Can you tell me about the candidates?
Krewson: Longtime alderman from the 28th ward in the Central corridor, who ran for office after her husband was shot during a mugging in the 90s. Is solidly liberal but more conservative on crime and policing issues. Ran as the candidate of the South City white Democratic establishment (unions, Catholics, ethnics).
Jones: Was elected Treasurer of the City of St. Louis after a short stint in the state house of representatives. Her father was the City's Comptroller in the 80s and 90s before he was convicted of tax fraud. Ran as a racial justice candidate, combining some support from African Americans all over the City as well as some white progressives in the Tower Grove Park area. Endorsed by many progressive groups.
Reed: President of the Board of Aldermen, originally from the 6th ward (Lafayette Square). Ran for Mayor against the incumbent, Slay, in 2013, and lost decidedly in a fairly racially polarized election, though had the support of the firefighters. Had some crossover appeal to public workers and gentrifiers.
French: Alderman for the 21st ward. Catapulted to political fame during the Ferguson protests/ riots, where he was arrested while performing "citizen journalism" on twitter. Arguably had crossover appeal to white liberals that desired change in South St. Louis, but apparently most of them broke for Jones.
LYDA KREWSON 17253 32.04%
TISHAURA JONES 16374 30.40%
LEWIS REED 9856 18.30%
ANTONIO FRENCH 8530 15.84%
also ran:
JEFFREY BOYD 1439 2.67%
WILLIAM HAAS 257 0.48%
JIMMIE MATTHEWS 145 0.27%
It would be interesting to look at differences in turnout between the primary and the general election.
Turnout for the primaries was 55,614, with 53,854 voting in the Democratic Primary. Turnout for the general election was 59,134 with 39,375 voting for the Democratic candidate.
So did Democratic voters vote in the primary, but not in the general election, but were replaced by Republican voters in the general. Or did Democratic voters switch and vote for the Republican candidate.
It would be interesting whether Jones' first name tipped the primary result.
