LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Republicans increased their caucus at Metro Council in Tuesday's election, defeating longtime Democratic incumbents in gaining three seats at City Hall.
The victories trim the Democratic majority to 14 to 12 -- the slimmest advantage since the legislative body began in 2003 after the city-county merger.
With all precincts reporting, GOP challengers had ousted Democrat Rick Blackwell, a founding council member and former council president, and Cindi Fowler, who has served on the council since 2013.
The results from the Jefferson County Clerk are unofficial until certified.
They show Blackwell losing by 91 votes in the District 12 race against Republican challenger Jonathan “JJ” Joseph to represent a section of southwestern Louisville that includes parts of Valley Station and Pleasure Ridge Park.
"I'm very disappointed," Blackwell told WDRB News Tuesday night. "I'm very proud of our record. I think I've done a lot of really good things for the district."
He said he'll speak with advisors Wednesday about potential next steps, such as a recanvas or recount, but he acknowledged the margin might be difficult to overcome.
Blackwell said he ran a positive campaign and expected a close race from Joseph.
Fowler lost to Republican Crystal Bast 52%-48% in the District 14 race. The seat takes in the far southwestern corner of Jefferson County near the Salt River and parts of Pleasure Ridge Park and Valley Station.
Republican Ginny Mulvey-Woolridge beat Democrat Tyra Thomas-Walker 51%-49% for the District 24 seat now held by Madonna Flood (D), who did not seek reelection. The district includes areas near Preston Highway and the Gene Snyder Freeway in southcentral Louisville.
The council’s even-numbered districts were on the ballot this year, but just seven of those 13 races were competitive. The vote also marks the last general election for nonpartisan races on the council; any special and general elections starting in 2025 won’t include candidates’ party affiliation.
In other competitive races, GOP incumbent Scott Reed, who was first elected to the council seat in 2016, defeated challenger Matt Golden (D) 54%-46% in District 16. The district takes in a swath of northeastern Louisville that includes the small cities of Prospect, Indian Hills and Glenview, among others.
Marilyn Parker (R), who has served on the council since 2013, beat Mera Kathryn Corlett (D) 54%-46% in the race for the District 18 sear that includes the Shelbyville Road area north of I-64.
Stuart Benson, a Republican who like Blackwell is an original council member, easily defeated his Democratic opponent, Marita Willis, 61%-39%. Benson represents District 20, which stretches across the far southeastern corner of Louisville that abuts Bullitt, Spencer and Shelby counties.
In District 22, GOP state Rep. Kevin Bratcher bested Democrat Rasean Crawley 61%-39% in the race for the southeastern Louisville seat held by outgoing Republican council member Robin Engel, who decided not to seek reelection. Engel has served on the council since its inception in 2003.
In the six races that were not competitive:
District 2
Democrat Barbara Shanklin, who has served on the council since it was established in 2003 after city-county merger, returns to her seat representing an area that includes Newburg and Buechel.
District 4
Ken Herndon, who prevailed in a crowded Democratic primary this spring, won election to the council. The incumbent council member, Jecorey Arthur, did not seek another term representing downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, including Smoketown, California, Butchertown and Phoenix Hill, and parts of Russell.
District 6
J.P. Lyninger, who beat incumbent Phillip Baker in the Democratic primary, won the District 6 seat. Lyninger, a member of Louisville’s chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, is to represent an area that includes Shelby Park and Park Hill and some of Old Louisville.
District 8
Incumbent Ben Reno-Weber, a Democrat whose district includes Bardstown Road area neighborhoods such as the Original Highlands and Cherokee Triangle, won reelection. He was first elected to the council last year in a special election after being appointed in early 2023 to fill the seat vacated by current state Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong.
District 10
Kentucky Democratic state Rep. Josie Raymond won the District 10 seat held by Pat Mulvihill, who did not seek another term. Raymond, who has served in the state House since 2019, is to represent the area near I-65 and the Watterson Expressway largely bisected by Poplar Level Road.
District 26
Brent Ackerson, a Democrat who was first elected to the council in 2008, won reelection to a snaking district that takes in pieces of St. Matthews and Jeffersontown, as well as parts of neighborhoods such as Bon Air and Hikes Point.
This story may be updated.
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