Unraveling the Political Feud Inside City Hall
In the March 4, 2025, St. Louis City primary election, voters determined the candidates who will advance to the April 8 general election for key municipal positions, including mayor and comptroller. The low voter turnout reflected a continued trend in local elections, yet the results set the stage for heated matchups in the coming weeks.
Mayoral Race: A Rematch in the Making
The high-profile mayoral primary has once again placed incumbent Mayor Tishaura Jones and Alderwoman Cara Spencer in direct competition for the city’s top seat. Jones, seeking a second term, previously defeated Spencer in the 2021 election, but the tables turned in this primary showdown.
In a decisive win, Spencer emerged as the frontrunner, capturing 68% of the vote (23,785 votes), while Jones secured 33% (11,582 votes). Two additional candidates, Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler and businessman Andrew Jones, earned 25% (8,679 votes) and 14% (4,757 votes), respectively, but failed to advance.
Alderwoman Cara Spencer, representing the 8th Ward since 2015, has built her platform around equitable development and government transparency. Her campaign focuses on reducing crime, improving public education, and fostering economic growth in underserved communities.
Mayor Tishaura Jones, the first Black woman elected mayor of St. Louis, has spent her tenure implementing progressive policies, including criminal justice reform, public health initiatives, and economic revitalization. Her administration has prioritized police reform, pandemic response, and affordable housing, making crime and public safety a focal point of this rematch.
As both candidates sharpen their messaging heading into the April 8 general election, St. Louis voters can expect a fierce battle between two competing visions for the city’s future.
Comptroller Race: A Tight Contest
The race for St. Louis City Comptroller saw a competitive primary between incumbent Darlene Green and former Alderwoman and State Representative Donna Baringer.
Baringer led the vote count with 48% (16,664 votes), while Green followed closely with 42% (16,117 votes). Business executive Celeste Metcalf finished with 24% (8,541 votes) and was eliminated from the race.
Having served as St. Louis Comptroller since 1995, Darlene Green has played a key role in overseeing the city’s financial operations, advocating for fiscal responsibility and budget transparency. However, facing mounting criticism over financial oversight, she now finds herself in one of her most challenging reelection bids to date.
Donna Baringer, a former state representative and alderwoman, has campaigned on modernizing the city’s financial systems, improving budget transparency, and increasing fiscal accountability. With her strong support base in South St. Louis, she is poised to challenge the longtime incumbent’s stronghold on the office.
The April 8 general election will decide who will manage the city’s financial policies in the coming years, making this a race to watch.
Aldermanic Races: Incumbents and New Faces
Several Board of Aldermen seats were contested in the primary, with incumbents facing challengers and some races already set for the general election.
Contested Primary Races:
Ward 3: Incumbent Shane Cohn secured 56% of the vote (919 votes) and will face Dallas Adams, who received 42% (693 votes) in the general election.
Ward 11: Incumbent Laura Keys won her primary with 64% of the vote (743 votes) and will compete against Rebecca McCloud (36% / 421 votes) in the general election.
Candidates Automatically Advancing:
Ward 1: Incumbent Anne Schweitzer will face Tony Kirchner in the general election.
Ward 7: Incumbent Alisha Sonnier is set to compete against Cedric Redmon.
Notably, two incumbent alderpersons ran unopposed and will retain their seats:
Ward 9: Michael Browning
Ward 13: Pam Boyd
With several new faces set to challenge incumbents, the April 8 election could reshape the city’s legislative body, making voter engagement crucial in determining the future leadership of the Board of Aldermen.
Looking Ahead to April 8
With the general election just weeks away, candidates in the mayoral and comptroller races, along with contested aldermanic races, will intensify their campaigns. Major issues shaping the debate include:
Crime and public safety – A top concern among voters, especially in the mayoral race.
Economic revitalization – Addressing disinvestment in key neighborhoods.
Government transparency and accountability – A theme particularly relevant in the comptroller’s race.
City finances – Balancing fiscal responsibility with investment in services.
The April 8 general election will ultimately decide who leads St. Louis forward, making voter participation more critical than ever. Will Cara Spencer’s momentum carry her to victory, or will Tishaura Jones rally her base for a comeback? Will Darlene Green hold on to the Comptroller’s seat, or will Donna Baringer pull off an upset?
The stage is set, and the battle for City Hall is just getting started. All eyes on April 8.
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