United States municipal elections, 2023

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Montgomery, AlabamaMontgomery, Alabama (Mayor)Jefferson County, AlabamaAnchorage, AlaskaJuneau, AlaskaTucson, ArizonaTucson, Arizona (Mayor)Chula Vista, CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaSan Diego County, CaliforniaSanta Clara County, CaliforniaAurora, ColoradoAurora, Colorado (Mayor)Colorado Springs, ColoradoColorado Springs, Colorado (Mayor)Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado (Mayor)Hartford, ConnecticutHartford, Connecticut (Mayor)Dover, DelawareDover, Delaware (Mayor)Hialeah, FloridaJacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida (Mayor)Miami, FloridaOrlando, FloridaOrlando, Florida (Mayor)Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida (Mayor)Boise, IdahoBoise, Idaho (Mayor)Chicago, IllinoisChicago, Illinois (Mayor)Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield, Illinois (Mayor)Fort Wayne, IndianaFort Wayne, Indiana (Mayor)Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana (Mayor)Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, Iowa (Mayor)Topeka, KansasWichita, KansasWichita, Kansas (Mayor)Lexington, KentuckyLouisville, KentuckyBaton Rouge, LouisianaNew Orleans, LouisianaAugusta, MaineBoston, MassachusettsLansing, MichiganMinneapolis, MinnesotaSt. Paul, MinnesotaJefferson City, MissouriJefferson City, Missouri (Mayor)Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri (Mayor)St. Louis, MissouriHelena, MontanaLincoln, NebraskaLincoln, Nebraska (Mayor)Henderson, NevadaConcord, New HampshireConcord, New Hampshire (Mayor)Essex County, New JerseyHudson County, New JerseyAlbuquerque, New MexicoSanta Fe, New MexicoBernalillo County, New MexicoBuffalo, New YorkNew York, New YorkBronx County, New YorkErie County, New YorkKings County, New YorkNew York County, New YorkQueens County, New YorkRichmond County, New YorkPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaCharlotte, North CarolinaDurham, North CarolinaGuilford County, North CarolinaCincinnati, OhioCleveland, OhioColumbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio (Mayor)Toledo, OhioFairfield County, OhioFranklin County, OhioHamilton County, OhioLucas County, OhioOklahoma City, OklahomaCleveland County, OklahomaOklahoma County, OklahomaOsage County, OklahomaTulsa County, OklahomaPortland, OregonMultnomah County, OregonHarrisburg, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania (Mayor)Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaAllegheny County, PennsylvaniaPierre, South Dakota (Mayor)Columbia, South CarolinaMemphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee (Mayor)Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee (Mayor)Arlington, TexasArlington, Texas (Mayor)Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas (Mayor)El Paso, TexasFort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas (Mayor)Garland, TexasGarland, Texas (Mayor)Houston, TexasHouston, Texas (Mayor)Irving, TexasIrving, Texas (Mayor)Plano, TexasSan Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas (Mayor)Bexar County, TexasCollin County, TexasEl Paso County, TexasHarris County, TexasTarrant County, TexasTravis County, TexasSalt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City, Utah (Mayor)Montpelier, VermontChesapeake, VirginiaVirginia Beach, VirginiaOlympia, WashingtonOlympia, Washington (Mayor)Seattle, WashingtonSpokane, WashingtonSpokane, Washington (Mayor)King County, WashingtonSpokane County, WashingtonMadison, WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin (Mayor)Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee County, WisconsinSubmit

Ballotpedia covered municipal elections in 32 counties and 77 cities, including 40 mayoral elections, in 2023. As of 2023, Ballotpedia's coverage scope for local elections included elections on the ballot in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population, as well as elections for mayors, city council members, and district attorneys in each state capital.

To read about municipal elections that Ballotpedia designated as battlegrounds in 2023, click here.

As of 2023, Ballotpedia tracked the partisan affiliation of the mayors of the 100 largest cities and each state capital, including mayors of cities holding nonpartisan mayoral elections.[1]

Twenty-nine of the 100 largest U.S. cities held mayoral elections in 2023. Mayoral offices changed partisan control in five cities in 2023—four as the result of elections and one party switch—resulting in no net change in the number of offices held by Democrats and a net loss of two Republican-held offices. Libertarians and independents gained one office each. Once mayors elected in 2023 assumed office, Democrats held 63 top-100 mayoral offices, Republicans held 26, Libertarians held one, independents held four, and nonpartisan mayors held four. Two mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.

Eighteen state capitals held mayoral elections in 2023, including 11 capitals that fell outside of the top 100 cities. One state capital saw a change in mayoral partisan affiliation in 2023, resulting in a net gain of one office for Republicans and a net loss of one office for Democrats. After mayors elected in 2023 assumed office, there were 37 Democratic state capital mayors, six Republican mayors, one independent mayor, two nonpartisan mayors, and four mayors with unknown partisan affiliation.

On this page, you will find:

* 2023 municipal battleground elections
* Mayoral partisanship information
* Municipal elections by state and by date
* Mayors of the 100 largest cities
* Historical municipal election data
* More local election analysis

Note: The statistics on this page do not include data from local elections in the U.S. territories.

## Contents

* 1 2023 municipal battleground elections
* 1.1 Mayoral battlegrounds
* 1.2 Other municipal battlegrounds
* 2 Mayoral partisanship
* 2.1 Mayoral partisanship in state capitals
* 3 Municipal elections across the United States
* 4 By state
* 4.1 Alabama
* 4.2 Alaska
* 4.3 Arizona
* 4.4 California
* 4.5 Colorado
* 4.6 Connecticut
* 4.7 Delaware
* 4.8 Florida
* 4.9 Idaho
* 4.10 Illinois
* 4.11 Indiana
* 4.12 Iowa
* 4.13 Kansas
* 4.14 Kentucky
* 4.15 Louisiana
* 4.16 Maine
* 4.17 Massachusetts
* 4.18 Michigan
* 4.19 Minnesota
* 4.20 Missouri
* 4.21 Montana
* 4.22 Nebraska
* 4.23 Nevada
* 4.24 New Hampshire
* 4.25 New Jersey
* 4.26 New Mexico
* 4.27 New York
* 4.28 North Carolina
* 4.29 Ohio
* 4.30 Oklahoma
* 4.31 Oregon
* 4.32 Pennsylvania
* 4.33 South Carolina
* 4.34 South Dakota
* 4.35 Tennessee
* 4.36 Texas
* 4.37 Utah
* 4.38 Vermont
* 4.39 Virginia
* 4.40 Washington
* 4.41 Wisconsin
* 5 By date
* 5.1 February 14
* 5.1.1 Primary
* 5.1.2 General election
* 5.2 February 21
* 5.2.1 Primary
* 5.3 February 27
* 5.3.1 Special election
* 5.4 February 28
* 5.4.1 General election
* 5.5 March 7
* 5.5.1 Primary
* 5.5.2 General election
* 5.6 March 21
* 5.6.1 General election
* 5.7 March 25
* 5.7.1 Primary
* 5.8 March 28
* 5.8.1 Special election
* 5.9 April 3
* 5.9.1 General election
* 5.10 April 4
* 5.10.1 Primary
* 5.10.2 General election
* 5.10.3 General runoff
* 5.11 April 18
* 5.11.1 General election
* 5.12 April 25
* 5.12.1 General runoff election
* 5.13 April 29
* 5.13.1 General election
* 5.14 May 2
* 5.14.1 Primary
* 5.14.2 General election
* 5.15 May 6
* 5.15.1 General election
* 5.16 May 16
* 5.16.1 Primary
* 5.16.2 General election
* 5.16.3 General runoff
* 5.17 June 6
* 5.17.1 Primary
* 5.17.2 General election
* 5.17.3 General runoff
* 5.18 June 10
* 5.18.1 General runoff
* 5.19 June 13
* 5.19.1 Primary
* 5.20 June 18
* 5.20.1 General election
* 5.21 June 20
* 5.21.1 General election
* 5.22 June 27
* 5.22.1 Primary
* 5.22.2 General runoff
* 5.23 July 25
* 5.23.1 Special election
* 5.24 August 1
* 5.24.1 Primary
* 5.25 August 3
* 5.25.1 General election
* 5.26 August 8
* 5.26.1 Primary
* 5.26.2 General runoff
* 5.27 August 15
* 5.27.1 Primary
* 5.28 August 22
* 5.28.1 General election
* 5.29 September 12
* 5.29.1 Primary
* 5.29.2 General election
* 5.30 September 14
* 5.30.1 General runoff
* 5.31 October 3
* 5.31.1 General election
* 5.31.2 General runoff
* 5.32 October 5
* 5.32.1 General election
* 5.33 October 10
* 5.33.1 Primary
* 5.33.2 Primary runoff
* 5.34 October 14
* 5.34.1 Primary
* 5.35 November 7
* 5.35.1 Primary
* 5.35.2 General election
* 5.36 November 16
* 5.36.1 General runoff
* 5.37 November 18
* 5.37.1 General election
* 5.38 November 21
* 5.38.1 General election
* 5.38.2 General runoff
* 5.39 December 5
* 5.39.1 General runoff
* 5.40 December 9
* 5.40.1 General election
* 5.40.2 General runoff
* 5.41 List of mayors of the 100 largest cities
* 5.42 Historical election data
* 5.42.1 Mayoral elections
* 5.42.2 City council elections
* 5.42.3 County elections
* 5.42.4 Uncontested races
* 5.43 More local election analysis
* 5.43.1 Analysis
* 5.44 See also
* 5.45 Footnotes

