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]
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]