Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Louisville Mayor & Metro Council Election 2026

13 of 26

council seats up

14 contests

25 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Find a candidate

Metro Mayor · 1 seat

Craig GreenbergIncumbentMayor of Louisville; current term ends January 20279sourced
Shameka L. Parrish-WrightLouisville Metro Council member, District 3; not seeking reelection to the council15sourced

Metro Council District 1 · 1 seat

Metro Council District 3 · 1 seat

Metro Council District 5 · 1 seat

Metro Council District 7 · 1 seat

Metro Council District 9 · 1 seat

Metro Council District 11 · 1 seat

Metro Council District 13 · Unopposed

Dan Seum Jr.IncumbentHas represented District 13 on Metro Council since January 2023 and chairs its Public Safety Committee in 2026. Before joining the council he advocated on state and local policy issues, including medical cannabis, and he has coached youth football at Farnsley Middle School.9sourced

Metro Council District 15 · Unopposed

Jennifer ChappellIncumbentMetro Council member for District 15 since January 2023 and an account manager and strategist at ProMedia Group, a digital marketing agency. Before joining the council she spent more than a decade as a community organizer and neighborhood leader.13sourced

Metro Council District 17 · 1 seat

Metro Council District 19 · 1 seat

Metro Council District 21 · 1 seat

Metro Council District 23 · 1 seat

Metro Council District 25 · Unopposed

Khalil “Charlie” BatshonIncumbentMetro Council member for District 25 since January 2023 and chair of the Parks & Sustainability Committee. Owner and operator of Khalil's Restaurant, Bar, and Catering on Dixie Highway since 2012.12sourced

Voters across Jefferson County elect the mayor; voters in each of the 13 odd-numbered districts elect one Metro Council member.

4 notes on these statements

This is the first Louisville mayoral race since the city moved to nonpartisan elections. WLKY · Sep 30, 2026

Metro Council Districts 13, 15 and 25 each have one candidate on the ballot: Dan Seum Jr., Jennifer Chappell and Khalil "Charlie" Batshon. Jefferson County Clerk · Sep 21, 2026

The Safe Haven Law ordinance aimed to ensure that Louisville Metro Government resources cannot be used to target or discriminate against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. Spectrum News 1 · Jun 5, 2026

Some speakers who support transgender protections, including the chair of the Fairness Campaign Education Fund, urged the council not to pass the Safe Haven Law as written. Spectrum News 1 · Jun 5, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesData centers, Police and public safety, Budget and affordable housing Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Data centers

Where it standsIn August 2026 Metro Council passed a six-month moratorium on new data center approvals, and the Planning Commission has sent proposed data center zoning rules to the council.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt the data center zoning rules, and whether to extend or end the moratorium.

Metro Council passed the data center moratorium 24-1 on Aug. 13, 2026, after an amendment to change the moratorium period from 180 days to 365 days failed 10-15. Louisville Metro Council · Aug 13, 2026
The moratorium will prevent city planners from approving new data center proposals for six months or until Metro Council approves comprehensive zoning rules. LPM · Aug 13, 2026
The zoning rules proposed by the Greenberg administration would ban hyperscale data centers larger than half a million square feet from being built in Jefferson County. LPM · Aug 13, 2026
The Planning Commission's Sept. 3, 2026 recommendation would limit data centers to designated areas and require evidence that new facilities will not shift costs to existing ratepayers. Louisville Metro Office of Planning

Police and public safety

Where it standsThe Louisville Metro Police Department's $260 million budget, 6% higher than the year before, is the city's largest expense.

What's on the tableHow much to spend on LMPD and on other public safety programs in the next budget.

LMPD continues to be the largest expense for the city; its $260 million budget is a 6% increase compared to the previous fiscal year. LPM · Jun 25, 2026
The budget includes $5 million for a First Responder Training Facility on Dixie Highway and $400,000 to expand the Drone as First Responder program. LPM · Jun 25, 2026
In July 2026 the council passed an ordinance on criminal activity nuisances and in-person security at late-night businesses, 20-2. Louisville Metro Council · Jul 30, 2026

Budget and affordable housing

Where it standsThe $1.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 cut the Affordable Housing Trust Fund from $15 million to $10 million while increasing borrowing for capital projects.

What's on the tableThe next city budget, including how much goes to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and how much the city borrows.

Metro Council passed the fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget 22-3 on June 25, 2026. Louisville Metro Council · Jun 25, 2026
The council's changes reduced funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund from $15 million to $10 million. LPM · Jun 25, 2026
This is the first time since 2023 that the city is investing less than $12.5 million into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. LPM · Jun 25, 2026
Even after council cuts, the city is borrowing more than $40 million more than the year prior. LPM · Jun 25, 2026

Immigration detainers

Where it standsSince July 2025 the Louisville jail holds people accused of crimes for up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release when federal immigration authorities ask.

What's on the tableWhether the mayor elected Nov. 3 keeps the 48-hour detainer policy at Metro Corrections.

Mayor Craig Greenberg announced on July 22, 2025 that Louisville would return to holding people in jail for an extra 48 hours if the federal government says they are in the country illegally, after learning the U.S. Department of Justice intended to sue and cut off funding. LPM · Jul 22, 2025
A 2017 Metro Council ordinance keeps LMPD officers from arresting people who are in the country illegally unless a federal judge issues a criminal warrant. LPM · Jul 22, 2025
Before the change, the corrections department typically gave the Department of Homeland Security 5-12 hours' notice. LPM · Jul 22, 2025

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. Metro Council paused new data center approvals for six months in August 2026. How long should the pause last?
2. What should Louisville's zoning rules do about large hyperscale data centers?
3. LMPD's budget is $260 million this year. What should the next budget do?
4. The Affordable Housing Trust Fund was cut to $10 million this year. What should the next budget do?
5. Should the jail keep holding people up to 48 hours past release when federal immigration authorities ask?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Voter registration deadlineJefferson County ClerkOct 5, 2026
In-person excused absentee voting beginsJefferson County ClerkOct 21, 2026
No-excuse early in-person voting begins (through Oct. 31)Jefferson County ClerkOct 29, 2026
Election Day (polls open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.)Jefferson County ClerkNov 3, 2026

The seat math

13 stay (not up this year): Brent Ackerson, Crystal Bast, Stuart Benson, Kevin Bratcher, Ken Herndon, Jonathan "JJ" Joseph, JP Lyninger, Ginny Mulvey-Woolridge, Marilyn Parker, Josie Raymond, Scott Reed, Ben Reno-Weber, Barbara Shanklin13 on this ballot

26 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 14-vote majority.

There are 26 Metro Council districts. Kentucky Revised Statutes 67C.103
Council members are elected from the district in which they reside, in nonpartisan elections, for four-year terms. Kentucky Revised Statutes 67C.103
The council president is chosen each January by a majority vote of the entire council from among its members. Kentucky Revised Statutes 67C.103
All executive and administrative power of the government is vested in the office of the mayor. Kentucky Revised Statutes 67C.105
The mayor is elected in nonpartisan elections for a four-year term and may approve or veto ordinances and resolutions adopted by the council. Kentucky Revised Statutes 67C.105
The Nov. 3 ballot lists candidates for mayor and for Metro Council Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25. Jefferson County Clerk · Sep 21, 2026
In the May 19 primary, the top two vote-getters in the mayoral and Metro Council races moved on to the November General Election. LPM · May 19, 2026

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