## 2023 municipal battleground elections[edit]

See also: Battlegrounds

Ballotpedia designates races expected to have a meaningful effect on the balance of power in governments or to be particularly competitive or compelling as battlegrounds.

### Mayoral battlegrounds[edit]

See also: United States mayoral elections, 2023

* Chicago, Illinois

See also: Mayoral election in Chicago, Illinois (2023)

Brandon Johnson defeated Paul Vallas in the runoff election for mayor of Chicago, Illinois, on April 4, 2023. Johnson received 51.4% of the vote and Vallas received 48.6%. They advanced from a field of nine candidates in the February 28 general election. Click here to read more about the general election.

Politico's Shia Kapos and Olivia Olander said in February 2023 that the two runoff candidates "could hardly be more different . . . Vallas, who is white, ran to the right of Lightfoot and has focused primarily on public safety. He won the endorsement of Chicago’s conservative Fraternal Order of Police and faced accusations from his rivals of being a Republican despite declaring himself a Democrat. And although Johnson, a Black progressive with the backing of the Chicago Teachers Union, doesn’t use 'defund the police' rhetoric, he has argued for police resources to be redirected to the city’s social service agencies."[2]

Vallas received 33.7% of the vote in the general election. He was the 2014 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. He worked as chief administrative officer at Chicago State University and was the CEO of Chicago Public Schools. On the night of the general election, Vallas said, "Public safety is the fundamental right of every American. It is a civil right. And it is the principle responsibility of government, and we will have a safe Chicago."[3] The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Vallas.

Johnson received 20.3% of the vote in the general election. He was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners as a Democrat in 2018. He was a teacher with Chicago Public Schools and an organizer with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). In a speech the night of the general election, Johnson thanked the CTU for its support and said, "We get to turn the page of the politics of old . . . Every single child in the city gets to have their needs met."[4] The CTU endorsed Johnson.

Incumbent Lori Lightfoot finished third with 17.1% of the vote. She was elected mayor in 2019, defeating Toni Preckwinkle 74% to 26% in a runoff election after advancing from a 14-candidate general election field. Lightfoot was the first person elected Chicago mayor to lose a re-election bid since 1983 when Jane Byrne lost her primary.[5] Mayor Eugene Sawyer, who lost a 1989 primary to Richard Daley, was appointed mayor rather than elected.

Although elections are officially nonpartisan, candidates are typically affiliated with one of the major political parties. Johnson and Vallas are both Democrats. The last Republican mayor of Chicago, William Thompson, left office in 1931.

Chicago adopted the system of nonpartisan general elections with a potential runoff beginning with the 1999 mayoral elections. In the six elections between 1999 and 2019, a runoff election occurred twice (2015 and 2019). A candidate won the other four general elections outright (1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011).

* Denver, Colorado

See also: Mayoral election in Denver, Colorado (2023)

Mike Johnston defeated Kelly Brough in a runoff election for mayor of Denver, Colorado, on June 6, 2023. They advanced from a field of 22 candidates in the April 4 general election.

Incumbent Michael Hancock (D), first elected in 2011, was term-limited. This was Denver's fifth open mayoral election since 1959.

Denverite's Kyle Harris wrote that residents "are worried about the city's affordability ... public safety and rising crime ... [and] homelessness. People want solutions, and it's clear that the people of the city understand that the mayor's seat can try to tackle many of these issues." Click here to view candidates' stances on these topics.[6][7]

Harris said Brough and Johnston were "centrist candidates ... [who] cleaved toward the middle, offering an optimistic vision while gently pushing for using policing in their homelessness solutions."[8] While the election was officially nonpartisan, Brough and Johnston were Democrats.[9]

Brough was chief of staff to former Mayor John Hickenlooper from 2003 to 2009 before becoming president and C.E.O. of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, a post she held until 2021.[10] Brough received an endorsement from The Denver Gazette.[11]

Johnston was a former educator and school administrator who served in the Colorado Senate from 2007 to 2019. Johnston was the third-place finisher in the state's 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary. Johnston received an endorsement from The Denver Post.[12]

Denverite's Harris wrote, "The mayor is powerful ... [and] often described as the strongest elected position in the state."[13] Denver has a strong mayor government, where the mayor serves as chief executive and the city council operates as a legislative branch. The mayor sets the city budget, nominates department heads, and appoints more than 700 officials citywide. The mayor also oversees the Denver International Airport, police and sheriff departments, and the community planning and development department.[14]

For coverage of the April 4, 2023, general election, click here.

* Jacksonville, Florida

See also: Mayoral election in Jacksonville, Florida (2023)

Donna Deegan (D) defeated Daniel Davis (R) 52% to 48% in the May 16, 2023, runoff election for mayor of Jacksonville, Florida. They advanced from a field of eight candidates in the March 21, 2023, general election. Click here to read more about the general election.

Incumbent Mayor Lenny Curry (R) was term-limited. At the time of the election, Jacksonville was the most populous American city with a Republican mayor.

Deegan received 39% of the vote in the general election. Deegan founded two philanthropic organizations focused on breast cancer issues, and was a local television news anchor and investigative journalist.[15][16] In her Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, Deegan said her priorities included "improvements in infrastructure, public health, housing affordability, and an inclusive economy" and that "For too long, that leadership has been lacking in a City Hall that only works for a handful of well-connected people."

Davis received 25% of the vote in the general election. He was the chief executive officer of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, and served in the Florida House of Representatives representing District 15 from 2010 to 2014.[17] In his election night speech, he said, "Will we elect a mayor who will stand with our brave men and women in uniform to make Jacksonville safer? Or will we, as Jacksonvillians, go down the pathway of San Francisco and New York?" In addition to his support for law enforcement, he highlighted his support for school choice and said he would "stand with Governor Ron DeSantis (R) to keep Florida free."[18]

Deegan's endorsements included the Jacksonville chapter of the National Organization for Women PAC, Branch 53 of the North Florida Letter Carriers union, and former Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried's (D) PAC, Won't Back Down.[19] Davis' endorsements included Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters (R), the Jacksonville Brotherhood of Firefighters, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R).[20][21]

In 2015, Curry defeated then-incumbent Alvin Brown (D) 51% to 49% in the May runoff election. The 2019 mayoral election was decided in the March general election, with Curry receiving 58% of the vote over Anna Lopez Brosche’s (R) 24%, Omega Allen’s (I) 11%, and Jimmy Hill’s (R) 8%.

As of May 2023, the partisan breakdown of the mayors of the 100 largest U.S. cities was 62 Democrats, 26 Republicans, three independents, and seven nonpartisans. Two mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.[22] Based on 2020 population estimates, 76.1% of the population of the top 100 cities lived in cities with Democratic mayors, and 16.2% lived in cities with Republican mayors at the start of 2022.

