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^[13]

Results

First round

2023 Wichita mayoral primary election^[14]

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

General

2023 Wichita mayoral general election^[15]

Candidate		Votes	%
Lily Wu		37,004	57.22
Brandon Whipple (incumbent)		26,841	41.50
Write-in		415	0.64
not assigned		415	0.64
Total votes		64,260	100.0

References

1. "November 7, 2023 2023 General Election Results Election | Sedgwick County, Kansas". www.sedgwickcounty.org. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
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. "Here's who's running for mayor in Wichita — and who might still jump into the race". February 9, 2023.
5. "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. "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. "From The Chair Re: Election of Lily Wu as Mayor of Wichita, KS". Libertarian Party of Kansas. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
14. "Wichita mayor primary election results". KSN-TV. August 2, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
15. "November 7, 2023 2023 General Election Results Election | Sedgwick County, Kansas". www.sedgwickcounty.org. Retrieved January 11, 2024.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Bryan Frye for Wichita
• Brandon Whipple for Mayor
• Lily Wu for Mayor