United States mayoral elections, 2023

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Ballotpedia covered 40 mayoral elections in 2023. This included all mayoral elections in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population and all mayoral elections in state capitals.
To read about mayoral 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.
This page includes:
- 2023 mayoral battleground elections
- Mayoral partisanship overview
- Mayoral elections in 2023
- Mayors of the 100 largest cities
- Historical election data
- More local election analysis
2023 mayoral battleground elections
Ballotpedia designates races expected to be particularly competitive or compelling as battlegrounds.
Click below to expand summaries of key races.
Mayoral partisanship
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.[81]
- 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
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.
Mayoral elections across the United States
Use the tabs below to sort 2023 municipal elections either by state or by date.
By state
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By date
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General runoff
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General election
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November 7
General election
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November 16
General runoff
November 21
General election
December 5
General runoff
December 9
General runoff
List of mayors of the 100 largest cities
To view a list of the current mayors of the top 100 U.S. cities by population, click here.
Historical election data
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 | ||||
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| Year | Cities | Mayor | City council | Counties |
Mayoral elections
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.
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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 | |||||||
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| Year | Total seats | Uncontested | Incumbents who sought re-election |
Incumbents defeated | |||
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
City council elections
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.
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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 | |||
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
County elections
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 | |||
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
Uncontested races
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
- 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
- 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
- Ballotpedia's Mid-Year Recall Report (2023)
- Ballotpedia's 2023 Recall Analysis
- Rematches in 2023 general elections
- Endorsements in school board elections, 2023
- Ballotpedia's Top 15 Elections to Watch, 2023
- Uncontested races by state
- Incumbent win rates by state
- Minor-party candidates who won more than the margin of victory
- Candidates with the same last names
- Trends in the margins of victory for incumbents of three or more terms, 2018-2024
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Politico, "Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes," February 28, 2023
- ↑ WBEZ, "Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson head to Chicago mayoral runoff," February 28, 2023
- ↑ Chalkbeat Chicago, "Chicago 2023 mayoral election: Former schools chief, teachers union organizer headed to runoff," February 28, 2023
- ↑ NBC News, "Lori Lightfoot becomes the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose re-election," February 28, 2023
- ↑ 9News, "Meet the candidates running for Denver Mayor: Kelly Brough," Feb. 14, 2023
- ↑ Michael Johnston's 2023 campaign website, "Home," accessed Feb. 15, 2023
- ↑ Denverite, "The winners of a Mike Johnston vs. Kelly Brough runoff: Denver’s political and business establishment and Michael Hancock," April 6, 2023
- ↑ Denver Democrats, "A big field. And big decisions to make." March 10, 2023
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Kelly Brough," accessed Feb. 15, 2023
- ↑ The Denver Gazette, "ENDORSEMENT: Kelly Brough for Denver mayor," March 28, 2023
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Endorsement: Mike Johnston for Denver mayor," March 16, 2023
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Denverite, "What does Denver’s mayor do and how much power does the position have?" Dec. 12, 2022
- ↑ Donna Deegan's campaign website, "Meet Donna," accessed March 29, 2023
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Donna Deegan," accessed March 29, 2023
- ↑ Daniel Davis' campaign website, "Home," accessed March 29, 2023
- ↑ YouTube, "Daniel Davis addresses supporters election night," March 21, 2023
- ↑ Donna Deegan's campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ Florida Politics, "Ron DeSantis endorses Daniel Davis for Jacksonville Mayor," March 31, 2023
- ↑ Daniel Davis' campaign website, "Home," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, Sen. Suzanne Geist advance to general election, "Lincoln Journal Star," April 4, 2023
- ↑ Suzanne Geist for Mayor, "Lastest News - Suzanne Geist Mayor For Lincoln, NE," April 6, 2023
- ↑ The Nebraska Examiner, "Lincoln mayor’s primary pits top Nebraska Dem against dueling wings of GOP," April 3, 2023
- ↑ Lincoln Journal Star, “Leirion Gaylor Baird”, March 18, 2023
- ↑ Leirion for Lincoln Mayor, “Meet Leirion,” accessed April 20, 2023
- ↑ Lincoln Journal Star, “Leirion Gaylor Baird”, April 18, 2019
- ↑ Suzanne Geist for Mayor, “Meet Suzanne Geist - Mayor for Lincoln, NE,” accessed April 21, 2023
- ↑ 1011 NOW, “Suzanne Geist resigns from legislature to go ‘all in’ on Lincoln mayor race,” April 5, 2023