* Lincoln, Nebraska

See also: Mayoral election in Lincoln, Nebraska (2023)

Incumbent Leirion Gaylor Baird defeated Suzanne Geist in the May 2, 2023, nonpartisan general election for mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska. Gaylor Baird and Geist were the top-two vote-getters in the April 4, 2023, nonpartisan primary.[23]

Gaylor Baird received 48.6% of the vote in the April 4 primary, and Geist received 33.9%. Stan Parker, a candidate affiliated with the Republican Party, received 17.4%. Parker endorsed Geist after the primary.[24]

While mayoral elections in Lincoln are officially nonpartisan, candidates are often affiliated with one of the two major political parties. At the time of the election, Gaylor Baird was affiliated with the Democratic Party, and Geist was affiliated with the Republican Party. The last Republican mayor of Lincoln, Mike Johanns, left office in 1998.[23][25]

Gaylor Baird was first elected mayor in 2019 after she defeated Cyndi Lamm 54.5% to 45.3% in the general election. A former member of Lincoln's City Council, Gaylor Baird said public safety was her top priority. "I will continue to support our first responders with investments in personnel, equipment and facilities,” Gaylor Baird said.[26][27][28]

Geist, a business owner, represented District 25 in the Nebraska State Senate from 2017 until she resigned on April 6, 2023.[29] Geist said she would "... support law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders."[30][31]

Gaylor Baird criticized Geist's Senate voting record on issues including abortion, transgender issues, and concealed firearms. “Her voting record at the state Capitol makes it clear that her priorities are not our shared priorities. … They hurt Lincoln and they hurt Nebraska,” Baird said.[32]

Geist criticized Gaylor Baird’s record on public safety. Geist tweeted, “It’s important to understand that law enforcement supports me, not @MayorLeirion for a reason. I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement in the legislature because it was the right thing to do. Leirion stood by when there were riots in ‘20 instead of with the police.”[33]

The Lincoln Fire Fighters Association, EMILY's List and the Sierra Club endorsed Gaylor Baird.[34][35][36] The Lincoln Police Union, Gov. Jim Pillen (R), and U.S. Sens. Pete Ricketts (R) and Deb Fischer (R) endorsed Geist.[37]

Both candidates raised more than $1 million each, doubling the previous fundraising record for a Lincoln mayoral race set in 2019.[38][39]

Heading into 2023, the partisan breakdown of the mayors of the 100 largest U.S. cities was 63 Democrats, 28 Republicans, three independents, and four nonpartisans. Two mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.[40]

Lincoln also held elections for seats in the city council and the Lincoln Airport Authority on May 2, 2023.

* Nashville, Tennessee

See also: Mayoral election in Nashville, Tennessee (2023)

Freddie O'Connell defeated Alice Rolli in the September 14, 2023, runoff election for mayor of Nashville, Tennessee. Incumbent Mayor John Cooper (D) did not seek re-election, making him the first Nashville mayor who served a full term in office to not seek re-election since 1991.[41]

Although municipal elections in Nashville were officially nonpartisan, both candidates had political affiliations. O'Connell, who represented District 19 on the Nashville Metro Council, was a Democrat. Rolli, a former political strategist who was a staffer for Govs. Bill Haslam (R) and Lamar Alexander (R), was a Republican.[42]

O'Connell and Rolli had advanced from a field of 12 candidates in the city's nonpartisan general election on Aug. 3, 2023, with O'Connell finishing first and Rolli placing second. Click here to read more about the general election.

O'Connell received 27% of the vote in the Aug. 3 general election. Axios Nashville's Nate Rau wrote that O'Connell "overcame substantial campaign disadvantages to storm into first place in a crowded general election field...he sold voters on a progressive vision for the city and highlighted his vote against the $2.1 billion Titans stadium deal as proof of his commitment to controlling development growth."[43] Before the general election, O'Connell told The Tennessean that his top priorities were improving basic governmental service such as trash pickup and filling potholes, building a better transportation network, and improving the trust residents have in city government.[44]

Rolli received 20% of the vote in the first round of voting. Axios Nashville's Rau wrote that Rolli "campaigned on addressing crime, keeping taxes low and pressing Metro Nashville Public Schools for improvement. She sold voters on her conservative bona fides by touting her resume."[43] Before the general election, Rolli told The Tennessean that her top priorities were to ensure that all first graders in the city could read, improving public safety, not increasing taxes, and building a better relationship with the state to address regional issues such as transit and homelessness.[45]

After reviewing voting data from the general election, The Tennessean's Cassandra Stephenson wrote that "O'Connell-won precincts largely correlate to Davidson County's most populated districts" and "Rolli brought in the most votes in...areas that have historically netted support for candidates with conservative policy views."[46] Stephenson also wrote that the "O'Connell-Rolli matchup mirrors the 2015 race between Megan Barry and David Fox (who now serves as Rolli's treasurer and campaign manager)."[46] That year, Barry received 23.5% and Fox received 22.8% in the general election from a seven-candidate field. Barry defeated Fox in the runoff, 55% to 45%.

Matt Wiltshire, who finished third in the general election with 17% of the vote, endorsed O'Connell on Aug. 14.[47] State Sens. Jeff Yarbro (D) and Heidi Campbell (D)—who finished fourth and fifth, respectively—endorsed O'Connell on Aug. 9 and 10.[48] Former Nashville school board member Fran Bush, who finished 11th in the general election, endorsed Rolli on Aug. 10.[49]

As a result of the election, O'Connell became Nashville's fourth mayor in five years. Megan Barry resigned in March 2018 after pleading guilty to felony theft of property. After Barry's resignation, Vice Mayor David Briley assumed office and won a special election to retain the office in Aug. 2018. In the 2019 regular mayoral election, Cooper defeated Briley.[50]

The Tennessean invited all mayoral candidates to complete a questionnaire on specific policy topics. Click the links below to view each runoff candidate's response:

* O'Connell
* Rolli

Nashville has a strong mayor government, where the mayor serves as chief executive and the city council operates as a legislative branch. The responsibilities of the mayor include proposing a budget, signing legislation into law, appointing departmental directors, and overseeing the city's day-to-day operations.

As of Aug. 2023, Democrats held 64 of the mayoral offices in the 100 largest cities in the country, Republicans held 24, independents held four, and nonpartisan mayors held six. Two mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.

* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See also: Mayoral election in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (May 16, 2023 Democratic primary)

Cherelle Parker defeated eight other candidates in the Democratic primary for mayor of Philadelphia on May 16, 2023. She faced David Oh—the only candidate who ran for the Republican nomination—in the general election on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Jim Kenney (D), who was first elected mayor in 2015 and re-elected in 2019, was term-limited.

The city's last 10 mayors were all elected as Democrats, and the last Republican to serve as mayor was Bernard Samuel, whose term ended in 1952. Jeff Brown, Allan Domb, Helen Gym, Parker, and Rebecca Rhynhart had led in fundraising and media mentions.

Parker was elected to the city council in 2016 and served until 2022, when she resigned to run for mayor. She began her political career as a city council staff member and served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2005 to 2016.[51] Parker was elected the council's majority leader in 2020.[52] Her website said, "It was in this role where she focused on public safety, stabilizing “middle neighborhoods,” economic opportunity – especially for small businesses, and working to get city government to function like it should."[53]

In the three Philadelphia mayoral elections since 1999 that did not have an incumbent, the winner of the Democratic primary received a majority of the vote once—Kenney's 56% in 2015. Michael Nutter won the Democratic primary in 2007 with 37% of the vote and John Street won the Democratic primary in 1999 with 36% of the vote.

