Election results: Here’s who will be Lee’s Summit’s new mayor
Lee’s Summit voters have elected Beto Lopez, the city’s current mayor pro tem and a two-term member of City Council, to the mayor’s office.
Tuesday’s unofficial election results from Jackson and Cass counties showed Lopez took around 56% of votes cast while Cynda Rader, a fellow City Council colleague since 2024, took around 44%.
“I’m honored to be the next mayor of Lee’s Summit, Missouri,” Lopez said in a speech at an election party Tuesday night streamed on Facebook.
“I assure you, as I have for eight years, no one’s going to ever outwork me here in Lee’s Summit,” he said, promising to make the community the “best city in the state of Missouri.”
Lopez touted the city as a hidden gem, hailing its police and fire departments, its parks and its retail sector. Lopez then appeared to break a bit of news to his supporters.
“We have amazing shopping, eating. And there’s more of that coming. We’re getting our first Trader Joe’s, how about that?” he said to a round of cheers and applause.
Three current council members, including Hillary Shields, congratulated Lopez in brief remarks at his party.
“We have all different views across council, from progressive to conservative to moderate, and he got all of our support because he is that kind of person,” Shields said. “He brings people together. I cannot wait to serve with you.”
Professionally, Lopez works as the president and CEO of Guadalupe Centers in Kansas City. Lopez, who has served on City Council since 2018, will follow outgoing Mayor Bill Baird, who is wrapping up his second term in the office.
This story was originally published April 7, 2026 at 9:18 PM.
