Quinton Lucas

Quinton Lucas
Born	Quinton Donald Lucas 19 08, 1984
Birthplace	Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Occupation	Politician, lawyer, academic
Known for	Youngest Kansas City mayor since 1855; third African-American mayor of Kansas City
Education	Washington University in St. Louis (BA) Cornell University (JD)
Spouse(s)	Katherine Carttar
Children	2
Website	[https://www.kcmo.gov/city-hall/city-officials/mayor-quinton-lucas Official site]

Quinton Donald Lucas (born August 19, 1984) is an American politician, lawyer, and academic serving as the 55th Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, a position he has held since August 1, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Lucas became the youngest person to serve as Kansas City's mayor since 1855 and the city's third African-American mayor upon taking office. Raised in poverty on Kansas City's East Side, Lucas rose through academic achievement to attend Washington University in St. Louis and Cornell Law School, later becoming a law professor at the University of Kansas School of Law. Before his election as mayor, he served on the Kansas City Council representing the 3rd District-at-large beginning in 2015. As mayor, Lucas has focused on public safety, affordable housing, and infrastructure development. He was reelected in 2023 and was appointed President of the Democratic Mayors Association in 2026.

Early Life

Quinton Donald Lucas was born on August 19, 1984, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was raised primarily on Kansas City's East Side, a part of the city characterized by significant economic disadvantage. During his childhood, Lucas experienced poverty and periods of homelessness, circumstances that would later inform his political priorities around affordable housing and economic equity.

Despite these challenges, Lucas demonstrated strong academic abilities at a young age. He earned an academic scholarship to attend The Barstow School, a private institution in Kansas City. This opportunity provided Lucas with an educational foundation that set the stage for his later academic and professional achievements. His personal experience of economic hardship on the East Side, coupled with the educational opportunities he received through his scholarship, gave Lucas a perspective that bridged disparate socioeconomic worlds within Kansas City — a background he would draw upon throughout his subsequent career in law, academia, and public service.

Lucas's upbringing in one of Kansas City's most economically challenged neighborhoods has been a recurring element in his public identity. His trajectory from childhood poverty to the mayor's office has been noted as a defining feature of his biography and political narrative.

Education

Lucas attended The Barstow School in Kansas City on an academic scholarship. He then enrolled at Washington University in St. Louis, where he completed his undergraduate degree, earning a Bachelor of Arts.

For his legal education, Lucas attended Cornell Law School at Cornell University, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree. His legal training at Cornell prepared him for careers in both legal practice and academia. Following law school, Lucas entered private legal practice and subsequently joined the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Law as a law professor, a position he continued to hold concurrently with his political career.

Career

Legal and Academic Career

After completing his Juris Doctor at Cornell Law School, Lucas entered private legal practice before transitioning into academia. He became a law professor at the University of Kansas School of Law, where he taught while simultaneously pursuing his interests in public service. Lucas maintained his academic role at the university even after entering elected politics, continuing to teach during his time on the Kansas City Council and into his tenure as mayor.

Kansas City Council (2015–2019)

Lucas entered elected politics in 2015, when he ran for a seat on the Kansas City Council. He was elected to represent the 3rd District-at-large. He was sworn into office alongside other new council members and Mayor Sly James on August 2, 2015.

During his time on the council, Lucas was involved in debates over key policy issues affecting Kansas City's development. Among the notable policy discussions during his tenure was the question of tax incentives for development projects, an issue that generated considerable debate among council members. Lucas was also present for a 2017 special election in which Kansas City voters approved all five ballot questions.

His council service provided a platform from which to build name recognition and political experience that would inform his subsequent campaign for mayor.

2019 Mayoral Election

In June 2018, Lucas announced his candidacy for mayor of Kansas City, entering what was described as a crowded field of candidates. The race was to succeed Mayor Sly James, who was term-limited and could not seek reelection.

Lucas campaigned on issues including public safety, affordable housing, and addressing the economic disparities he had experienced firsthand growing up on Kansas City's East Side. In interviews during the campaign, he expressed a desire to pursue solutions quickly, stating, "I want to get to those solutions as soon as possible."

Lucas prevailed in the election and was sworn in as the 55th Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, on August 1, 2019. At 34 years old, he became the youngest person to hold the office since 1855 and the city's third African-American mayor. He succeeded Sly James, who had served two terms.