Marcus Biddle at WHYY wrote before the election that, "Most candidates are making public health issues like gun violence a campaign priority. How they plan to solve those problems is another story...Improving major public health issues in Philadelphia — the gun violence crisis and the opioid epidemic among them — could be a deciding issue for many voters in the city’s mayoral race...As for the city’s gun violence crisis, most candidates agreed that improving and expanding access to behavioral health support, therapy, and trauma treatment is an urgent need."[54]

Rhynhart was elected Philadelphia City Controller in 2018 and resigned in 2022 to run for mayor. She was a former director at Fitch Ratings and managing director at Bear Stearns.[55] Rhynhart was appointed Philadelphia City Treasurer in 2008 by former Mayor Michael Nutter, and also served as the city's Budget Director and Chief Administrative Officer under Mayor Jim Kenney. Rhynhart's website said that her time spent in the city's various financial roles was important: "She used her financial expertise to expose wasteful spending and make government work more effectively with an emphasis on equity, fairness and social justice. She has shown courage in refusing to back down from tough fights in order to serve Philadelphia."[56]

Gym was elected as an at-large member of the Philadelphia City Council in 2015 and served until 2022, when she resigned to run for mayor. She was the former executive director of Asian Americans United and the co-founder of Parents United for Public Education, which described itself on its website as "a parent-led citywide organization focused on providing an independent voice for parents fighting for public education."[57] Gym said she ran for mayor "to finish a job I started 30 years ago, when I was a teacher and a tough Philly mom who refused to accept broken systems, took on tough challenges and organized alongside communities for change."[58]

Before the primary, Anna Orso, Sean Collins Walsh, and Julia Terruso wrote in The Philadelphia Inquirer: "To be clear, all of the major candidates will likely get at least some votes from every pocket of the city. But winning candidates typically have a strong base that they build out from...Rhynhart and Gym are both vying for liberal Center City voters, and Domb and Brown both probably need strong margins in the Northeast if they are going to win. And don’t forget about turnout. While Parker appears to have little competition for establishment-aligned Black voters, their share of the electorate has decreased over time, meaning she, too, will have to expand beyond her base to be successful."[59]

Domb was elected as an at-large member of the Philadelphia City Council in 2015 and served on the council until 2022, when he resigned to run for mayor. He was a realtor and founded a real estate agency. Domb said he was "running for mayor because Philadelphia is in crisis and needs a leader who has the experience and vision needed to take on our biggest challenges."[60]

Brown owned 12 grocery stores in the city and had never before run for elected office. He was endorsed by the city’s largest labor union, District Council 33 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents 9,500 workers.[61] He told Axios he ran for mayor because "Philadelphia is an amazing city with great potential, but we have been failed by bad leadership. I want to be mayor to serve the people of our city, address structural poverty and make this the city we all deserve."[62]

Philadelphia has had a resign-to-run rule in its city charter since 1951. According to Henry Savage of The Philadelphia Inquirer, "If you work for the City of Philadelphia or hold an elected position in city government, you have to quit your job first in order to run for another public office. The only exception is if you are an elected official running for re-election."[63] Domb, Gym, Parker, and Rhynhart all held elected positions in the city until beginning their mayoral campaigns in 2022.

The filing deadline for the primary was March 8, 2023, and the filing deadline for the general election for independent candidates was August 1, 2023.

* Wichita, Kansas

See also: Mayoral election in Wichita, Kansas (August 1, 2023, primary election)

Lily Wu finished first, and incumbent Brandon Whipple finished second in the top two nonpartisan primary election for mayor of Wichita, Kansas, on August 1, 2023. Wu and Whipple advanced to the November 7, 2023, general election from a field of nine candidates.

Though the race was officially nonpartisan, Wu—a former Republican—was a Libertarian.[64] Whipple was a Democrat who defeated incumbent Mayor Jeff Longwell (R) in 2019.[65]

The Wichita Eagle's Chance Swaim and Matthew Kelly wrote that "Political newcomer Lily Wu emerged from the Wichita primary election as the early favorite for the November mayoral election. But Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said he’s confident he can win re-election...Going into the general election, Wu holds a sizable fundraising advantage over Whipple...That fundraising advantage and outside spending boost are expected to continue during the general election, which historically has about double the turnout of the primary and much higher spending levels by candidates and outside groups."[66]

The Sunflower's Mia Hennen reported that "Just over 15% of registered Wichita voters cast their ballots, with 41,221 ballots cast out of 268,852 registered voters."[67]

Wu was a reporter and news anchor for two Wichita-area television stations for 12 years and also served as a board member for three Wichita-area nonprofit organizations.[68] At her campaign announcement, she said: "Restoring trust in city hall really has to do with a change in leadership. I think what we need right now is a leader and an ambassador, like I mentioned, that helps bring back the trust (between residents and city representatives)."[69]

Whipple was a Democratic state legislator from 2013 to 2020.[70] He said Wichita's most pressing issue was improving public safety: "As Mayor, we must continue to build a safer city. This includes rebuilding trust, investing in programs that address youth violence, domestic violence, human trafficking, and embracing best practices for addressing mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness.[71]

Wichita State University political science professor Dr. Neal Allen said before the primary that the campaign did not expose major differences between the candidates: "I can see how voters would have a hard time differentiating between the candidates because on a lot of major issues, they are saying very similar things."[72]

Bryan Frye, who finished third, was the senior director of investor relations at the Kansas Chamber of Commerce. He previously worked in marketing in the broadcast television industry and founded an IT firm.[73][74] At his campaign kick-off, Frye said, "Wichita can be that next leading city, full of vibrancy and possibility. And we’ll do it with compassion, fairness, grit and forward thinking that has all neighborhoods represented."[75]

Celeste Racette, who finished fourth, was the founder and chair of Save Century II, an organization whose mission is to preserve Wichita's Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center.[76] She also was an accountant and auditor in the banking industry and worked for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.[76] Racette said, "I’m running for mayor — to be the watchdog of our finances and to provide financial oversight to public over private interests, to enhance public safety and to save Century II."[77] She switched her party affiliation from Democrat to unaffiliated in 2021.[64]

Jared Cerullo was a news anchor and reporter who served on Wichita's City Council from 2021 to 2022.[78] The Wichita Eagle's Matthew Kelly wrote that "Cerullo has emerged as a vocal critic of Mayor Brandon Whipple, who he frequently sparred with on the City Council.[79] Cerullo said he would avoid partisan politics: “We need to stop playing politics with City Hall and get back to the basics of serving our people. Making sure our roads are fixed, our bridges are fixed, our water is clean, our parks are kept up."[80]

Shelia Davis, Anthony Gallardo, Tom Kane, and Julie Rose Stroud were also on the ballot. The filing deadline for this election was June 1, 2023.

As of June 2023, Democrats held 62 of the mayoral offices in the 100 largest cities in the United States, Republicans held 26, independents held three, and nonpartisan mayors held seven. Two mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.

Wichita has a council-manager system of government where the elected city council—which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body—appoints a chief executive called a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the council's policy and legislative initiatives.

### Other municipal battlegrounds[edit]

* St. Louis Board of Aldermen

See also: City elections in St. Louis, Missouri (2023)

The city of St. Louis, Missouri, held general elections for the Board of Aldermen on April 4, 2023. All 14 seats on the board and the seat of the president of the board were up for election. Eleven incumbents, including Board President Megan Ellyia Green, won re-election. Three incumbents were defeated.

The 2023 election was the first to take place under a new ward system that reduced the number of seats on the board from 28 to 14. Voters approved Proposition R, a charter amendment requiring the size reduction, in 2012, and the board enacted a new 14-ward map in 2021.[81]

Ahead of the election, KDSK’s Sam Clancy and Mark Maxwell wrote, “For more than a century, 28 members of the Board of Aldermen governed the City of St. Louis. Those days are almost over.”

“Ward reduction changes have been in the making for more than a decade after voters approved the plan back in 2012. "Aldergeddon" has already claimed casualties. A handful of incumbents opted not to seek re-election, shying away from a sharp-elbowed brawl against their colleagues to prolong their political career and others were defeated in the primary,” Clancy and Maxwell said. [82]

As a result of the reduction in board size, ten incumbents did not seek re-election in 2023.[83] Additionally, two wards—Ward 13 and Ward 4—featured incumbent vs. incumbent races.

The three incumbents who lost were:

* Joe Vaccaro (the incumbent in Ward 23): Vaccaro lost to fellow incumbent Bret Narayan (Ward 24) 55% to 45% in the election for the new Ward 4.
* Norma Walker (Ward 22): Walker lost to incumbent Pamela Boyd (Ward 27) 54% to 46% in the election for the new Ward 13.
* Tina Pihl (Ward 9): Pihl lost to Washington University staffer Michael Browning 63% to 36% in the election for the new Ward 9.

Per Proposition R, candidates elected in odd-numbered wards in 2023 would serve an initial two-year term and be eligible to run for four-year terms after that. Candidates elected in even-numbered wards would serve four-year terms. The president of the Board of Aldermen, a separate position elected at large, would also serve a four-year term.[84][81]

Another initiative affecting the 2023 election, Proposition D, was approved by voters in 2020. The measure made elections open and nonpartisan for the offices of mayor, comptroller, president of the Board of Aldermen, and the Board of Aldermen. The measure also changed the primary election system from plurality voting to approval voting, a voting system in which voters may vote for any number of candidates they choose. Nonpartisan primaries were held on March 7, 2023, and the top two candidates in each primary advanced to a general election.

