“I will not stay silent when I spot any injustice,” Jones declared. Video: Tishaura Jones Facebook page
ST. LOUIS — City Treasurer Tishaura Jones won the St. Louis mayor’s race Tuesday, defeating Alderman Cara Spencer in a contest matching two progressive Democratic women.
Unofficial final returns showed Jones pulling in about 52% of the vote and Spencer about 48%.
“It’s time for St. Louis to thrive,” Jones, who will be the first Black woman to hold the office, told cheering supporters Tuesday night at the Omega Center in north St. Louis. “It’s time to bring a breath of fresh air to our neighborhoods.”
Jones reiterated that she will seek to address inequities in the delivery of city services and “will not stay silent” when she spots racism, homophobia, xenophobia or religious intolerance.
“I will not stay silent when I spot any injustice,” she declared.
Jones, 49, also said her campaign had “begun breaking down the historic racial barriers and the racial divides that exist and have existed for generations” in the city.
Spencer conceded at her watch party outside the Mahler Ballroom in the Central West End, surrounded by supporters.
“I’m proud to be a citizen of St. Louis tonight,” Spencer said. “The treasurer was my opponent but she is not my enemy. The people of St. Louis have spoken, and I pledge my support to Mayor-elect Tishaura Jones to move our city forward.”
Alderman Cara Spencer speaks before a crowd of supporters after losing the mayoral election to Tishaura Jones on April 6, 2021.
Jones and Spencer each had said they were running to fundamentally change the way city government operates.
Jones entered the general election race as the favorite after finishing first in the four-way March 2 primary. Spencer, an alderman since 2015, came in second in the primary.
Jones emphasized her eight years’ executive experience as treasurer, citing her efforts to modernize parking operations, and five years before that as a state representative.
She also cited her existing relationships on the local, state and federal level, most notably with St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, who endorsed her.
Spencer, 42, portrayed herself as someone independent of old-style City Hall politics and as a foe of special interests, citing her leadership at the Board of Aldermen in fighting the leasing of St. Louis Lambert International Airport among other things.
Jones, who will become the city’s 47th mayor, will face some serious challenges, including violent crime underscored by a high murder rate.
She has said she wants to shift policing from an arrest and incarcerate model to a prevention model, expanding the use of mental health and other professionals to handle some 911 calls.
Jones also will have to deal with conditions at the main city jail downtown — which was rocked Sunday by rioting for the second time in two months.
But the new mayor also will benefit from a $517 million windfall coming to the city through a newly passed federal pandemic aid plan.
Jones in the campaign tapped the same mix of support from her home base in heavily Black north St. Louis and white progressives that she had in her near-miss 2017 mayoral bid and her winning campaigns for treasurer, most recently last year.
She also built momentum by trumpeting a steady stream of endorsements from liberal groups and a network of prominent Black elected officials across the country, including Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.
Among them was Wesley Bell, the St. Louis County prosecutor, who was among those at Jones’ Tuesday night event.
“With Tishaura, you are going to see a lot more collaboration,” Bell told the Post-Dispatch. “She doesn’t have to build relationships. She’s already got them.”
Also on hand was Sara Weichold, a parking attendant. “As a Black woman, to see the first Black woman becoming mayor — it’s powerful to witness,” said Weichold, 41.
When news of Jones’ victory hit the crowd, music thumped and cheers erupted, including from Johanna Jones, 48, a lifelong friend of Tishaura Jones.
“I am amazed,” Johanna Jones said as the news set in. “I am overjoyed. I am proud. I am excited about what this means for St. Louis.”
In the campaign, both candidates took progressive stands to the left of more moderate Democrats such as Mayor Lyda Krewson, who didn’t seek a second four-year term this year.
However, Spencer also took pains to delineate herself from Jones, attacking some of Jones’ actions as treasurer, including awarding a controversial parking management contract to a past campaign donor. Jones said the firm was chosen in a competitive process.
Pro-Spencer TV commercials also attacked Jones for taking numerous trips at city expense from 2013 to 2016 and being among various city officials having a take-home vehicle. The Jones campaign said she turned in the vehicle in September 2016.
While Jones’ ads were positive, she did hit back at Spencer during joint appearances, criticizing Spencer for getting contributions from the local firefighters union after Spencer voted for a union-backed pension governance change.
Both campaigns were well-funded. As of early Tuesday, pro-Jones forces reported committing at least $1.07 million and Spencer backers at least $980,000. Those figures are for both the primary and general election campaigns.
The Jones side’s total included $85,000 from Collective Future, a national group promoting Black candidates, and about $26,000 from Higher Heights, a national group backing Black women running for office.
Also receiving some votes were two registered write-in candidates for mayor — Jerome Bauer, a frequent Green Party candidate in past elections, and businessman Nicholas Akerberg.
The election Tuesday was the second phase of St. Louis’ new nonpartisan voting system for municipal candidates passed as Proposition D at the election last November.
In the first phase, the March 2 primary, residents could vote for as many candidates for an office that they approved of, not just one. Backers said the idea was to qualify the candidates with the broadest support to move on to Tuesday’s general-election runoff.
In past April general elections, Democratic nominees usually rolled to landslide wins over Republicans and third-party candidates in the heavily Democratic city.
Jones will be sworn in on April 20, along with Comptroller Darlene Green, who won reelection without any opposition.
Rachel Rice and Jesse Bogan of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
Photos: Tishaura Jones wins St. Louis mayoral race
Tishaura Jones will be the first Black woman mayor of St. Louis

