Tishaura Jones

Tishaura Jones
Born	Tishaura Oneda Jones 10 3, 1972
Birthplace	St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, consultant
Known for	First African-American female mayor of St. Louis
Education	Hampton University (BS) Saint Louis University (MHA)
Children	1

Tishaura Oneda Jones (born March 10, 1972) is an American politician who served as the 47th mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, from April 20, 2021, to April 15, 2025. A member of the Missouri Democratic Party, Jones made history as the first African-American woman elected to lead the city of St. Louis, a milestone in a metropolis long shaped by racial divisions and institutional inequities. Before assuming the mayoralty, Jones served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2009 to 2013, representing Missouri's 63rd District, and as Treasurer of the City of St. Louis from 2013 to 2021. Her political career was preceded by experiences in entrepreneurship and healthcare administration, and she has described herself as a progressive. After leaving office following a defeat in the 2025 mayoral election, Jones pursued academic fellowships at Washington University in St. Louis and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and established a political consulting firm.

Early Life

Tishaura Oneda Jones was born on March 10, 1972, in St. Louis, Missouri. She grew up in a politically active family; her father, Virvus Jones, served as the Comptroller of the City of St. Louis, providing her with early exposure to municipal government and public service. The Jones family's deep roots in St. Louis politics would later shape Tishaura Jones's own trajectory into public life.

After completing her undergraduate studies, Jones returned to St. Louis and attempted to start a restaurant business. The venture was unsuccessful and ultimately led her to file for bankruptcy, a period she later described as a tumultuous time in her life. The failed business endeavor prompted Jones to redirect her career toward healthcare. She subsequently entered the field of nursing and healthcare administration, eventually working at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital for two years.

Jones's early experience with financial hardship and her subsequent recovery through healthcare work informed her later political positions on economic opportunity, public health, and social safety net programs. Her father's political career also provided a template for civic engagement, and the two would later campaign together during her bids for public office.

Education

Jones attended Hampton University in Virginia, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1994. After her unsuccessful restaurant venture and subsequent entry into the healthcare field, she enrolled at the Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice, where she earned a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree in 2001. Her graduate education in health administration provided professional credentials that she utilized during her subsequent employment at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and that informed her policy perspectives on public health issues throughout her political career.

Career

Early Political Career and Missouri House of Representatives

Jones entered politics in 2002, when she was appointed to the Democratic Party Central Committee for St. Louis's eighth ward. This committee appointment served as her introduction to party politics and local governance structures.

In 2008, Jones ran for a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives, seeking to represent Missouri's 63rd District. She defeated independent candidate Nels Williams with 85.4 percent of the vote, succeeding Robin Wright-Jones in the seat. Jones took office in January 2009. In 2010, she ran unopposed for re-election to the House, securing a second term.

During her time in the Missouri House, Jones was among a group of seven women legislators who alleged they had been excluded from debate on contraception-related legislation, an incident that drew media attention to gender dynamics within the state legislature.

Jones served in the Missouri House of Representatives until January 2013, when she assumed her new role as City Treasurer. Her successor in the 63rd District seat was Michael Butler.

Treasurer of St. Louis

In 2012, Jones ran for the office of Treasurer of the City of St. Louis. Upon announcing her candidacy, she spoke of plans for reform within the office, warning of a "house cleaning" that would address operational issues. She won the general election with 77.9 percent of the vote, succeeding Larry Williams in the position.

Jones's tenure as Treasurer was marked by a notable controversy involving a "ghost employee" — an individual who was on the payroll of the Treasurer's office but did not perform work for the office. The employee, who also served as the chairman of the board for the Paideia Academy, was convicted on fraud charges in 2013. The individual was subsequently sentenced for the offense.

Jones was re-elected as Treasurer in 2016 and again in 2020, serving continuously in the office from January 1, 2013, until her inauguration as mayor on April 20, 2021. Adam Layne succeeded her as Treasurer.

2017 Mayoral Campaign

In 2017, Jones made her first bid for mayor of St. Louis, announcing her candidacy while serving as Treasurer. She ran on a progressive platform, and media profiles described her as a "reluctant leader" who stepped forward to make her case for the city's top executive position. During the campaign, her personal history, including her bankruptcy and career trajectory, was subject to public scrutiny.

Jones lost the Democratic primary to Lyda Krewson, who went on to win the general election and become mayor. Despite the loss, the campaign raised Jones's public profile and positioned her for a subsequent mayoral bid.

