2023 Wichita mayoral election

2023 Wichita mayoral election
Turnout	15.93% (primary);
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]

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