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sisters serenade and celebrate St. Louis Mayor-elect Tishaura Jones during her victory party on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Omega Center. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Mayor-elect Tishaura Jones will be the first Black woman mayor of St. Louis

Tishaura Jones' son, Aden, 13, introduces his mother St. Louis Mayor-elect Tishaura Jones during her victory party on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Omega Center. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Tishaura Jones will be the first Black woman mayor of St. Louis

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sisters serenade and celebrate Mayor-elect Tishaura Jones during her victory party on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Omega Center. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Mayor-elect Tishaura Jones will be the first Black woman mayor of St. Louis

18th ward committeewoman Yolonda "Yogi" Yancie, right, of the St. Louis City Democratic Central Committee, records the historic moment after election results confirmed Tishaura Jones won the St. Louis mayoral election during her watch party on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Omega Center. Jones will be the first Black woman Mayor of St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Tishaura Jones will be the first Black woman mayor of St. Louis

Mayor-elect of St. Louis Tishaura Jones addresses her supporters during her victory party on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Omega Center. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Mayor-elect Tishaura Jones will be the first Black woman mayor of St. Louis

Alderwoman Annie Rice, lefft, and Brian Wingbermeuhle watch Javad Khazaeli pop a bottle of champagne moments after election results confirmed Tishaura Jones won the St. Louis mayoral election during her watch party on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Omega Center. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Mayor-elect Tishaura Jones will be the first Black woman mayor of St. Louis

Virvus Jones watches his daughter St. Louis Mayor-elect Tishaura Jones address supporters at her victory party on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Omega Center. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Tishaura Jones will be the first Black woman mayor of St. Louis

Mayor-elect of St. Louis Tishaura Jones fights back tears as she remembers her deceased mother while addressing her supporters during her victory party on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Omega Center. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Cara Spencer election night party

"This is a historic night for St. Louis," says St. Louis mayoral candidate Cara Spencer as she delivers her concession speech to a crowd of supporters and media during her election night party outside the Mahler Ballroom in St. Louis on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Unofficial final returns show Tishaura Jones defeated Cara Spencer. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Cara Spencer election night party

"This is a historic night for St. Louis," says St. Louis mayoral candidate Cara Spencer as she delivers her concession speech to a crowd of supporters and media during her election night party outside the Mahler Ballroom in St. Louis on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Unofficial final returns show Tishaura Jones defeated Cara Spencer. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Cara Spencer election night party

St. Louis mayoral candidate Cara Spencer delivers her concession speech to a crowd of supporters and media during her election night party outside the Mahler Ballroom in St. Louis on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Unofficial final returns show Tishaura Jones defeated Cara Spencer. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Cara Spencer election night party