The Board of Aldermen is St. Louis' equivalent of a city council. It's the city’s primary legislative body, responsible for adopting the city budget, levying taxes, and making or amending city laws, policies, and ordinances. The President of the Board is responsible for presiding over board meetings.

St. Louis also held a nonpartisan general election for a seat on the community college board on April 4, 2023. Nicole Robinson defeated Incumbent Pam Ross in that election. The filing deadline for that election was Dec. 27, 2022.

## Mayoral partisanship[edit]

See also: Partisanship in United States municipal elections (2023)

Twenty-nine of the 100 largest cities held mayoral elections in 2023. Once mayors elected in 2023 assumed office, Democrats held 63 top-100 mayoral offices, Republicans held 26, Libertarians held one, independents held four, and nonpartisan mayors held four. Two mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.

The following top 100 cities saw a change in mayoral partisan affiliation in 2023:

* Colorado Springs, Colorado: Independent Yemi Mobolade defeated Republican Wayne W. Williams in the May 16 runoff election. Incumbent John Suthers, a Republican, was term-limited.
* Jacksonville, Florida: Democrat Donna Deegan defeated Republican Daniel Davis in the May 16 runoff election. Incumbent Lenny Curry, a Republican, was term-limited.
* Dallas, Texas: Mayor Eric Johnson announced on September 22 that he was changing his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican.[85]
* Wichita, Kansas: Libertarian Lily Wu defeated incumbent Democratic mayor Brandon Whipple in the November 7 general election.
* Spokane, Washington: Democrat Lisa Brown defeated incumbent Republican mayor Nadine Woodward in the November 7 general election.

### Mayoral partisanship in state capitals[edit]

Eighteen state capitals held mayoral elections in 2023, including 11 capitals that fell outside of the top 100 cities.

One state capital saw a change in mayoral partisan affiliation in 2023:

* Springfield, Illinois: Republican Misty Buscher defeated incumbent Democratic mayor Jim Langfelder in the April 4 general election.

After mayors elected in 2023 assumed office, there were 37 Democratic state capital mayors, six Republican mayors, one independent mayor, two nonpartisan mayors, and four mayors with unknown partisan affiliation.

## Municipal elections across the United States[edit]

# By state[edit]

### Alabama[edit]

* Montgomery, Alabama \- Mayor and city council
* Jefferson County, Alabama \- County commission (special)

### Alaska[edit]

* Anchorage, Alaska \- Assembly and service area boards of supervisors
* Juneau, Alaska \- City assembly

### Arizona[edit]

* Tucson, Arizona \- Mayor and city council

### California[edit]

* Chula Vista, California \- City attorney (special)
* Los Angeles, California \- City council (special)
* San Diego County, California \- County board of supervisors (special)
* Santa Clara County, California \- Community college district board (special)

### Colorado[edit]

* Aurora, Colorado \- Mayor and city council
* Colorado Springs, Colorado \- Mayor and city council
* Denver, Colorado \- Mayor, city council, city auditor, and city clerk and recorder

### Connecticut[edit]

* Hartford, Connecticut \- Mayor and city council

### Delaware[edit]

* Dover, Delaware \- Mayor and city council

### Florida[edit]

* Hialeah, Florida \- City council
* Jacksonville, Florida \- Mayor, city council, supervisor of elections, property appraiser, sheriff, and tax collector
* Miami, Florida \- City council
* Orlando, Florida \- Mayor and city council
* Tampa, Florida \- Mayor and city council

### Idaho[edit]

* Boise, Idaho \- Mayor, city council, auditorium district board, water district board, sewer district board, and cemetery district board

### Illinois[edit]

* Chicago, Illinois \- Mayor, city clerk, city treasurer, city council, and police district councils
* Springfield, Illinois \- Mayor and city council

### Indiana[edit]

* Fort Wayne, Indiana \- Mayor, city council, and city clerk
* Indianapolis, Indiana \- Mayor and city council

### Iowa[edit]

* Des Moines, Iowa \- Mayor and city council

### Kansas[edit]

* Topeka, Kansas \- City council
* Wichita, Kansas \- Mayor and city council

### Kentucky[edit]

* Lexington, Kentucky \- County clerk and commonwealth's attorney
* Louisville, Kentucky \- City council, county commonwealth's attorney, county family court judge (special)

### Louisiana[edit]

* Baton Rouge, Louisiana \- District court judge, assessor, clerk of court, coroner, family court judge, and sheriff
* New Orleans, Louisiana \- Civil district court judges, criminal district court judge, and city court judge

### Maine[edit]

* Augusta, Maine \- City council

### Massachusetts[edit]

* Boston, Massachusetts \- City council

### Michigan[edit]

* Lansing, Michigan \- City council

### Minnesota[edit]

* Minneapolis, Minnesota \- City council
* St. Paul, Minnesota \- City council

### Missouri[edit]

* Jefferson City, Missouri \- Mayor, city council, and city prosecutor
* Kansas City, Missouri \- Mayor, city council, and municipal court
* St. Louis, Missouri \- Board of aldermen and community college board

### Montana[edit]

* Helena, Montana \- City commission

### Nebraska[edit]

* Lincoln, Nebraska \- Mayor, city council, and Lincoln Airport Authority

### Nevada[edit]

* Henderson, Nevada \- City council (special election)

### New Hampshire[edit]

* Concord, New Hampshire \- Mayor and city council

### New Jersey[edit]

* Essex County, New Jersey \- Commissioners and surrogate court judge
* Hudson County, New Jersey \- County executive and county commission

### New Mexico[edit]

* Albuquerque, New Mexico \- City council
* Santa Fe, New Mexico \- City council
* Bernalillo County, New Mexico \- Flood control board, community college board, conservation district board, and public improvement district boards

### New York[edit]

* Buffalo, New York \- City council, comptroller, and city court judge
* New York, New York \- City council
* Bronx County, New York \- District attorney, New York City Civil Court judges, and New York Supreme Court judges
* Erie County, New York \- County executive, county legislators, and family court judges
* Kings County, New York \- New York City Civil Court judges, New York Supreme Court judges, and Kings County Surrogate's Court judge
* New York County, New York \- New York City Civil Court and New York Supreme Court judges
* Queens County, New York \- District attorney, New York City Civil Court judges, and New York Supreme Court judges
* Richmond County, New York \- District attorney and New York City Civil Court judge

### North Carolina[edit]

* Charlotte, North Carolina \- Mayor and city council
* Durham, North Carolina \- Mayor and city council
* Guilford County, North Carolina \- Sedgefield Sanitary District

### Ohio[edit]

* Cincinnati, Ohio \- City council
* Cleveland, Ohio \- City council, municipal court clerk, municipal court judges, and municipal housing court judge
* Columbus, Ohio \- Mayor and city council
* Toledo, Ohio \- City council and municipal judge
* Fairfield County, Ohio \- Educational service center and municipal court judge
* Franklin County, Ohio \- Municipal court clerk, municipal court judges, educational service center
* Hamilton County, Ohio \- Municipal court judges, ESC governing board
* Lucas County, Ohio \- Educational service center

### Oklahoma[edit]

* Oklahoma City, Oklahoma \- City council
* Cleveland County, Oklahoma \- County commission (special)
* Oklahoma County, Oklahoma \- County clerk (special) and Metro Tech Center Board of Education
* Osage County, Oklahoma \- Tulsa Technology Center Board of Education
* Tulsa County, Oklahoma \- Tulsa Technology Center Board of Education

### Oregon[edit]

* Portland, Oregon \- Community college board
* Multnomah County, Oregon \- County commission (special), community college board, and education service district

### Pennsylvania[edit]

* Harrisburg, Pennsylvania \- City council
* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania \- Mayor, register of wills, sheriff, city council, city commissioners, city controller (special), court of common pleas, and municipal court
* Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania \- Controller, city council, and magisterial district judges
* Allegheny County, Pennsylvania \- County chief executive, controller, district attorney, treasurer, county council, and court of common pleas judges

### South Carolina[edit]

* Columbia, South Carolina \- City council

### South Dakota[edit]

* Pierre, South Dakota \- Mayor

### Tennessee[edit]

* Memphis, Tennessee \- Mayor and city council
* Nashville, Tennessee \- Mayor, vice mayor, and city council

