2024 Election results: Who won in Louisville Metro Council races?

Half of the 26 Louisville Metro Council seats were up for election this year. But of the 13, only seven races were contested.

Two districts were completely unopposed, with Democrats Josie Raymond and Brent Ackerson running as the sole candidates for districts 10 and 26, respectively.

In four districts, multiple Democrats ran against one another in the May primary, but no Republicans ran. The winners of those races were the only candidates on the general election ballot: Barbara Shanklin for District 2, Ken Herndon for District 4, JP Lyninger for District 6 and Ben Reno-Weber for District 8.

Polls in Kentucky close at 6 p.m. local time. Check back for live result updates.

Live updates:It's Election Day 2024! Here's everything you need to know.

Incumbent Rick Blackwell, a Democrat, has been on the Louisville Metro Council since the city-county merger. He chairs the council's Budget Committee and previously served as council president. Blackwell is the president of DeSales High School and, if reelected, plans to advocate for more investment in southwest Louisville — including improving Riverview Park.

Jonathan Joseph, a Republican, is a newcomer who beat out two other candidates for the Republican nomination. He is a teacher at Butler Traditional High School. If elected, he hopes to prioritize public safety and bringing businesses to Dixie Highway.

Incumbent Cindi Fowler, a Democrat, was first elected to the Louisville Metro Council in 2012. She is a lifelong resident of southwest Louisville and previously worked at Jefferson County Public Schools. If reelected, she hopes to enhance community safety.

Crystal Bast, a Republican, is a medical billing specialist, mother of two and founder of the Valley Downs Neighborhood Watch. If elected, Bast would prioritize fully staffing the police department, making road improvements and voting against Land Development Code changes she believes could “harm” the district.

Incumbent Scott Reed, a Republican, is vice president of business and development at V.G. Reed & Sons, Inc., a print fulfillment company. He is in Republican Caucus leadership on the council. If reelected, he plans to advocate for the police department to receive better pay and technology. He supports funding libraries, parks, sidewalk repairs and “smart development.”

Matthew Golden, a Democrat, hopes to flip the East End seat blue for the first time. He is a lawyer who has served as the first assistant in the Jefferson County Attorney's Office and as Louisville's Chief of Public Services. He also previously served as general counsel for TARC. If elected, he hopes to prioritize safety, health and advocacy for the people of Louisville.

Related:Why party members are focused on flipping these seats on Louisville's Metro Council

Incumbent Marilyn Parker, a Republican, was first elected in 2012 and has served on the council ever since. She beat out Douglass Hills Mayor Bonnie Jung for the Republican nomination in May. She hopes to prioritize investments in paving, parks and police if reelected.

Mera Corlett, a Democrat, has served as an elected Justice of the Peace since 2018. She has also worked with Seven Counties Services and Blue Apple Players. If elected, she hopes to promote safe neighborhoods and be responsive to constituents.

Incumbent Stuart Benson, a Republican, has been on the council since the city-county merger. If reelected, Benson hopes to listen to his constituents, support the police and prioritize infrastructure.

Marita Willis, a Democrat, is vice president of community engagement at Community Ventures and chair of the Metropolitan Sewer District board. She hopes to empower the Jeffersontown community if elected.

Republican State Rep. Kevin Bratcher is facing Democrat Rasean Crawley to take over the seat vacated by Councilman Robin Engel.

Engel, a Republican, has been on the council since the city-county merger and chose not to run again this year. Days after Rep. Raymond announced her bid for Louisville Metro Council, Bratcher said he was looking to take the same uncommon path: going from the state level to local politics.

If elected, Bratcher hopes to be involved with planning and zoning, road issues and spending time on constituent services.

While it may be difficult to defeat a state legislator in a historically Republican district, Crawley is still looking to flip the district blue. He previously ran for the Louisville Metro Council in 2016 to represent District 2 but was defeated by Barbara Shanklin. If elected, Crawley hopes to prioritize public safety, education and sustainable development.

Democrat Tyra Thomas-Walker is facing Republican Ginny Mulvey-Woolridge to capture the south Louisville seat vacated by Councilwoman Madonna Flood.

Mulvey-Woolridge hopes to invest in law enforcement, improve roads and basic services and use tax dollars efficiently. She previously ran against Democrat Al Gentry for the Kentucky House of Representatives but was defeated.

Thomas-Walker has a background in public education, specifically in working with children with special needs. She was a vocal advocate following the police killing of Breonna Taylor and is the co-chair of the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

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