ST. LOUIS – St. Louis voters have chosen a new direction, electing Cara Spencer as mayor in a decisive victory over incumbent Tishaura Jones.
With around two-thirds of the vote, Spencer’s win marks a dramatic political comeback, four years after losing to Jones for the prestigious title.
Spencer secured 64% of the vote in Tuesday’s election, compared to Jones’ 36%, a margin that has city leaders and residents already looking ahead with anticipation.
“This is a turning point,” said Les Sterman of Citizens for a Greater Downtown. “I think she understands what downtown means for the city and to the region and will act accordingly.”
Spencer’s victory closes the chapter on what some see as a prematurely ended tenure for Mayor Jones, who oversaw a historic drop in crime during her time in office.
Supporters of Jones pointed to her progressive policies and efforts to bring reform to city government.
“I think Tishaura Jones was the progressive candidate for the city, which is why I voted for her,” said Keith, a St. Louis City resident. “She had been making good change.”
Still, others argued that Jones failed to capitalize on her time in office.
“A lot of problems were going on before she even sat in the seat,” said resident Anton McDaniels. “I don’t think she got enough time. But with the time that she had, I don’t think she took advantage of it.”
Spencer, a former alderwoman, will be sworn in on April 15.
While the administration change marks a shift in leadership, many hope the momentum built under Jones—particularly in areas of economic development and social equity— will continue.
“Carry those things forward,” said community leader Jordan Braxton. “I know there’s problems with potholes, trash and ice, but our city’s much more than that.”
In a social media post following the election, Spencer outlined her top priorities as mayor:
- Delivering city services to all parts of our city
- Creating safer neighborhoods
- Expanding economic opportunity
- Rebuilding trust in city government
- Building a more robust safety net for at-risk populations
- Ensuring every St. Louisan has a voice and a stake in our future