8 major U.S. cities will be led by an Asian American mayor in 2026

A long way from 1971, when America inaugurated its first Asian American mayor of a major city, our country will have 8 Asian American mayors leading major U.S. cities in 2026. New York City (NY), San Antonio (TX), Boston (MA), Bakersfield (CA), Wichita (KS), St. Paul (MN), Cincinnati (OH), and Fremont (CA) will all be led by an Asian American mayor—a testament to the growing representation of Asian Americans in government. While most are Democrats, one is a Republican and another is a Libertarian. Notably, more Asian American women than men were elected. By ethnicity, the 8 mayors/mayor-elects are nearly equally represented among East Asian, South Asian, and Southeast Asian Americans.

America inaugurated its first Asian American mayor to lead a major U.S. city in 1971. A city is considered a major city if its population is among the 100 largest U.S. cities by population size. In 1970, the voters of San Jose, California elected Norman Mineta (1931-2022), a Japanese American, as its 59th mayor. Mineta served as mayor from 1971 to 1974, and later went on to build a barrier-breaking political legacy as a U.S. congressman and then as the first Asian American U.S. Cabinet Secretary.

Nearly a decade later, the first Asian American woman mayor of a major U.S. city was Eunice Sato (1921-2021). A Japanese American, Sato served as mayor of Long Beach, California from 1980 to 1982. Sato was the first woman to lead San Jose, guiding the city through a period of economic turmoil.

Growing political representation

This upcoming January, America’s largest city, New York City, along with 7 other major cities, will inaugurate an Asian American mayor—San Antonio (TX), Boston (MA), Bakersfield (CA), Wichita (KS), St. Paul (MN), Cincinnati (OH), and Fremont (CA). This is a testament to the growing representation of Asian Americans in government.

Party affiliation, ethnicity, and gender

Of the 8 Asian American mayors/mayor-elects of major U.S. cities, 6 are Democrats, one is a Republican and another is a Libertarian. Notably, more Asian American women (5) than men (3) were elected as mayor. By ethnicity, the 8 mayors/mayor-elects are nearly equally represented among East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian Americans.

Zohran Mandami made history in November 2025 when he was elected with 50.9% of votes to become the 112th mayor of New York City. A Democrat Socialist, Mandami will lead America’s largest city, with a population of 8.5 million as of mid-2024—down from 8.8 million from 2020. He will be the first South Asian American and Muslim to hold office. At age 34 (born on October 18, 1991, in Uganda), Mandami is the second youngest mayor of New York City, after Hugh J. Grant.

Gina Ortiz Jones (age 44, born on February 1, 1981, in the U.S.) won 54.3% of votes in a June 2025 run-off election to become the 69th mayor of San Antonio, Texas. A Democrat and an air force veteran, Ortiz Jones made city and state history as the first Asian American female elected mayor of San Antonio and of any major city in Texas. Notably, Ortiz Jones is the first openly gay mayor of San Antonio.

Michelle Wu (age 40, born on January 14, 1985, in the U.S.) ran unopposed and was easily re-elected in November 2025 to a second four-year term as mayor of Boston, Massachusetts. A Democrat, Wu was first elected as the 55th mayor in November 2021. She made history as the city’s first women, first Asian American, and first person of color elected mayor.

Karen Goh (age 70, born in 1955, in India) was re-elected in March 2024 to a third four-year term as mayor of Bakersfield, California. First elected in November 2016 as the city’s 26th mayor, Goh is affiliated with the Republican Party and is the first Asian American to serve as Bakersfield’s mayor.

Lily Wu (age 41, born in 1984, in Guatemala) won 57.6% of votes in November 2023 to become the 103rd mayor of Wichita, Kansas. Though the mayor’s office is nonpartisan, Wu—a former Republican—ran as a Libertarian. She is the first Asian American to serve as mayor of Wichita and of any city in Kansas.

Kaohly Her (age 52, born on June 18, 1973, in Laos) was elected in November 2025 with 51.5% of votes after two rounds of ranked-choice voting to become the 47th mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota. A Democrat, Her made history as the first woman, the first Asian American, and the first Hmong American to serve as St. Paul’s mayor.

Aftab Pureval (age 43, born on September 9, 1982, in the U.S.) won re-election in November 2025 to a second four-year term as mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. Pureval was first elected as the 70th mayor of Cincinnati in November 2021. A Democrat, Pureval is the first Asian American mayor of Cincinnati as well as the first Asian American mayor of a major Midwest city.

Raj Salwan (age 50s, born in India) won 47.1% of votes in November 2024 to become the 12th mayor of Fremont, California. A Democrat, Salwan is the first Indian American elected mayor of Fremont.

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Helpful Resources

List of current mayors of the top 100 cities in the United States (Balletopia)

AA & NH/PI Current Elected Officials (APAICS – The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies)

AANHPI Women Mayors You Should Know About (Gender on the Ballot, American University)