KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Councilwoman Jolie Justus fell short of becoming the next mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, in Tuesday's election.
She would have also been Kansas City's first openly gay mayor, had she been elected.
INSTANT REACTION: Quinton Lucas wins race to be KC’s next mayor
Tuesday night in the West Bottoms, Justus had tears in her eyes, but said they were happy tears as she addressed the crowd at her campaign's watch party.
She told a crowd of supports that she is proud of the work her campaign did.
"I'm not going to disengage just because I didn't get the outcome that I wanted tonight, and you shouldn't disengage either," Justus said. "As a matter of fact, we have to work harder. We must continue to push to move our city forward, and I know that's exactly what you're going to do."
Justus said the loss will not end her career of public service and told her supporters to not be discouraged by the results.
Quinton Lucas was elected mayor and will be sworn in on August 1.
