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Mayoral election in Lincoln, Nebraska (2023)

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← 2019
2023 Lincoln elections
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Election dates
Filing deadline: March 3, 2023
Primary election: April 4, 2023
General election: May 2, 2023
Election stats
Offices up: Mayor
Total seats up: 1 (click here for other city elections)
Election type: Nonpartisan
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 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.[1]

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.[2]

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.[1][3]

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.[4][5][6]

Geist, a business owner, represented District 25 in the Nebraska State Senate from 2017 until she resigned on April 6, 2023.[7] Geist said she would "... support law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders."[8][9]

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.[10]

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.”[11]

The Lincoln Fire Fighters Association, EMILY's List and the Sierra Club endorsed Gaylor Baird.[12][13][14] The Lincoln Police Union, Gov. Jim Pillen (R), and U.S. Sens. Pete Ricketts (R) and Deb Fischer (R) endorsed Geist.[15]

Both candidates raised more than $1 million each, doubling the previous fundraising record for a Lincoln mayoral race set in 2019.[16][17]

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.[18]

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

Elections

Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.

Candidates and results

General election

General election for Mayor of Lincoln

Incumbent Leirion Gaylor Baird defeated Suzanne Geist in the general election for Mayor of Lincoln on May 2, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Leirion Gaylor Baird
Leirion Gaylor Baird (Nonpartisan)
 
54.7
 
44,496
Image of Suzanne Geist
Suzanne Geist (Nonpartisan)
 
45.1
 
36,727
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
192

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 81,415
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Lincoln

Incumbent Leirion Gaylor Baird and Suzanne Geist defeated Stan Parker in the primary for Mayor of Lincoln on April 4, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Leirion Gaylor Baird
Leirion Gaylor Baird (Nonpartisan)
 
49.8
 
29,216
✔
Image of Suzanne Geist
Suzanne Geist (Nonpartisan)
 
33.0
 
19,377
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Stan Parker (Nonpartisan)
 
17.2
 
10,071
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
54

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 58,718
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Additional elections on the ballot

See also: Nebraska elections, 2023

What's on your ballot?
Click here to find out using My Vote


April 4, 2023
May 2, 2023

Candidate comparison

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Leirion Gaylor Baird

Image of Leirion Gaylor Baird

Facebook

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office: 

Biography:  Gaylor Baird received a B.A. in History from Yale University in 1993 and a master’s in Comparative Social Policy from the University of Oxford in 1997. After graduating, Gaylor Baird worked as a management consultant and a city budget and policy analyst. She also served one term on the Lincoln and Lancaster County Planning Commission.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Gaylor Baird said public safety was her number one priority. “My administration has invested heavily in police and fire services in every City budget,” Gaylor Baird said. “In 2022, violent crime, felonies, misdemeanors, traffic accidents, and traffic injuries all have decreased relative to the previous five-year period, and Lincoln’s violent crime rate is at a 30-year low despite the city having grown by more than 100,000 people since the 1990s,” she added.

On infrastructure, Gaylor Baird said, “[...] Well-maintained streets are critical to all Lincoln residents. That’s why we put our money where it matters and have invested $61.4 million in streets from September 2021 to September 2022 alone, increasing our total street investment since 2019 to an historic $167 million.”

Gaylor Baird said promoting economic growth in Lincoln would be a priority during her second term. “Economic recovery and renewal has been a focus of my administration, and creating economic opportunities for all will continue to be at the forefront of my work when I am re-elected,” Gaylor Baird said. 

Show sources

Sources: Leirion for Lincoln Mayor, Priorities, accessed April 20, 2023; Leirion for Lincoln Mayor, “Meet Leirion,” accessed April 20, 2023; Lincoln Journal Star, Leirion Gaylor Baird, April 18, 2019; Lancaster County Nebraska, Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission, accessed April 20, 2023

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of Lincoln in 2023.

Suzanne Geist

Image of Suzanne Geist

Facebook

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Nebraska State Senate - District 25 (2017-2023)

Biography:  Geist received a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She worked as a small business owner and in pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and fashion.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Geist said that, as mayor, she would increase resources for law enforcement. “Our police and fire departments are severely understaffed. My administration will work directly with both departments to determine a recruiting and retention strategy to bring the best and the brightest to these departments to keep our community safe,” Geist said.

On taxes, Geist said, “because of the market, property valuations are increasing yet city government continues to take more and more of your hard-earned money. My administration will be focused on managing our resources to allow the taxpayers to keep more of their money.”

Geist said she would focus on improving road maintenance in Lincoln. “We will have a plan to make sure the streets of Lincoln are well-maintained for a smooth commute across our community,” Geist said.

Show sources

Sources: 1011 NOW, Lincoln mayor candidate profile: Suzanne Geist, April 10, 2023; Suzanne Geist for Mayor, Suzanne Geist on the Issues - Mayor For Lincoln, NE, accessed April 21, 2023; Suzanne Geist for Mayor, Meet Suzanne Geist - Mayor for Lincoln, NE, accessed April 21, 2023

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of Lincoln in 2023.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

No candidate in this race completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.


Campaign advertisements

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.

Grey.png Leirion Gaylor Baird

April 17, 2023
April 14, 2023
March 7, 2023

View more ads here:


Grey.png Suzanne Geist

March 20, 2023
March 20, 2023
December 22, 2022

View more ads here:


Election competitiveness

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, please email us.

Endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

Ballotpedia researchers did not identify any candidate websites that provide endorsement information. If you are aware of a website that should be included, please email us.

Election spending

Campaign finance

Candidates in this election submitted campaign finance reports to the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Click here to access those reports.

