Lily Wu

Lily Wu
Lily Wu
Born	1984
Birthplace	Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, former television news anchor
Known for	First Asian American mayor in Kansas; only Libertarian mayor of a top-100 U.S. city
Education	Wichita State University (BA) University of Hong Kong (MA)

Lily Wu (born 1984) is an American politician and former television news anchor who has served as the 103rd mayor of Wichita, Kansas, since January 8, 2024. Born in Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala, Wu built a career in broadcast journalism in the Wichita market before entering politics. A member of the Libertarian Party since 2022, having previously been registered as a Republican, she defeated incumbent mayor Brandon Whipple in the November 2023 general election. Wu's victory made her the first Asian American mayor in the history of Kansas and the only Libertarian serving as mayor of one of the 100 largest cities in the United States at the time of her inauguration. Her tenure has been marked by debates over municipal spending, ethics inquiries, and the selection of a new city manager.

Early Life

Lily Wu was born in 1984 in Antigua Guatemala, a city in southern Guatemala. Details about her family's background in Guatemala and her upbringing prior to settling in Kansas are limited in available public records. Wu eventually made her home in the Wichita, Kansas, area, where she would build both her professional career and her public profile.

Note: Some recent news sources from Seattle describe a restaurateur also named Lily Wu (Xiaoli Wu), who grew up in a village near Songyuan in northeastern China's Jilin province and operates noodle restaurants in the Seattle area. This is a different individual from the Wichita mayor.

Education

Wu attended Wichita State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She later pursued graduate studies at the University of Hong Kong, completing a Master of Arts degree. Her educational background in both Kansas and Hong Kong informed her career in journalism and, later, her entry into civic life.

Career

Television News

Before entering politics, Lily Wu worked as a television news anchor in the Wichita media market. Her career in broadcast journalism gave her significant public visibility in the Wichita metropolitan area and helped establish her name recognition among local voters. Wu's time in television positioned her as a familiar face in the community, a factor that would later prove significant in her political campaigns.

Entry into Politics

Wu entered the political arena as a candidate for mayor of Wichita in 2023. Prior to 2022, she had been registered as a member of the Republican Party. She subsequently changed her party affiliation to the Libertarian Party. Her switch in party registration attracted national attention, particularly given the rarity of Libertarian candidates winning major municipal offices in the United States.

Wu's candidacy drew endorsements from a range of local organizations. The Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce PAC announced its endorsement of Wu during the 2023 election cycle. She also received the endorsement of the Kansas State Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5.

2023 Mayoral Primary

The 2023 Wichita mayoral race featured a nonpartisan primary election held on August 1, 2023. Wu and incumbent mayor Brandon Whipple advanced through the primary to the general election, finishing as the top two candidates in a field of contenders. The primary result set up a direct contest between the political newcomer and the sitting mayor.

2023 General Election

In the November 7, 2023, general election, Wu defeated Whipple to become the 103rd mayor of Wichita. Her victory was notable on multiple fronts. Wu became the first Asian American to serve as mayor of any city in Kansas. She also became the only member of the Libertarian Party serving as mayor of one of the 100 largest cities in the United States, a distinction that drew national media coverage.

The race attracted attention from outlets including Newsweek, Reason, The Boston Globe, and Yahoo News. Commentators debated the extent to which Wu's Libertarian affiliation would shape her governance, given that Wichita's mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan and Wu had only recently joined the Libertarian Party.

The Libertarian Party of Kansas publicly acknowledged Wu's election, with the state party chair issuing a statement about her victory.

Tenure as Mayor

Wu was inaugurated as the 103rd mayor of Wichita on January 8, 2024, succeeding Brandon Whipple.

Fiscal Policy and Pay

In December 2025, Wu declined a 3.5% pay raise that had been proposed for the mayor's office. The Wichita Eagle reported that Wu turned down the raise at a city council meeting, a move that contrasted with a prior instance in which the council had blocked her own attempt to forgo a raise. The decision drew public attention as a signal of Wu's stance on municipal spending and her approach to the role of the mayor's office.

Sales Tax and Special Council Meeting

Wu called a special city council meeting to address a vote on a sales tax election, an issue of significant fiscal importance to Wichita residents and businesses. The matter reflected ongoing debates about city revenue and public services funding during Wu's administration.

Ethics Inquiry

In June 2025, the Wichita Ethics Board found that Mayor Wu had violated a part of the city's ethics code in connection with her handling of a proclamation reading. The finding was reported by KWCH, a Wichita television station. The specifics of the violation related to procedural aspects of how the proclamation was handled. The ethics finding generated public discussion about the standards of conduct expected of the mayor's office.

City Manager Selection

In November 2025, Wu addressed the upcoming city council vote on a new city manager, the first such vote in 16 years. The selection of a city manager is a significant governance decision in Wichita, which operates under a council-manager form of government in which the city manager oversees daily municipal operations.

Zoning and Ordinances

As mayor, Wu has been involved in the routine legislative functions of the office, including the signing of ordinances related to zoning classifications and land use within the city of Wichita.

Reelection

Wu sought reelection as mayor. The Libertarian Party of Kansas referenced her continued service in the role on its official blog. The 2025 election cycle saw Wu's candidacy draw continued interest, with the Wichita Eagle and other Kansas media outlets covering the race. Official election results were certified by Sedgwick County.

Political Positions and Party Affiliation

Wu's political identity has been a subject of public discussion. Registered as a Republican before 2022, she switched to the Libertarian Party prior to her first mayoral campaign. Because Wichita mayoral elections are nonpartisan — candidates do not appear on the ballot with party labels — the practical significance of her Libertarian registration has been debated. Reason magazine examined the question of whether Wu could meaningfully be considered a Libertarian mayor, noting both her party registration and the nonpartisan nature of the office.

The Wichita Eagle reported on Wu's political positioning, and national commentators weighed in on what her election meant for the Libertarian Party's presence in American municipal politics. The Boston Globe discussed her election in the context of broader national political trends.

Wu's decision to decline a pay raise and her calls for special meetings on fiscal matters such as the sales tax vote have been interpreted by some observers as consistent with Libertarian principles of fiscal restraint, though Wu has not been publicly characterized as governing strictly along ideological lines.

Personal Life

Wu was born in Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala, in 1984. She has identified as Asian American and has spoken publicly about her background as a member of that community in Kansas. Further publicly documented details about her personal and family life are limited in available sourced material.

Recognition

Wu's election as mayor of Wichita was covered extensively by both Kansas and national media. Her status as the first Asian American mayor in Kansas history was highlighted by KCUR, Newsweek, Yahoo News, and the Wichita Eagle. Her position as the only Libertarian mayor of a top-100 U.S. city drew coverage from Reason and the Boston Globe.

The Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce PAC endorsed Wu during the 2023 campaign, and the Kansas State Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 also supported her candidacy.

Wu's handling of municipal governance, including her decision to forgo a pay raise and her role in the city manager selection process, has been the subject of ongoing local media coverage.

Legacy

As of early 2026, Wu remains in office as mayor of Wichita. Her election represented a historic milestone for Asian American representation in Kansas politics and a rare instance of a Libertarian Party member holding a major municipal executive office in the United States. The long-term significance of her tenure will depend on the outcomes of her policy initiatives, her handling of city governance, and the degree to which her administration shapes the trajectory of Wichita's development.

Her transition from television news anchor to political leader has been noted as an example of media professionals entering elected office, a pattern observed in American politics at various levels of government. Whether Wu's success as a Libertarian-registered candidate in a nonpartisan race signals broader opportunities for third-party candidates in American municipal politics remains a subject of discussion among political observers.