2025 Topeka mayoral election

2025 Topeka mayoral election

November 4, 2025
 
Nominee Spencer Duncan Henry McClure
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan

Incumbent Mayor

Mike Padilla
Nonpartisan



The 2025 Topeka mayoral election will take place on November 4, 2025, following a primary election on August 5, 2025, to elect the Mayor of Topeka, Kansas. Incumbent Mayor Mike Padilla is not seeking re-election to a second term.[1] Six candidates ran to succeed him, with the top two candidates advancing to the general election.[2] In the primary election, City Councilman Spencer Duncan placed first with 60 percent of the vote and advanced to the general election with developer and far-right activist Henry McClure, who placed second with 14 percent.[3]

Primary election

Candidates

  • Spencer Duncan, City Councilman[4]
  • Henry McClure, developer, far-right activist[5]
  • James L. Bolden Jr., businessman[6]
  • Ed Patton, former Mayor of Leon, former Sedgwick Interim City Manager[7]
  • Chad Fay, health care worker[8]
  • Gabriel Killman, cabinet worker[9]

Declined

Results

Primary election results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Spencer Duncan 4,456 60.16%
Nonpartisan Henry McClure 1,057 14.27%
Nonpartisan James L. Bolden Jr. 535 7.22%
Nonpartisan Ed Patton 497 6.71%
Nonpartisan Chad Fay 437 5.90%
Nonpartisan Gabriel Killman 425 5.74%
Total votes 7,407 100.00%

References

  1. ^ a b Bickley, Madison (February 25, 2025). "Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla announces he won't seek re-election". WIBW. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  2. ^ Calhoun, Victoria (July 18, 2025). "SNCO Election Commissioner talks early voting 2025 Primary Election". KSNT. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  3. ^ Saldanha-Olson, Stacey (August 5, 2025). "These 2 Topeka mayoral candidates advance to Nov. 4 general election". Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  4. ^ Saldanha-Olson, Stacey (March 6, 2025). "Why Councilman Spencer Duncan wants to lead Topeka as its mayor". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  5. ^ Saldanha-Olson, Stacey (July 16, 2025). "'Having white privilege is a joke': Topeka mayoral candidate defends extreme views". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Topeka, Kansas. Archived from the original on July 16, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  6. ^ Saldanha-Olson, Stacey (May 15, 2025). "Why activist James Bolden is running for mayor of Topeka". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Topeka, Kansas. Archived from the original on July 30, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  7. ^ Saldanha-Olson, Stacey (June 25, 2025). "Why Ed Patton is running for Topeka mayor after leading other Kansas communities". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Topeka, Kansas. Archived from the original on June 26, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  8. ^ Saldanha-Olson, Stacey (April 12, 2025). "Topeka mayoral candidate Chad Fay focuses on infrastructure and health care". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Topeka, Kansas. Archived from the original on April 15, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  9. ^ Saldanha-Olson, Stacey (May 2, 2025). "A fourth candidate for mayor has entered the race. Now there will be a primary". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Topeka, Kansas. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  10. ^ "2025 Primary Election - Shawnee County, Kansas - August 5, 2025 - FINAL UNOFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Shawnee County Election Office. August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.