Who's on your Louisville Mayor ballot tomorrow? Here's what I found

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 19th- and if you haven't done your homework yet, I did it for you.

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Louisville voters are heading to the polls tomorrow in what is, by several measures, a historic election. For the first time ever, the mayor's race is nonpartisan- meaning no party labels next to anyone's name, and every registered voter, regardless of party, gets to weigh in. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election in November.

There are 11 names on the ballot for Louisville Mayor. But here's what you need to know before you even get there: two of them don't count.

Both Jeffrey Yocum and Bill Wells withdrew from the race after the ballot was already finalized- which means their names are still printed, but any votes cast for them will not be counted. Yocum, who was an outspoken critic of incumbent Mayor Craig Greenberg, endorsed Tina Burnell on his way out.

That leaves nine candidates who are actually in the running. Here's what I found online on each of them, in alphabetical order.

Matthew Bailey

Bailey is 21 years old, making him the youngest candidate in the race. According to LPM, he graduated from Shawnee High School in 2022 and currently volunteers at the La Grange Railroad Museum. He's upfront about his lack of experience- the Courier Journal voter guide quotes him saying he's "a blank slate that is eager to improve." His key issues are expanding public transit and pushing back on federal immigration enforcement.

Tina Burnell

Tina Burnell founded the Louisville Metro Watchdog Alliance, a civic group focused on government transparency and accountability. According to her campaign website, she has been pushing for open government and responsible use of public funds. She has spent seven years volunteering with LMPD's Volunteers in Police Service program.

She's also picked up the endorsement of the now-withdrawn Yocum, which may help her with conservative voters in the new nonpartisan format.

S. "The D" Dattilo

According to Wikipedia's entry on the race, Dattilo is a repair technician who previously ran for Metro Council in 2022. He has a limited public profile online, and no campaign website or detailed platform.

Bob DeVore

DeVore is a retired U.S. Navy veteran with 24 years of service. According to Wikipedia's race entry, he's a former McCreary County Board of Education member and has run for office before. The Courier Journal voter guide describes his background as spanning logistics, UPS, and civil service. He leads a veterans and youth outreach program called FRA Derby 177, and his campaign focuses on public safety and economic affordability.

Craig Greenberg

The incumbent is running for a second term and, if he wins, won't be eligible for a third- a change made by state law. According to his campaign website, before becoming mayor, Greenberg was an attorney and entrepreneur. His site says he prioritizes improving public safety, driving economic growth, and expanding opportunities across every neighborhood.

Lisa Holliday Harris

Lisa Holliday Harris is a Portland neighborhood resident, and running a campaign she calls "Power of One Voice." According to her campaign website, she is focused on public safety, and the use of 'Safety Hubs', housing and families, and promises to ensure every child has a safe place to go. She calls it "Lisa's 4 pm promise". She also believes small businesses are, "being choked by red tape" and wants to improve the permitting process.

Jody Hurt

Hurt is a Louisville-based musician, educator, and father of four who grew up the son of a coal miner in Prestonsburg. According to his Ballotpedia profile, he holds an MBA in Design Strategy and has a background in mechanical engineering. He's also affiliated with the Libertarian Party of Louisville.

His platform, covered in depth by LPM, is built around one bold premise: reversing the 2003 city-county merger. He argues the merger created "blurred authority, diluted voter representation, and misaligned spending priorities." He also wants to make TARC buses entirely fare-free and build 10,000 city-owned apartments rented at 80% of market rate- at, he claims, through no added tax.

Douglas Lattimore

Lattimore is a University of Louisville graduate with a background as a business owner and broker, according to his Ballotpedia profile. His platform is largely unknown based on publicly available information.

Shameka Parrish-Wright

Shameka Parrish-Wright is the other well-funded, well-known name in the race and widely seen as Greenberg's top challenger. She currently represents District 3 on Metro Council and serves as executive director of the nonprofit VOCAL-KY. This is her second run for mayor- she came in second to Greenberg in the 2022 Democratic primary.

According to her campaign website, she running for mayor with a simple promise: responsibility comes first, and serving the people always. She points to public safety as a top priority and says it should include fixing roads, investing in mental health, and making sure every neighborhood and the business community, "feel seen and supported."

Other races on the Louisville ballot:

Republican voters will see United States Representative for the 3rd Congressional District on their ballot. David Nichter, Maria Rodriguez, Daniel Cobble and Donald Pay are vying for your vote to face Democrat and incumbent Morgan McGarvey.

Also on the ballot in Louisville are the sheriff and county clerk races. Both seats were vacated when the officeholders passed away before the end of their terms.

Sheriff David James is not running for the spot. Richard Breen, Steve Healey and Stephen Yancey are looking to win the spot.

Jefferson County Clerk David Yates is hoping to hold on to his appointed position. He is being challenged by Rosalind 'Roz' Welch.

Democrats will vote on a new County Attorney after Mike O'Connell's decision to retire. Sarah Martin and Karl Price are on the ballot.

Polls open tomorrow, May 19. You'll need a valid photo ID to vote. Find your polling place here.

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