### Texas[edit]

* Arlington, Texas \- Mayor and city council
* Dallas, Texas \- Mayor and city council
* El Paso, Texas \- City council (special)
* Fort Worth, Texas \- Mayor and city council
* Garland, Texas \- Mayor and city council
* Houston, Texas \- Mayor, city council, and controller
* Irving, Texas \- Mayor and city council
* Plano, Texas \- City council
* San Antonio, Texas \- Mayor and city council
* Bexar County, Texas \- River authority board
* Collin County, Texas \- Community college board of trustees
* El Paso County, Texas \- Community college board of trustees
* Harris County, Texas \- Community college board of trustees
* Tarrant County, Texas \- College board and regional water district board
* Travis County, Texas \- Library district board

### Utah[edit]

* Salt Lake City, Utah \- Mayor and city council

### Vermont[edit]

* Montpelier, Vermont \- Mayor and city council

### Virginia[edit]

* Chesapeake, Virginia \- Soil and water conservation director and treasurer (special election)
* Virginia Beach, Virginia \- Soil and water conservation director

### Washington[edit]

* Olympia, Washington \- Mayor and city council
* Seattle, Washington \- City council
* Spokane, Washington \- Mayor and city council
* King County, Washington \- King County Conservation District
* Spokane County, Washington \- Superior court judge

### Wisconsin[edit]

* Madison, Wisconsin \- Mayor and city council
* Milwaukee, Wisconsin \- City council and municipal court judges
* Milwaukee County, Wisconsin \- County board of supervisors and circuit court judges

# By date[edit]

## February 14[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Oklahoma County, Oklahoma

### General election[edit]

* Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
* King County, Washington

## February 21[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Madison, Wisconsin
* Milwaukee, Wisconsin
* Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

## February 27[edit]

### Special election[edit]

* Miami, Florida

## February 28[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Chicago, Illinois

## March 7[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* St. Louis, Missouri

### General election[edit]

* Tampa, Florida
* Montpelier, Vermont

## March 21[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Jacksonville, Florida

## March 25[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Baton Rouge, Louisiana
* New Orleans, Louisiana

## March 28[edit]

### Special election[edit]

* Columbia, South Carolina

## April 3[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Henderson, Nevada (special)

## April 4[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Kansas City, Missouri
* Lincoln, Nebraska
* Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

### General election[edit]

* Anchorage, Alaska
* Los Angeles, California (special)
* Colorado Springs, Colorado
* Denver, Colorado
* Springfield, Illinois
* Jefferson City, Missouri
* St. Louis, Missouri
* Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
* Osage County, Oklahoma
* Tulsa County, Oklahoma
* Madison, Wisconsin
* Milwaukee, Wisconsin
* Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

### General runoff[edit]

* Chicago, Illinois
* Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

## April 18[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Dover, Delaware

## April 25[edit]

### General runoff election[edit]

* Tampa, Florida

## April 29[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Baton Rouge, Louisiana
* New Orleans, Louisiana

## May 2[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Fort Wayne, Indiana
* Indianapolis, Indiana
* Columbus, Ohio
* Toledo, Ohio

### General election[edit]

* Lincoln, Nebraska
* Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

## May 6[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Arlington, Texas
* Dallas, Texas
* Fort Worth, Texas
* Garland, Texas
* Irving, Texas
* Plano, Texas
* San Antonio, Texas
* Collin County, Texas
* El Paso County, Texas
* Tarrant County, Texas

## May 16[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

### General election[edit]

* Boise, Idaho
* Portland, Oregon

### General runoff[edit]

* Colorado Springs, Colorado
* Jacksonville, Florida
* Multnomah, Oregon

## June 6[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Essex County, New Jersey
* Hudson County, New Jersey

### General election[edit]

* Pierre, South Dakota

### General runoff[edit]

* Denver, Colorado

## June 10[edit]

### General runoff[edit]

* Fort Worth, Texas
* Irving, Texas
* Tarrant County, Texas

## June 13[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Cleveland County, Oklahoma

## June 18[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Jefferson County, Alabama

## June 20[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Kansas City, Missouri

## June 27[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Buffalo, New York
* New York, New York
* Erie County, New York
* Bronx County, New York
* Kings County, New York
* New York County, New York
* Queens County, New York
* Richmond County, New York

### General runoff[edit]

* Los Angeles, California

## July 25[edit]

### Special election[edit]

* Boston, Massachusetts

## August 1[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Tucson, Arizona
* Topeka, Kansas
* Wichita, Kansas
* Seattle, Washington
* Spokane, Washington
* Olympia, Washington
* King County, Washington
* Spokane County, Washington

## August 3[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Nashville, Tennessee

## August 8[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Lansing, Michigan

### General runoff[edit]

* Jefferson County, Alabama

## August 15[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* San Diego County, California

## August 22[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Montgomery, Alabama

## September 12[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Hartford, Connecticut
* Boston, Massachusetts
* Helena, Montana
* Charlotte, North Carolina

### General election[edit]

* Cleveland County, Oklahoma

## September 14[edit]

### General runoff[edit]

* Nashville, Tennessee

## October 3[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Juneau, Alaska

### General runoff[edit]

* Montgomery, Alabama

## October 5[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Memphis, Tennessee

## October 10[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Durham, North Carolina

### Primary runoff[edit]

* Charlotte, North Carolina

## October 14[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Baton Rouge, Louisiana
* New Orleans, Louisiana

## November 7[edit]

### Primary[edit]

* Hialeah, Florida

### General election[edit]

* Tucson, Arizona
* Chula Vista, California
* San Diego County, California
* Santa Clara County, California
* Aurora, Colorado
* Hartford, Connecticut
* Miami, Florida
* Orlando, Florida
* Boise, Idaho
* Fort Wayne, Indiana
* Indianapolis, Indiana
* Des Moines, Iowa
* Topeka, Kansas
* Wichita, Kansas
* Lexington, Kentucky
* Louisville, Kentucky
* Augusta, Maine
* Boston, Massachusetts
* Lansing, Michigan
* Minneapolis, Minnesota
* St. Paul, Minnesota
* Helena, Montana
* Concord, New Hampshire
* Essex County, New Jersey
* Hudson County, New Jersey
* Albuquerque, New Mexico
* Santa Fe, New Mexico
* Bernalillo County, New Mexico
* Buffalo, New York
* New York, New York
* Bronx County, New York
* Erie County, New York
* Kings County, New York
* New York County, New York
* Queens County, New York
* Richmond County, New York
* Charlotte, North Carolina
* Durham, North Carolina
* Guilford County, North Carolina
* Cincinnati, Ohio
* Cleveland, Ohio
* Columbus, Ohio
* Toledo, Ohio
* Fairfield County, Ohio
* Franklin County, Ohio
* Hamilton County, Ohio
* Lucas County, Ohio
* Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Allegheny, Pennsylvania
* Columbia, South Carolina
* Houston, Texas
* Bexar County, Texas
* Harris County, Texas
* Travis County, Texas
* Chesapeake, Virginia
* Virginia Beach, Virginia
* Olympia, Washington
* Seattle, Washington
* Spokane, Washington
* King County, Washington
* Spokane County, Washington

## November 16[edit]

### General runoff[edit]

* Memphis, Tennessee

## November 18[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Baton Rouge, Louisiana
* New Orleans, Louisiana

## November 21[edit]

### General election[edit]

* Hialeah, Florida
* Salt Lake City, Utah

### General runoff[edit]

* Miami, Florida
* Columbia, South Carolina

## December 5[edit]

### General runoff[edit]

* Orlando, Florida

## December 9[edit]

### General election[edit]

* El Paso, Texas

### General runoff[edit]

* Houston, Texas
* Harris County, Texas

## List of mayors of the 100 largest cities[edit]

See also: List of current mayors of the top 100 cities in the United States

To view a list of the current mayors of the top 100 U.S. cities by population, click here.

## Historical election data[edit]

Cities in Ballotpedia's coverage scope held an average of 30.8 mayoral elections and 54.8 city council elections each year between 2014 and 2022. From 2014 to 2016, our coverage scope included the 100 largest U.S. cities by population. In 2017, Ballotpedia began covering the counties that overlap those cities, as well. In 2021, our coverage scope expanded to include the mayors, city councils, and district attorneys in the 32 state capitals that fell outside the 100 largest U.S. cities.

