EFE7F5|20–30%}}
{{legend|#DECDE6|30–40%}}
{{legend|#D2B1D9|40–50%}}
{{legend|#AE8BB1|50%}}
Not reported
{{legend|#cccccc|}}
{{col-end}}
}}
{{ElectionsKS}}
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.{{Cite web |title=November 7, 2023 2023 General Election Results Election {{!}} Sedgwick County, Kansas |url=https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/elections/election-results/2023-general-election/ |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=www.sedgwickcounty.org}}
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.{{Cite web |title=From The Chair Re: Election of Lily Wu as Mayor of Wichita, KS |url=https://www.lpks.org/blog/from-the-chair-re-election-of-lily-wu-as-mayor-of-wichita-ks |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Libertarian Party of Kansas |language=en-US}}
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.{{cite news |work=The Wichita Eagle |date=November 7, 2023 |access-date=November 8, 2023 |url=https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/election/article281503968.html |author1=Swaim, Chance |author2=Kelly, Matt |title=‘We need to do this together’: Lily Wu will be Wichita’s next mayor |author3=Rengers, Carrie}}
Candidates
= Declared =
- Jared Cerullo, former city councilor (Registered Republican Voter)
- Bryan Frye, city councilor (Registered Republican Voter){{cite news |url=https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/election/article272526342.html |title=City Council member Bryan Frye launches bid to become the next mayor of Wichita}}
- Tom Kane{{cite news |url=https://www.kwch.com/2023/02/28/12-news-anchor-lily-wu-resigns-exploring-run-mayor/ |title=12 News anchor Lily Wu resigns, exploring run for mayor}}
- Celeste Racette, community activist and former Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation investigator (Registered Independent Voter){{cite news |url=https://www.kwch.com/2023/02/04/save-century-ii-founder-announces-run-wichita-mayor/ |title=Celeste Racette, founder of Save Century II, enters race for Wichita mayor}}
- Julie Stroud, environmental health specialist (Registered Independent Voter)
- Brandon Whipple, incumbent mayor (Registered Democratic Voter)
- Lily Wu, former KWCH-DT news anchor (Registered Libertarian Voter){{cite news |url=https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article273882265.html |title=Lily Wu announces run for ICT mayor with influential backers}}
= Withdrew =
- Irving Freige, U.S. Navy veteran
= Declined =
- Jeff Blubaugh, city councilor (running for Sedgwick County commission, endorsed Frye){{cite news |url=https://www.kfdi.com/2023/01/09/wichita-city-council-member-says-he-wont-run-for-mayor/ |title=Wichita City Council member says he won’t run for mayor}}
- Pete Meitzner, chair of the Sedgwick County commission and former city councilor {{cite news |url=https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/election/article271434727.html |date=9 February 2023 |title=Here’s who’s running for mayor in Wichita — and who might still jump into the race}} (endorsed Wu)
Endorsements
{{Endorsements box
| title = Brandon Whipple
| width = 50em
| list =
Individuals
- Lacey Cruse, former Sedgwick County Commissioner{{cite news |url=https://www.aol.com/whipple-says-ll-another-four-100000442.html |title= Whipple says he’ll make another four years as mayor count. It’s ‘about serving others’}}
Organizations
- Sedgwick County Democratic Party{{cite news |url=https://www.kansas.com/opinion/guest-commentary/article273463120.html |title=Did Democrats make an unforced error with partisan endorsement in Wichita mayor race?}}
}}
{{Endorsements box
| title = Lily Wu
| width = 50em
| list =
County officials
- Pete Meitzner, chair of the Sedgwick County commission and former Wichita city councilor (Republican)
Organizations
- Americans for Prosperity{{cite web |work=Americans for Prosperity |access-date=1 August 2023 |url=https://americansforprosperity.org/americans-for-prosperity-kansas-endorses-lily-wu-for-2023-wichita-mayoral-primary-election/ |date=21 June 2023 |title=Americans for Prosperity-Kansas Endorses Lily Wu for 2023 Wichita Mayoral Primary Election}}
}}
{{Endorsements box
| title = Declined to endorse
| width = 50em
| list =
Political parties
- Kansas Libertarian Party{{Cite web |title=From The Chair Re: Election of Lily Wu as Mayor of Wichita, KS |url=https://www.lpks.org/blog/from-the-chair-re-election-of-lily-wu-as-mayor-of-wichita-ks |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Libertarian Party of Kansas |language=en-US}}
}}
Results
= Primary =
{{Election box begin no change|title=2023 Wichita mayoral primary election{{Cite web |date=2023-08-02 |title=Wichita mayor primary election results |url=https://www.ksn.com/news/your-local-election-hq/wichita-mayor-primary-election-results/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=KSN-TV |language=en-US}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan candidate|candidate=Lily Wu|votes=12,217|percentage=30.04}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan candidate|candidate=Brandon Whipple (incumbent)|votes=9,775|percentage=24.04}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan candidate|candidate=Brian Frye|votes=9,070|percentage=22.30}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan candidate|candidate=Celeste Racette|votes=6,831|percentage=16.80}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan candidate|candidate=Jared Cerullo|votes=1,870|percentage=4.60}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan candidate|candidate=Sheila M. Davis|votes=254|percentage=0.62}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan candidate|candidate=Julie Rose Stroud|votes=246|percentage=0.60}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan candidate|candidate=Tom Kane|votes=220|percentage=0.54}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan candidate|candidate=Anthony Gallardo|votes=182|percentage=0.45}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=40,665|percentage=100.00}}
{{Election box end}}
= General =
{{Election box begin no change|title=2023 Wichita mayoral general election{{Cite web |title=November 7, 2023 2023 General Election Results Election {{!}} Sedgwick County, Kansas |url=https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/elections/election-results/2023-general-election/ |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=www.sedgwickcounty.org}}
|percentage=58.0}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan candidate|candidate=Lily Wu|votes = 37,004|percentage = 57.22}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan candidate|candidate=Brandon Whipple (incumbent)|votes = 26,841|percentage = 41.50}} {{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes = 415|percentage = 0.64}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=64,260|percentage = 100.0}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
Official campaign websites
- [https://www.votefrye.com/ Bryan Frye for Wichita]
- [https://www.votewhipple.com/ Brandon Whipple for Mayor]
- [https://lilywuformayor.com/ Lily Wu for Mayor]
{{2023 United States elections}}
Category:Mayoral elections in Wichita, Kansas