Satellite spending

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[19][20][21]

If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.

Election context

Election history

2019

General election

General election for Mayor of Lincoln

Leirion Gaylor Baird defeated Cyndi Lamm in the general election for Mayor of Lincoln on May 7, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Leirion Gaylor Baird
Leirion Gaylor Baird (Nonpartisan)
 
54.5
 
33,692
Image of Cyndi Lamm
Cyndi Lamm (Nonpartisan)
 
45.3
 
27,994
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.3
 
176

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 61,862
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Lincoln

Leirion Gaylor Baird and Cyndi Lamm defeated Jeff Kirkpatrick, Krystal Gabel, and Rene Solc in the primary for Mayor of Lincoln on April 9, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Leirion Gaylor Baird
Leirion Gaylor Baird (Nonpartisan)
 
41.9
 
21,660
✔
Image of Cyndi Lamm
Cyndi Lamm (Nonpartisan)
 
35.8
 
18,527
Image of Jeff Kirkpatrick
Jeff Kirkpatrick (Nonpartisan)
 
16.7
 
8,665
Image of Krystal Gabel
Krystal Gabel (Nonpartisan)
 
4.4
 
2,301
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Rene Solc (Nonpartisan)
 
0.9
 
451
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
129

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 51,733
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.


2015

Mayor of Lincoln, General Election, 2015
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngChris Beutler Incumbent 53% 24,610
Andy Stebbing 47% 21,840
Total Votes 46,450
Source: Lancaster County Election Commissioner, "Official general election results," accessed May 19, 2015


Mayor of Lincoln, Primary Election, 2015
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngChris Beutler Incumbent 53% 19,342
Green check mark transparent.pngAndy Stebbing 43.8% 16,007
Rene Solc 3.2% 1,175
Total Votes 36,524
Source: Lancaster County Election Commissioner, "Official primary election results," accessed May 10, 2015

Mayoral partisanship

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:

What was at stake?

Report a story for this election

Ballotpedia researches issues in local elections across the United States, but information availability is a challenge for us in many areas. Please contact us about the issues that impact your local election. Note that not all submissions may meet Ballotpedia's coverage requirements for inclusion.

Candidate survey

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Ballotpedia invites candidates to participate in its annual survey.
Click here to fill out the survey.

About the city

See also: Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln is the capital city of Nebraska. It is located in Lancaster County. As of 2020, its population was 291,082.

City government

See also: Mayor-council government

The city of Lincoln uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.[23]

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln Nebraska
Population 291,082 1,961,504
Land area (sq mi) 98 76,817
Race and ethnicity**
White 84% 85.3%
Black/African American 4.3% 4.8%
Asian 4.6% 2.5%
Native American 0.7% 0.9%
Pacific Islander 0.1% 0.1%
Other (single race) N/A 2.5%
Multiple 4.9% 3.9%
Hispanic/Latino 7.8% 11.2%
Education
High school graduation rate 92.9% 91.6%
College graduation rate 39.9% 32.5%
Income
Median household income $60,063 $63,015
Persons below poverty level 12.8% 10.4%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


2023 battleground elections

See also: Battlegrounds

This election was a battleground race. Other 2023 battleground elections included:

See also

Lincoln, Nebraska Nebraska Municipal government Other local coverage
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, Sen. Suzanne Geist advance to general election, "Lincoln Journal Star," April 4, 2023
  2. ↑ Suzanne Geist for Mayor, "Lastest News - Suzanne Geist Mayor For Lincoln, NE," April 6, 2023
  3. ↑ The Nebraska Examiner, "Lincoln mayor’s primary pits top Nebraska Dem against dueling wings of GOP," April 3, 2023
  4. ↑ Lincoln Journal Star, “Leirion Gaylor Baird”, March 18, 2023
  5. ↑ Leirion for Lincoln Mayor, “Meet Leirion,” accessed April 20, 2023
  6. ↑ Lincoln Journal Star, “Leirion Gaylor Baird”, April 18, 2019
  7. ↑ Suzanne Geist for Mayor, “Meet Suzanne Geist - Mayor for Lincoln, NE,” accessed April 21, 2023
  8. ↑ 1011 NOW, “Suzanne Geist resigns from legislature to go ‘all in’ on Lincoln mayor race,” April 5, 2023
  9. ↑ Suzanne Geist for Mayor, “Suzanne Geist on the Issues - Mayor For Lincoln, NE,” accessed April 21, 2023
  10. ↑ The Nebraska Examiner, "Lincoln mayoral candidates Gaylor Baird and Geist trade jabs over which is best for business," April 13, 2023
  11. ↑ Twitter, "Geist for Mayor," April 18, 2023
  12. ↑ Lincoln Fire Fighters Association endorses Leirion Gaylor Baird for mayor, "ABC8," March 16, 2023
  13. ↑ EMILYs List, "EMILYs List Endorses Leirion Gaylor Baird for Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska," February 23, 2023
  14. ↑ Sierra Club, "2023 Political Endorsements," accessed April 22, 2023
  15. ↑ Suzanne Geist for Mayor, "Media & News - Suzanne Geist Mayor For Lincoln, NE," accessed April 22, 2023
  16. ↑ Nebraska Public Media, "Costliest Lincoln mayor’s primary sets new, $1 million mark for candidate fundraising," March 28, 2023
  17. ↑ Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, "Political Race Research," accessed April 22, 2023
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
  20. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
  21. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
  22. ↑ Wall Street Journal, "America’s Cities Need Republicans, and I’m Becoming One," September 22, 2023
  23. ↑ City of Lincoln, "Government at a Glance," accessed August 26, 2014
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