This section includes statistics for mayoral elections, city council elections, and county elections between 2014 and 2022, comparing uncontested races, incumbents who sought re-election, and incumbents who were defeated in their re-election bids.

The following table details the total number of elections at the city and county level covered by Ballotpedia between 2014 and 2022, including the number of cities to hold mayoral and city council elections in a given year:

Total municipal elections covered by Ballotpedia from 2014 to 2022

Year  | Cities  | Mayor  | City council  | Counties
2022  |  86  |  34  |  75  |  81
2021  |  70  |  40  |  59  |  22
2020  |  59  |  29  |  52  |  80
2019  |  64  |  30  |  63  |  29
2018  |  58  |  26  |  49  |  78
2017  |  59  |  36  |  50  |  23
2016  |  46  |  33  |  58  |  N/A
2015  |  59  |  33  |  58  |  N/A
2014  |  43  |  24  |  42  |  N/A

### Mayoral elections[edit]

Between 2014 and 2022, 66.8% of incumbent mayors sought re-election; of these, 16.8% were defeated in their bids for re-election. The first chart below shows the number of incumbents who sought election each year compared to the number of seats up for election. The second chart shows the number of incumbents who were defeated compared to the number of incumbents who ran for re-election.

|

The table below is organized by year and includes the total number of mayoral races and the number and percentage of uncontested races, incumbents who sought re-election, and incumbents who were defeated in their re-election bids.

Mayoral election incumbency statistics from 2014 to 2022

Year  | Total seats  | Uncontested  | Incumbents who
sought re-election  | Incumbents defeated
#  | %  | #  | %  | #  | %
2022  |  34  |  0  |  0.0%  |  22  |  64.7%  |  3  |  13.6%
2021  |  40  |  1  |  2.5%  |  24  |  60.0%  |  3  |  12.5%
2020  |  29  |  1  |  3.4%  |  22  |  75.9%  |  5  |  22.7%
2019  |  30  |  2  |  6.7%  |  21  |  70.0%  |  4  |  19.0%
2018  |  26  |  1  |  3.8%  |  18  |  69.2%  |  1  |  5.6%
2017  |  36  |  0  |  0.0%  |  24  |  66.7%  |  5  |  20.8%
2016  |  25  |  4  |  16.0%  |  15  |  60.0%  |  4  |  26.7%
2015  |  33  |  3  |  9.1%  |  25  |  75.8%  |  4  |  16.0%
2014  |  24  |  2  |  8.3%  |  14  |  58.3%  |  2  |  14.3%

### City council elections[edit]

Between 2014 and 2022, 67.9% of city council incumbents sought re-election; of these, 14.0% were defeated in their bids for re-election. The first chart below shows the number of incumbents who sought election each year compared to the number of seats up for election. The second chart shows the number of incumbents who were defeated compared to the number of incumbents who ran for re-election.

|

The table below is organized by year and includes the total number of city council races and the number and percentage of uncontested races, incumbents who sought re-election, and incumbents who were defeated in their re-election bids.

City council election incumbency statistics from 2014 to 2022

Year  | Total seats  | Uncontested  | Incumbents who
sought re-election  | Incumbents defeated
#  | %  | #  | %  | #  | %
2022  |  346  |  58  |  16.8%  |  215  |  62.1%  |  37  |  17.2%
2021  |  416  |  63  |  15.1%  |  276  |  66.3%  |  47  |  17.0%
2020  |  253  |  47  |  18.6%  |  175  |  69.2%  |  26  |  14.9%
2019  |  457  |  59  |  12.9%  |  312  |  68.3%  |  39  |  12.5%
2018  |  200  |  29  |  14.5%  |  137  |  68.5%  |  19  |  13.9%
2017  |  367  |  47  |  12.8%  |  274  |  74.7%  |  37  |  13.5%
2016  |  216  |  48  |  22.2%  |  156  |  72.2%  |  22  |  14.1%
2015  |  467  |  97  |  20.8%  |  309  |  66.2%  |  30  |  9.7%
2014  |  198  |  31  |  15.7%  |  130  |  65.7%  |  21  |  16.2%

### County elections[edit]

Between 2017 and 2022, 82.6% of county and special district incumbents sought re-election; of these, 8.3% were defeated in their bids for re-election. The table below is organized by year and includes the total number of county races and the number and percentage of uncontested races, incumbents who sought re-election, and incumbents who were defeated in their re-election bids.

County election incumbency statistics from 2017 to 2022

Year  | Total seats  | Uncontested  | Incumbents who
sought re-election  | Incumbents defeated
#  | %  | #  | %  | #  | %
2022  |  2,499  |  1,347  |  53.9%  |  2,041  |  81.7%  |  152  |  7.4%
2021  |  176  |  59  |  33.5%  |  106  |  60.2%  |  8  |  7.5%
2020  |  2,167  |  1,190  |  54.9%  |  1,861  |  85.9%  |  147  |  7.9%
2019  |  183  |  85  |  46.4%  |  140  |  76.5%  |  11  |  7.9%
2018  |  2,168  |  1,115  |  51.4%  |  1,807  |  83.3%  |  176  |  9.7%
2017  |  108  |  47  |  43.5%  |  74  |  68.5%  |  9  |  12.2%

### Uncontested races[edit]

An average of 1.6 mayoral races and 53.2 city council races went uncontested between 2014 and 2022. In terms of mayoral elections, 2016 saw the highest number of uncontested races (four) and 2017 and 2022 saw the fewest (zero). For city council seats, 2015 had the highest number of uncontested races (97) and 2018 had the fewest (29). The chart below shows the percentage of uncontested mayoral and city council races between 2014 and 2022.

## More local election analysis[edit]

See also: United States municipal elections, 2023

Ballotpedia covered municipal elections in 32 counties and 77 cities, including 40 mayoral elections, in 2023. As of 2023, Ballotpedia's coverage scope for local elections included elections on the ballot in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population, as well as elections for mayors, city council members, and district attorneys in each state capital.

#### Analysis[edit]

* Election results, 2023: Partisan balance of mayors of the 100 largest cities by population
* Partisanship in United States municipal elections
* United States municipal elections overview
* School board elections
* Local trial court judicial elections
* Local ballot measure elections
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* Uncontested races by state
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## See also[edit]