St. Louis mayoral candidate Cara Spencer talks with campaign volunteers Lisa Kientzel, bottom, and Dennis Lane, right, during her election night party outside the Mahler Ballroom in St. Louis on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Kientzel says she was Spencer's Spanish teacher in high school and has kept up with her through the years on Facebook. Spencer is running against Tishaura Jones for the mayoral seat. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis mayoral candidate Tishaura Jones campaigns into the evening

St. Louis mayoral candidate Tishaura Jones dances to the song "Celebration" while campaigning outside the polling place at Lexington Elementary on election day Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Cara Spencer hits the polls

St. Louis mayoral candidate Cara Spencer bumps elbows in greeting with Calvin Frazier outside the Nance Elementary School voting location in St. Louis on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Spencer is running against Tishaura Jones for the mayoral seat. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis mayoral candidate Tishaura Jones campaigns into the evening

St. Louis mayoral candidate Tishaura Jones waves to poll workers while campaigning outside the polling place at Lexington Elementary on election day Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Cara Spencer talks to voters in the Central West End

Mayoral Candidate Cara Spencer grabs a selfie with 17th Ward Aldermanic Candidate Michelle Sherod outside the polling place at the corner of Newstead and Laclede avenues in the Central West End on April 6, 2021. Photo by Sara Diggins, sdiggins@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis mayoral candidate Tishaura Jones campaigns into the evening

"I am definitely voting for Tishaura. Our city needs a change and I hope she is part of it," said voter Marissa Perry, left, who high-fives St. Louis mayoral candidate Tishaura Jones after casting her vote at Lexington Elementary on election day Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Cara Spencer hits the polls

"We saw her on TV this morning, then seeing her today was really cool," says Carter Thompson, 7, as she and her sister Avary Thompson, 6, center, get signatures from St. Louis mayoral candidate Cara Spencer outside the Nance Elementary School voting location in St. Louis on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Spencer is running against Tishaura Jones for the mayoral seat. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis mayoral candidate Tishaura Jones campaigns into the evening

"You are going to win," says CEO of Democracy for America DeYvette Simpson, right, who visits with St. Louis mayoral candidate Tishaura Jones, left, who was campaigning outside the polling place at Central Baptist Church on election day Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Cara Spencer hits the polls

St. Louis mayoral candidate Cara Spencer talks with poll volunteers Dex Simpson, left, and Abe Givins, center, outside the New Northside Conference Center voting location in St. Louis on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Spencer is running against Tishaura Jones for the mayoral seat. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis mayoral candidate Tishaura Jones campaigns into the evening

“I voted a week early for her,” said Maxine Ruff, left, who fist bumps St. Louis mayoral candidate Tishaura Jones outside the polling place at Central Baptist Church on election day Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Cara Spencer talks to voters in the Central West End

Mayoral candidate Cara Spencer, right, and Aldermanic Candidate Michelle Sherod, (front left, in white) greet voter Karen Morrow outside the polling place at the corner of Newstead and Laclede Avenues in the Central West End on April 6, 2021. Photo by Sara Diggins, sdiggins@post-dispatch.com
Tishaura Jones greets voters at polling places

Mayoral candidate Tishaura Jones dances with Tracey Clark Jeffries outside the polling place at the corner of Newstead and Laclede avenues in the Central West End on April 6, 2021. Photo by Sara Diggins, sdiggins@post-dispatch.com
Cara Spencer talks to voters in the Central West End

Campaign volunteer Lisa Kientzel places signs promoting Mayoral Candidate Cara Spencer outside the polling place along Laclede Avenue in the Central West End on April 6, 2021. Photo by Sara Diggins, sdiggins@post-dispatch.com
Tishaura Jones greets voters at polling places

Mayoral Candidate Tishaura Jones (left) takes a selfie with Aldermanic Candidate for the 17th Ward, Tina Pihl, outside the polling place at the corner of Newstead and Laclede Avenues in the Central West End on April 6, 2021. In unofficial final results, Pihl beat Michelle Sherod in the race for Ward 17 Alderman. Photo by Sara Diggins, sdiggins@post-dispatch.com