Election 2024: Parties fight to flip seats on Louisville Metro Council

Jefferson County Democrats and Republicans have their sights set on more than just national or statewide races this general election. The parties are also pushing to flip and keep several Louisville Metro Council seats.

The council has 26 members, with 16 Democrats, nine Republicans and one independent, who was formerly a Democrat. If the parties get their ways, those proportions could change after Tuesday.

If Democrats win multiple seats they're aiming for, it could further cement its majority presence on the council and lessen the Republicans' influence. However, Republicans have a goal of picking up three seats, which would boost their representation on the council from nine to 12. If that happens, Republicans would make up nearly half the Metro Council — undoubtedly allowing the minority party to have a much more significant impact on council decisions.

Here's what to know about the areas the parties are battling to secure.

In 2022, Republicans flipped two seats in Louisville's southwest corner from blue to red, with Dan Seum Jr. and Khalil Batshon defeating two Democratic incumbents, Mark Fox and Amy Holton Stewart. Holton Stewart was appointed after former Councilman David Yates was elected to the state senate, while Fox served one term in office.

The party is hoping to continue that trend this election by gaining control of districts 12 and 14, Jefferson County Republican Party chair Don Fitzpatrick said.

To do that, Republicans will have to defeat two Democrat incumbents: Rick Blackwell and Cindi Fowler.

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The Democrats are confident both Fowler and Blackwell will keep their seats. Fowler's district heavily favored former Republican president Donald Trump in 2020 but reelected her in the same election, Jefferson County Democratic chair Logan Gatti said. Meanwhile, Blackwell has served on the council since the city-county merger, winning every election for the seat over more than 20 years.

The Democratic Party knows that area has been "tough" for the party lately, but that's why they've put more focus there in 2024. Beyond ensuring they have a candidate for every single Metro Council district — unlike the Republicans, the Democrats have also prioritized door-knocking, Gatti said.

When they have conversations with voters at their doors about the party's ideas, it's "resonating very well," Gatti added.

Still, Fitzpatrick believes the Republican Party's message is hitting home more with southwest Louisville voters and that the concurrent presidential election will benefit them. For example, he said residents are focused on public safety, and Crystal Bast — who is running against Fowler — may have an advantage as the founder of the Valley Downs Neighborhood Watch.

But Gatti said he believes constituents "understand that (Fowler's) done well to represent that area on council" and that he's "very confident that area will, once again, elect her to Metro (Council)" as they did in 2020.

It can also be challenging to unseat an incumbent. That's why another district in the southern part of the county — 24 — is of particular interest to both Democrats and Republicans.

Councilwoman Madonna Flood, a Democrat who represents that district, chose not to run for reelection this year after serving on the council since the city-county merger. Republicans see it as an opportunity to take over the district for the first time.

The party asked Ginny Mulvey-Woolridge to consider running, Fitzpatrick said. Mulvey-Woolridge previously ran for the Kentucky House of Representatives, losing to Rep. Al Gentry. Despite her loss, the party took notice of her campaign and encouraged her to run for Metro Council.

She will face Tyra Thomas-Walker, a Democratic who was a vocal advocate following the police killing of Breonna Taylor and who has a background in special education. While Gatti says it is an "interesting" race, the Democrats are "very confident" they will still come out ahead.

While Republicans are hoping to gain ground in the southwest, Democrats are honing in on Louisville's East End.

They are focused on Districts 16, 18, 20 and 22, Gatti said — an area that stretches between the Oldham and Bullitt county lines.

Like District 24, District 22 will see its first new council representative since the city-county merger. Councilman Robin Engel, a Republican, chose not to run for reelection. Democrats see it as an opportunity for candidate Rasean Crawley to flip the seat blue.

However, Republicans feel confident they will keep it, with Republican state Rep. Kevin Bratcher facing Crawley for the seat. Bratcher has served as the representative for Kentucky's House District 29 since 1997.

Even Fitzpatrick believes the District 16 and 18 races will be "challenging" for the Republicans, though.

District 16 Republican incumbent Scott Reed will face Democrat Matt Golden to lead an area that has become more Democrat-leaning in recent years, Gatti said.

Democrats are hoping Golden, a lawyer who has served as the first assistant in the Jefferson County Attorney's Office and as Louisville's Chief of Public Services, will snag the seat. If he does, Golden would become the first Democrat to represent the region on the Louisville Metro Council.

But Reed has been putting in the hours to keep his seat, Fitzpatrick said.

"Scott Reed has a challenging race, and we know it," he told The Courier Journal. "But, Scott has been out since January. He's been anticipating. He's one of the hardest workers out there."

Councilwoman Marilyn Parker may have a "tough" race, too, said Fitzpatrick, but he still believes she will come out on top. Parker is facing off against Democrat Mera Kathryn Corlett in District 18.

"(Parker) does have a race that we're paying attention to, but she's just a solid candidate, and she's been a solid representative of the district," he said.

Fitzpatrick was less concerned about districts 20 and 22, but Gatti said all four of their candidates in eastern Louisville are "fantastic," and they have hope to win over the seats.

"I think there's a pretty real possibility that we pick up one or two seats in the east," he said. "Maybe that's just me being overconfident, but there's a lot to be hopeful about."

Reach reporter Eleanor McCrary at [email protected] or at @ellie_mccrary on X, formerly known as Twitter.