- ↑ Suzanne Geist for Mayor, “Suzanne Geist on the Issues - Mayor For Lincoln, NE,” accessed April 21, 2023
- ↑ The Nebraska Examiner, "Lincoln mayoral candidates Gaylor Baird and Geist trade jabs over which is best for business," April 13, 2023
- ↑ Twitter, "Geist for Mayor," April 18, 2023
- ↑ Lincoln Fire Fighters Association endorses Leirion Gaylor Baird for mayor, "ABC8," March 16, 2023
- ↑ EMILYs List, "EMILYs List Endorses Leirion Gaylor Baird for Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska," February 23, 2023
- ↑ Sierra Club, "2023 Political Endorsements," accessed April 22, 2023
- ↑ Suzanne Geist for Mayor, "Media & News - Suzanne Geist Mayor For Lincoln, NE," accessed April 22, 2023
- ↑ Nebraska Public Media, "Costliest Lincoln mayor’s primary sets new, $1 million mark for candidate fundraising," March 28, 2023
- ↑ Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, "Political Race Research," accessed April 22, 2023
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Axios, "Inside Nashville mayor's decision not to run," February 1, 2023
- ↑ The Tennessean, "Struggling to pick a Nashville mayoral candidate? This scorecard might help.," June 22, 2023
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 Axios Nashville, "O'Connell finishes first in Nashville mayor's race, will face Rolli in runoff," August 4, 2023
- ↑ The Tennessean, "Meet Freddie O'Connell, candidate for Nashville mayor," August 15, 2023
- ↑ The Tennessean, "Meet Alice Rolli, candidate for Nashville mayor," August 15, 2023
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 The Tennessean, "Nashville mayoral race: How election maps could foreshadow runoff results," August 17, 2023
- ↑ YouTube, "Matt Wiltshire endorses Freddie O’Connell for Mayor," August 14, 2023
- ↑ The Tennessee Tribune, "Nashville’s Mayoral Candidates Pick Up Endorsements from former Competitors," August 17, 2023
- ↑ Alice Rolli for Nashville Mayor, "Rolli for Mayor Campaign Announces Key Endorsement Welcomes Education and Business Leader to Team," August 11, 2023
- ↑ The Tennessean, "Why we could have as many as four mayors in four years in Nashville," March 7, 2018
- ↑ Linkedin, "Cherelle Parker, Candidate for Mayor of Philadelphia, Former 9th District City Councilwoman/Majority Leader," accessed April 7, 2023
- ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Philadelphia City Council gets a leadership shakeup, with Cherelle Parker beating Bobby Henon as majority leader," January 6, 2020
- ↑ Cherelle Parker for Mayor, "About Cherelle," accessed April 7, 2023
- ↑ WHYY, "Gun violence, opioid crisis dominate Philly mayoral debate on public health," April 5, 2023
- ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-rhynhart-828a2b2a/ Linkedin, "Rebecca Rhynhart, Candidate for Mayor of Philadelphia," accessed April 7, 2023]
- ↑ Rebecca Rhynhart for Mayor, "Leadership & Experience," accessed April 7, 2023
- ↑ Parents United for Public Education, "Home," accessed April 10, 2023
- ↑ Axios Philadelphia, "Meet Philadelphia's Dem mayoral candidates: Helen Gym," April 3, 2023
- ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Breaking down 5 candidates’ paths to victory | The 100th mayor newsletter," April 18, 2023
- ↑ Allan Domb for Mayor, "Allan Domb for Mayor," accessed April 10, 2023
- ↑ The Philadelphia Citizen, "Who Is Jeff Brown?" March 17, 2023
- ↑ Axios Philadelphia, "Meet Philadelphia's Dem mayoral candidates: Jeff Brown," April 3, 2023
- ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, "What is Philly’s resign-to-run rule?" August 15, 2022
- ↑ 64.0 64.1 The Wichita Eagle, "Legalize or criminalize? Wichita mayoral candidates split on marijuana reform," June 17, 2023
- ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Local elections are nonpartisan by law. So why is the Republican Party campaigning?" October 25, 2019
- ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Wu emerges as front-runner in Wichita mayor’s race, but Whipple says he can still win," August 3, 2023
- ↑ The Sunflower, "Whipple and Wu advance to general elections in mayoral race," August 2, 2023
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Lily Wu, Candidate, Mayor of Wichita," accessed July 5, 2023
- ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Lily Wu announces run for Wichita mayor, flexes broad coalition of business support," April 3, 2023
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Dr. Brandon Whipple, Mayor at City of Wichita Kansas," accessed June 30, 2023
- ↑ KSN.com, "Brandon Whipple – Wichita mayoral candidate," July 18, 2023
- ↑ KWCH, "Which 2 will move on?: Political expert breaks down crowded Wichita mayoral race," August 1, 2023
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Bryan Frye, City Councilman at City of Wichita Kansas," accessed June 30, 2023
- ↑ 'The Wichita Eagle', "City Council member Bryan Frye launches bid to become the next mayor of Wichita," February 17, 2023
- ↑ 'The Wichita Eagle', "City Council member Bryan Frye launches bid to become the next mayor of Wichita," February 17, 2023
- ↑ 76.0 76.1 LinkedIn, "Celeste Racette, Experienced financial institution executive and former bank regulator," accessed July 3, 2023
- ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Celeste Racette, founder of Save Century II, enters race for Wichita mayor," February 3, 2023
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Jared Cerullo, Former City Council Member at City of Wichita Kansas," accessed June 30, 2023
- ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Former Wichita City Council appointee Jared Cerullo joins crowded mayoral field," May 31, 2023
- ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Former Wichita City Council appointee Jared Cerullo joins crowded mayoral field," May 31, 2023
- ↑ Wall Street Journal, "America’s Cities Need Republicans, and I’m Becoming One," September 22, 2023
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