2023 Wichita mayoral election

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]

2023 Wichita mayoral election

← 2019 August 1 (primary) November 7, 2023 (general) Officially non-partisan 2027 →
Turnout	15.93% (primary)
Candidate Lily Wu Brandon Whipple Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Alliance Libertarian Democratic Popular vote 37,004 26,841 Percentage 57.22% 41.50%
Primary results by precinct General results by precinct Wu   20–30%   30–40%   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   90–100% Whipple   20–30%   30–40%   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   90–100% Frye   20–30%   30–40%   40–50%   90–100% Racette   20–30%   30–40%   40–50%   60–70%   90–100% Tie   20–30%   30–40%   40–50%   50% Not reported
Mayor before election Brandon Whipple Democratic Elected mayor Lily Wu Libertarian

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

• Jared Cerullo, former city councilor (Registered Republican Voter)^[4]
• Bryan Frye, city councilor (Registered Republican Voter)^[5]
• Tom Kane^[6]
• Celeste Racette, community activist and former Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation investigator (Registered Independent Voter)^[7]
• Julie Stroud, environmental health specialist (Registered Independent Voter)^[4]
• Brandon Whipple, incumbent mayor (Registered Democratic Voter)^[4]
• Lily Wu, former KWCH-DT news anchor (Registered Libertarian Voter)^[8]

Withdrew

• Irving Freige, U.S. Navy veteran^[4]

Declined

• Jeff Blubaugh, city councilor (running for Sedgwick County commission, endorsed Frye)^[9][5]
• Pete Meitzner, chair of the Sedgwick County commission and former city councilor ^[4] (endorsed Wu)^[8]

Endorsements

Brandon Whipple

Individuals

• Lacey Cruse, former Sedgwick County Commissioner^[10]

Organizations

• Sedgwick County Democratic Party^[11]

Lily Wu

County officials

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

Organizations

• Americans for Prosperity^[12]

Declined to endorse

Political parties

• Kansas Libertarian Party^[2]

Results

Primary

2023 Wichita mayoral primary election^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Lily Wu	12,217	30.04
	Nonpartisan	Brandon Whipple (incumbent)	9,775	24.04
	Nonpartisan	Brian Frye	9,070	22.30
	Nonpartisan	Celeste Racette	6,831	16.80
	Nonpartisan	Jared Cerullo	1,870	4.60
	Nonpartisan	Sheila M. Davis	254	0.62
	Nonpartisan	Julie Rose Stroud	246	0.60
	Nonpartisan	Tom Kane	220	0.54
	Nonpartisan	Anthony Gallardo	182	0.45
Total votes			40,665	100.00

General

2023 Wichita mayoral general election^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Lily Wu	37,004	57.22
	Nonpartisan	Brandon Whipple (incumbent)	26,841	41.50
	Write-in		415	0.64
Total votes			64,260	100.0