Mayor of St. Louis (2021–2025)

2021 Election

Jones entered the 2021 St. Louis mayoral race and advanced through the primary process. In the general election, she faced St. Louis Alderwoman Cara Spencer. Jones won with 51.7 percent of the vote, a narrow margin that reflected the competitive nature of the race. With her victory, Jones became the first African-American woman to serve as mayor of St. Louis, a milestone in a city whose history has been significantly shaped by racial dynamics.

Jones succeeded Lyda Krewson, who did not seek re-election, and was inaugurated on April 20, 2021.

Tenure as Mayor

Jones described herself as a progressive and pursued an agenda that reflected those priorities during her term. In a post-tenure interview with St. Louis Public Radio, Jones reflected on both the accomplishments and limitations of her administration, stating, "We didn't push hard enough," suggesting she believed more could have been achieved in advancing her policy goals.

Jones's time as mayor coincided with significant challenges facing the city, including ongoing public safety concerns and the broader impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on municipal governance and the local economy. Her administration's record became a central issue in her re-election campaign.

When Jones left City Hall in April 2025 at the end of her term, it marked the first time in more than two decades that she had not held a local political office.

2025 Election and Defeat

In the 2025 mayoral election, Jones faced a rematch against Cara Spencer, who had run against her in 2021. The contest was described by media outlets as a "bitter rematch." Spencer defeated Jones decisively, winning approximately 64 percent of the vote to Jones's 35.83 percent in the final unofficial results. The outcome represented a significant reversal from the 2021 race, in which Jones had won by a narrow margin. Jones left office on April 15, 2025, and Spencer succeeded her as mayor.

Post-Mayoral Career

Following her departure from office, Jones pursued several professional and academic endeavors. In May 2025, less than a month after losing her re-election bid, she formed Oneda Consulting, a political consulting firm named after her middle name.

In September 2025, Jones was announced as a visiting fellow at Washington University in St. Louis, where she joined the university's Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Equity through a newly created fellowship.

In early 2026, Jones was selected as a spring fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, joining the Institute of Politics' fellowship program, which brings practitioners of politics and public service to the university for engagement with students and the academic community.

Personal Life

Jones has one child. Her father, Virvus Jones, served as Comptroller of the City of St. Louis, making the Jones family a notable political family in the city's history. Jones and her father have campaigned together on multiple occasions, underscoring the close relationship between their respective political careers.

Jones's personal financial history, including the bankruptcy that resulted from her failed restaurant venture prior to entering politics, was a topic of public discussion during her 2017 mayoral campaign. She addressed the matter publicly, characterizing it as a difficult but formative period in her life.

In 2025, a woman described by media as having close ties to Jones's family pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges. In February 2026, the woman was sentenced to prison.

Recognition

Jones's election as the first African-American female mayor of St. Louis in 2021 was recognized as a historic milestone for the city. The achievement garnered national attention at a time when conversations about racial equity and representation in local government were prominent in American public discourse.

Following her time as mayor, Jones received recognition in academic circles. Her selection as a visiting fellow at Washington University in St. Louis's Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Equity in 2025 placed her in a position to contribute to scholarly discussions on race and governance. Her subsequent appointment as a spring fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in 2026 further reflected the recognition of her experience in public service by prominent academic institutions.

Jones was also profiled by the Netroots Nation organization, a progressive political advocacy group, in connection with her political work.

Legacy

Tishaura Jones's tenure as mayor of St. Louis is primarily noted for the historic nature of her election as the city's first African-American female mayor. In a city where racial segregation and inequality have been enduring issues, her election in 2021 represented a significant change in the city's political leadership.

Jones's political career, spanning more than two decades from her 2002 appointment to the Democratic Party Central Committee through her 2025 departure from the mayor's office, encompassed service in the state legislature, citywide office as Treasurer, and the city's top executive position. Her self-described progressive approach to governance marked her as a figure aligned with a particular wing of the Democratic Party, and her 2017 and 2021 mayoral campaigns reflected broader national trends toward progressive urban politics.

Her defeat in the 2025 mayoral election, in which she lost to Cara Spencer by a significant margin after having narrowly defeated Spencer four years earlier, illustrated the shifting political dynamics within St. Louis during this period. In her post-mayoral reflections, Jones acknowledged that her administration could have been more ambitious, stating, "We didn't push hard enough."

Following her departure from elected office, Jones's transition into academic fellowships at Washington University and Harvard, as well as the establishment of her consulting firm, suggested a continued engagement with public policy and politics outside of elected office.