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.
Former TV news anchor 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 Mike Pompeo, who was a U.S. Representative for KS-4, which encompasses Wichita. Despite 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.
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.
Primary election Candidates Advanced to general Brandon Whipple, incumbent mayor (registered Democrat) Lily Wu, former KWCH-DT news anchor (registered Libertarian) Eliminated in primary Jared Cerullo, former city councilor (registered Republican) Bryan Frye, city councilor (registered Republican) Tom Kane Celeste Racette, community activist and former Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation investigator (registered independent) Julie Stroud, environmental health specialist (registered independent) Withdrew Irving Freige, U.S. Navy veteran Declined Jeff Blubaugh, city councilor (running for Sedgwick County commission, endorsed Frye) Pete Meitzner, chair of the Sedgwick County commission and former city councilor (endorsed Wu)
Endorsements
Results
General election Post-primary endorsements
Results
References
External links Official campaign websites Bryan Frye for Wichita Brandon Whipple for Mayor Lily Wu for Mayor