First Term as Mayor (2019–2023)

Early Priorities

Upon taking office, Lucas moved quickly to address several of his campaign priorities. After his first 100 days in office, Lucas reported that he had made progress on issues related to guns and housing, two of the central pillars of his platform. Public safety remained a persistent concern throughout his tenure, as Kansas City continued to grapple with elevated rates of violent crime.

Police Budget and Public Safety

One of the more contentious policy debates during Lucas's first term involved the Kansas City police budget. In 2021, amid a national conversation about policing in the wake of widespread protests, the city implemented a new police budget plan. The question of whether the plan constituted a "defunding" of the police department generated significant public discussion. The debate reflected broader national tensions around police funding and reform that characterized the period.

Lucas's approach to public safety involved balancing calls for police accountability and reform with the need to address the city's ongoing violent crime challenges. The Kansas City Police Department operates under a unique governance structure in which the police board is appointed by the Missouri governor rather than the mayor, adding complexity to the city's ability to direct policing policy.

Progressive Policy Initiatives

During his tenure, Lucas supported several progressive social policies. These included the local decriminalization of marijuana and a policy making Kansas City a sanctuary city for individuals seeking or providing gender-affirming care. These measures positioned Kansas City alongside other major American cities that had adopted similar stances on these social issues.

Infrastructure and Development

Lucas's first term saw the completion of several major infrastructure projects, most notably a new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport. The airport project, which had been planned and initiated before Lucas took office, represented one of the largest public infrastructure investments in the city's recent history. Its completion during his tenure was a significant milestone in Kansas City's development.

2023 Reelection

Lucas sought reelection in 2023 and won a second term as mayor. His reelection campaign built upon the record of his first term, including the infrastructure accomplishments and his ongoing efforts on public safety and affordable housing.

Second Term as Mayor (2023–present)

Budget and Fiscal Policy

In his second term, Lucas has continued to address fiscal and budgetary matters facing the city. Budget discussions have included funding for public transit and policing, among other municipal services. In early 2026, Lucas and City Manager Mario Vasquez presented the proposed 2026–2027 fiscal year budget, which was the subject of public hearings where Kansas City residents provided input on municipal spending priorities.

2026 State of the City Address

In February 2026, Lucas delivered his annual State of the City address at City Hall. The address covered a range of topics, including the city's preparations for hosting matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, efforts to address homelessness, crime reduction strategies, and the future of the Kansas City Royals within the city.

2026 FIFA World Cup Preparations

Kansas City is among the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Lucas has played a prominent role in the city's preparations for the event. In early 2026, Lucas announced that the Argentina national soccer team would establish its official World Cup base camp in Kansas City, a significant designation for the city's hosting efforts. The World Cup preparations have involved infrastructure planning, tourism coordination, and efforts to maximize the economic impact of hosting the international tournament.

Democratic Mayors Association Presidency

In early 2026, Lucas was appointed President of the Democratic Mayors Association (DMA), the national organization representing Democratic mayors across the United States. In this role, Lucas has served as a national spokesperson for Democratic municipal leaders. Ahead of the 2026 State of the Union address, Lucas issued a statement in his capacity as DMA President.

Potential Congressional Candidacy

In September 2025, reports emerged that Lucas was considering a potential run for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. The prospect arose in the context of proposed redistricting in Missouri, which would have split Kansas City across multiple congressional districts. Lucas indicated that such a plan could make the Republican-held 4th and 6th congressional districts more competitive and suggested he was interested in potentially running for one of those seats.

Personal Life

Lucas married Katherine Carttar in a civil ceremony. The couple has two children.

Lucas has been open about his childhood experiences of poverty and homelessness, drawing on those experiences in his public life and policy priorities. He has spoken publicly about growing up on Kansas City's East Side and the role that educational opportunity, particularly his scholarship to The Barstow School, played in shaping his trajectory.

Lucas has made appearances on C-SPAN in connection with his role as mayor and public figure.

Recognition

Lucas's election in 2019 drew attention both locally and nationally as he became the youngest mayor of Kansas City since 1855 and the city's third African-American mayor. His personal story of rising from childhood poverty and homelessness on Kansas City's East Side to the city's highest elected office has been noted by local and national media outlets.

In 2026, Lucas was appointed President of the Democratic Mayors Association, a position that elevated his national profile among Democratic municipal leaders. The appointment placed him at the head of an organization that serves as the national voice for Democratic mayors and provided a platform for Lucas to engage in national policy discussions on behalf of urban leadership.

His role in securing Kansas City as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the announcement that Argentina would use Kansas City as its official base camp, has further raised the city's and Lucas's profile on the international stage.