A Platform for Growth and Opportunity.

Why I’m Running

The City of St. Louis is grappling with serious challenges. To resolve them, we need vision, execution, and a true commitment to the cause. Enough is enough with rhetoric; it’s time to take on the hard and often grinding task of making our city work.

We need aspiration and competence. My love of St. Louis and my belief that we can meet our basic needs and exceed our challenges are what motivate me to become mayor.

Despite the critical task ahead, we are fortunate that our city has incredible, unique strengths and amenities on which we can build: our location in the center of the country; a unique zoo-museum district; world-class universities with graduate and professional schools; the nation’s largest river—the mighty Mississippi; many acres of public parks; a growing international technology hub; professional baseball, soccer, and hockey teams; and many other advantages.

To fully take advantage of the city’s strengths, we need long-term solutions for its challenges that go beyond simply having a capable city government to manage daily needs. But how can we possibly tackle the big issues if we can’t repair the roads and pick up the trash? A thriving city and region require diverse and dedicated citizens, businesses, and non-profits—all committed, inspired, and actively engaged. To achieve this level of civic participation, we must demonstrate to our residents that the basic services will be successfully provided.

Our city needs leadership.

The creation of partnerships across the region requires leadership based on sincerity, passion, and determination. We need leaders who put the city and the region’s best interests before personal political gain and who value collaboration over choosing sides. Throughout my career and service to our city, I have tried to base my work on these values. When I commit to making the basics work, I know this is important to St. Louisans because they have told me so.

For this partnership to succeed, we must rebuild trust. This trust can grow only through the city government’s genuine transparency—not just promises made during campaign season. A government that serves its people does not complicate public records requests or refuse oversight of its jails. It improves systems by regularly publishing data, checking the efficiency of new programs against national standards for excellence, and holding itself accountable.

Our city is at a crossroads.

The obstacles the city faces—from basic functionality to deeper, systemic challenges—are not insurmountable. With the right leadership, they become instead opportunities for transformation.

The evidence of these challenges is most visible in our population decline—among the fastest in the nation. Most concerning is the loss of young people, those who hold the promise of our future. Since 2010, the city has seen a 10.3 % drop in residents, with a nearly 6% decline in our Black population just since 2022 and a decline of 3,000 students over the past five years in our public schools. Demographers call our population trajectory a demographic winter, a daunting trend—but not an irreversible one.

Turning this around will take more than promises. It requires bold vision, steadfast commitment, and hard work. I am ready to lead the way. I pledge to hire capable leaders in city government, work to foster confidence and engagement among city residents, and try to inspire a renewed sense of purpose in all.

Together, we can create a city where people of all ages see opportunity and believe in a vibrant future worth investing in. The potential for renewal is within our grasp. We can forge a new path forward.

I’m running for mayor of St. Louis to make our city grow, make our city safe, and make our city work for individuals, families and businesses.

If you’re ready for real change, please join me as we kick off my campaign to serve as the next mayor of the City of St. Louis.

Thank you for your support.

Cara Spencer signature

“I’m running for mayor because I believe in St. Louis.”

I want a St. Louis that works for everyone—with quality schools, safe neighborhoods, and successful businesses. Through bold leadership and a commitment to transparency, I aim to foster trust and create a vibrant, equitable city that meets the needs of all residents.

What we are fighting for.

  • Transparency

    St. Louisans need to trust their city leadership. Trust requires transparency and accountability. Trust can be rebuilt by leaders fostering openness, improving oversight, and creating systems that ensure that the government works for everyone.

  • Safer Communities

    Safety is a top priority. Every resident deserves to live free from violence and fear. A safer St. Louis means fully staffing first responders, leveraging technology to deter crime, improving emergency response times and the 911 system, and holding property owners accountable.

  • Investing in Education

    By fostering collaboration among public, charter, and private schools, addressing unmet educational needs, and planning for the future, St. Louis can provide better opportunities for all its children.

  • A Thriving Business Environment

    Businesses are the backbone of the community, but too many are struggling or relocating outside the city. A thriving business environment starts with streamlining city processes, supporting small business districts, improving zoning policies, fostering partnerships, and making it easier for businesses to succeed.

  • Basic City Services

    Every resident deserves well-maintained streets and reliable trash and recycling services. Critical steps include filling vacant staff positions, repairing roads, reducing illegal dumping, improving recycling systems, and modernizing outdated practices.

  • An Overhaul of the City Justice Center

    Since 2020, systemic failures at the City Justice Center have led to 18 deaths. The jail requires independent oversight, improved conditions, and transparent leadership to ensure the safety of all detainees and workers within the facility.

  • Caring for Our Unhoused Population

    St. Louis has far too few emergency shelter beds and limited resources to address the needs of the unhoused population. Solutions require expanding affordable housing, increasing winter shelter capacity, and fostering partnerships with private and public entities.

  • Revitalizing Downtown

    St. Louis cannot thrive without a vibrant downtown. As the city’s core and a significant contributor to the budget, downtown must be safe, clean, and attractive to businesses and residents. Increasing safety and expediting redevelopment efforts can create a dynamic downtown that drives growth.