* Municipal Government
* Poll Closing Times

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ In most of the nation's largest cities, mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan, though many officeholders and candidates are affiliated with political parties. Ballotpedia uses one or more of the following sources to identify each officeholder's partisan affiliation: (1) direct communication from the officeholder, (2) current or previous candidacy for partisan office, or (3) identification of partisan affiliation by multiple media outlets.
2. ↑ Politico, "Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes," February 28, 2023
3. ↑ WBEZ, "Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson head to Chicago mayoral runoff," February 28, 2023
4. ↑ Chalkbeat Chicago, "Chicago 2023 mayoral election: Former schools chief, teachers union organizer headed to runoff," February 28, 2023
5. ↑ NBC News, "Lori Lightfoot becomes the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose re-election," February 28, 2023
6. ↑ 9News, "Meet the candidates running for Denver Mayor: Kelly Brough," Feb. 14, 2023
7. ↑ Michael Johnston's 2023 campaign website, "Home," accessed Feb. 15, 2023
8. ↑ Denverite, "The winners of a Mike Johnston vs. Kelly Brough runoff: Denver’s political and business establishment and Michael Hancock," April 6, 2023
9. ↑ Denver Democrats, "A big field. And big decisions to make." March 10, 2023
10. ↑ LinkedIn, "Kelly Brough," accessed Feb. 15, 2023
11. ↑ The Denver Gazette, "ENDORSEMENT: Kelly Brough for Denver mayor," March 28, 2023
12. ↑ The Denver Post, "Endorsement: Mike Johnston for Denver mayor," March 16, 2023
13. ↑ Denverite, "The Denver mayor’s race is a big deal for you and us. Here’s why we’re spending so much time and energy on it," Feb. 21, 2023
14. ↑ Denverite, "What does Denver’s mayor do and how much power does the position have?" Dec. 12, 2022
15. ↑ Donna Deegan's campaign website, "Meet Donna," accessed March 29, 2023
16. ↑ LinkedIn, "Donna Deegan," accessed March 29, 2023
17. ↑ Daniel Davis' campaign website, "Home," accessed March 29, 2023
18. ↑ YouTube, "Daniel Davis addresses supporters election night," March 21, 2023
19. ↑ Donna Deegan's campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed April 4, 2023
20. ↑ Florida Politics, "Ron DeSantis endorses Daniel Davis for Jacksonville Mayor," March 31, 2023
21. ↑ Daniel Davis' campaign website, "Home," accessed April 4, 2023
22. ↑ In most of the nation's largest cities, mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan, though many officeholders and candidates are affiliated with political parties. Ballotpedia uses one or more of the following sources to identify each officeholder's partisan affiliation: (1) direct communication from the officeholder, (2) current or previous candidacy for partisan office, or (3) identification of partisan affiliation by multiple media outlets.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, Sen. Suzanne Geist advance to general election, "Lincoln Journal Star," April 4, 2023
24. ↑ Suzanne Geist for Mayor, "Lastest News - Suzanne Geist Mayor For Lincoln, NE," April 6, 2023
25. ↑ The Nebraska Examiner, "Lincoln mayor’s primary pits top Nebraska Dem against dueling wings of GOP," April 3, 2023
26. ↑ Lincoln Journal Star, “Leirion Gaylor Baird”, March 18, 2023
27. ↑ Leirion for Lincoln Mayor, “Meet Leirion,” accessed April 20, 2023
28. ↑ Lincoln Journal Star, “Leirion Gaylor Baird”, April 18, 2019
29. ↑ Suzanne Geist for Mayor, “Meet Suzanne Geist - Mayor for Lincoln, NE,” accessed April 21, 2023
30. ↑ 1011 NOW, “Suzanne Geist resigns from legislature to go ‘all in’ on Lincoln mayor race,” April 5, 2023
31. ↑ Suzanne Geist for Mayor, “Suzanne Geist on the Issues - Mayor For Lincoln, NE,” accessed April 21, 2023
32. ↑ The Nebraska Examiner, "Lincoln mayoral candidates Gaylor Baird and Geist trade jabs over which is best for business," April 13, 2023
33. ↑ Twitter, "Geist for Mayor," April 18, 2023
34. ↑ Lincoln Fire Fighters Association endorses Leirion Gaylor Baird for mayor, "ABC8," March 16, 2023
35. ↑ EMILYs List, "EMILYs List Endorses Leirion Gaylor Baird for Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska," February 23, 2023
36. ↑ Sierra Club, "2023 Political Endorsements," accessed April 22, 2023
37. ↑ Suzanne Geist for Mayor, "Media & News - Suzanne Geist Mayor For Lincoln, NE," accessed April 22, 2023
38. ↑ Nebraska Public Media, "Costliest Lincoln mayor’s primary sets new, $1 million mark for candidate fundraising," March 28, 2023
39. ↑ Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, "Political Race Research," accessed April 22, 2023
40. ↑ In most of the nation's largest cities, mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan, though many officeholders and candidates are affiliated with political parties. Ballotpedia uses one or more of the following sources to identify each officeholder's partisan affiliation: (1) direct communication from the officeholder, (2) current or previous candidacy for partisan office, or (3) identification of partisan affiliation by multiple media outlets.
41. ↑ Axios, "Inside Nashville mayor's decision not to run," February 1, 2023
42. ↑ The Tennessean, "Struggling to pick a Nashville mayoral candidate? This scorecard might help.," June 22, 2023
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Axios Nashville, "O'Connell finishes first in Nashville mayor's race, will face Rolli in runoff," August 4, 2023
44. ↑ The Tennessean, "Meet Freddie O'Connell, candidate for Nashville mayor," August 15, 2023
45. ↑ The Tennessean, "Meet Alice Rolli, candidate for Nashville mayor," August 15, 2023
46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 The Tennessean, "Nashville mayoral race: How election maps could foreshadow runoff results," August 17, 2023
47. ↑ YouTube, "Matt Wiltshire endorses Freddie O’Connell for Mayor," August 14, 2023
48. ↑ The Tennessee Tribune, "Nashville’s Mayoral Candidates Pick Up Endorsements from former Competitors," August 17, 2023
49. ↑ Alice Rolli for Nashville Mayor, "Rolli for Mayor Campaign Announces Key Endorsement Welcomes Education and Business Leader to Team," August 11, 2023
50. ↑ The Tennessean, "Why we could have as many as four mayors in four years in Nashville," March 7, 2018
51. ↑ Linkedin, "Cherelle Parker, Candidate for Mayor of Philadelphia, Former 9th District City Councilwoman/Majority Leader," accessed April 7, 2023
52. ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Philadelphia City Council gets a leadership shakeup, with Cherelle Parker beating Bobby Henon as majority leader," January 6, 2020
53. ↑ Cherelle Parker for Mayor, "About Cherelle," accessed April 7, 2023
54. ↑ WHYY, "Gun violence, opioid crisis dominate Philly mayoral debate on public health," April 5, 2023
55. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-rhynhart-828a2b2a/ Linkedin, "Rebecca Rhynhart, Candidate for Mayor of Philadelphia," accessed April 7, 2023]
56. ↑ Rebecca Rhynhart for Mayor, "Leadership & Experience," accessed April 7, 2023
57. ↑ Parents United for Public Education, "Home," accessed April 10, 2023
58. ↑ Axios Philadelphia, "Meet Philadelphia's Dem mayoral candidates: Helen Gym," April 3, 2023
59. ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Breaking down 5 candidates’ paths to victory | The 100th mayor newsletter," April 18, 2023
60. ↑ Allan Domb for Mayor, "Allan Domb for Mayor," accessed April 10, 2023
61. ↑ The Philadelphia Citizen, "Who Is Jeff Brown?" March 17, 2023
62. ↑ Axios Philadelphia, "Meet Philadelphia's Dem mayoral candidates: Jeff Brown," April 3, 2023
63. ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, "What is Philly’s resign-to-run rule?" August 15, 2022
64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 The Wichita Eagle, "Legalize or criminalize? Wichita mayoral candidates split on marijuana reform," June 17, 2023
65. ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Local elections are nonpartisan by law. So why is the Republican Party campaigning?" October 25, 2019
66. ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Wu emerges as front-runner in Wichita mayor’s race, but Whipple says he can still win," August 3, 2023
67. ↑ The Sunflower, "Whipple and Wu advance to general elections in mayoral race," August 2, 2023
68. ↑ LinkedIn, "Lily Wu, Candidate, Mayor of Wichita," accessed July 5, 2023
69. ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Lily Wu announces run for Wichita mayor, flexes broad coalition of business support," April 3, 2023
70. ↑ LinkedIn, "Dr. Brandon Whipple, Mayor at City of Wichita Kansas," accessed June 30, 2023
71. ↑ KSN.com, "Brandon Whipple – Wichita mayoral candidate," July 18, 2023
72. ↑ KWCH, "Which 2 will move on?: Political expert breaks down crowded Wichita mayoral race," August 1, 2023
73. ↑ LinkedIn, "Bryan Frye, City Councilman at City of Wichita Kansas," accessed June 30, 2023
74. ↑ 'The Wichita Eagle', "City Council member Bryan Frye launches bid to become the next mayor of Wichita," February 17, 2023
75. ↑ 'The Wichita Eagle', "City Council member Bryan Frye launches bid to become the next mayor of Wichita," February 17, 2023
76. ↑ 76.0 76.1 LinkedIn, "Celeste Racette, Experienced financial institution executive and former bank regulator," accessed July 3, 2023
77. ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Celeste Racette, founder of Save Century II, enters race for Wichita mayor," February 3, 2023
78. ↑ LinkedIn, "Jared Cerullo, Former City Council Member at City of Wichita Kansas," accessed June 30, 2023
79. ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Former Wichita City Council appointee Jared Cerullo joins crowded mayoral field," May 31, 2023
80. ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Former Wichita City Council appointee Jared Cerullo joins crowded mayoral field," May 31, 2023
81. ↑ 81.0 81.1 St. Louis-Mo Gov, "Redistricting FAQ," accessed February 5, 2022
82. ↑ ‘’KDSK,’’ “This is who won the races for St. Louis' new, consolidated board of aldermen,” April 4, 2023
83. ↑ The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will look much different after spring elections, "St. Louis NPR," January 6, 2023
84. ↑ St. Louis-Mo Gov, "City of St. Louis Redistricting 2021," accessed February 5, 2022
85. ↑ Wall Street Journal, "America’s Cities Need Republicans, and I’m Becoming One," September 22, 2023

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