The cropping up of yard signs all over the city can only mean one thing: election season is upon us. While several national elections were on the ballot including presidential primaries and congressional seat contests, the meat of the ballot was Louisville Metro Council and state legislative elections. As a regional chamber of commerce, GLI conducted a candidate survey for all Metro Council races since many were decided by yesterday’s primary. View the survey results here.  

State Senate and House of Representatives 

At the state level, there were a number of primary challenges, including races for seats vacated by representatives not seeking reelection. Representatives Kevin Bratcher and Josie Raymond both left the State House to pursue terms on Louisville Metro Council, while Representative Keturah Herron vacated her seat to fill the vacancy in the Senate chamber left by Senator Denise Harper Angel. Those vacancies were almost entirely filled in the primary election with only District 29 going to a general election. Those results are below: 

• House District 29: Chris Lewis won the Republican primary and will face the winner of the Democratic primary, Timothy Findley in November. 
• House District 41: Mary Lou Marzian won the Democratic primary and will not face opposition in the general election.  
• House District 42: Joshua Watkins won the Democratic primary and will not face opposition in the general election. 

The following state legislators defeated challengers in their primary and their general election opposition is listed as applicable. Senator Adrienne Southworth (R-7) was the only state legislator in the Louisville region to lose in a primary. Her opponent, Aaron Reed, will not face a general election opponent. 

• Senate District 5: Sen. Stephen Meredith (R) will not face opposition in the general election. 
• Senate District 33: Sen. Gerald Neal (D) will not face opposition in the general election. 
• House District 10: Rep. Josh Calloway (R) will face John Whipple (D) in the general election. 
• House District 30: Rep. Daniel Grossberg (D) will not face opposition in the general election. 
• House District 40: Rep. Nima Kulkarni (D) will not face opposition in the general election. 
• House District 44: Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton (D) will not face opposition in the general election. 
• House District 47: Rep. Felicia Rabourn (R) will face Robb Adams (D) in the general election. 
• House District 49: Rep. Thomas Huff (R) will not face opposition in the general election. 
• House District 50: Rep. Candy Massaroni (R) will not face opposition in the general election. 

The following incumbent state legislators will face challengers in the general election after going unopposed in their respective primaries: 

• House District 25: Rep. Steve Bratcher (R) will face Cherlyn Evette Smith (D). 
• House District 28: Rep. Jared Bauman (R) will face Almaria Baker (D). 

• House District 31: Rep. Susan Witten (R) will face Colleen Davis (D). 
• House District 36: Rep. John Hodgson (R) will face William “Woody” Zorn (D). 
• House District 37: Rep. Emily Callaway (R) will face John Stovall (D). 
• House District 38: Rep. Rachel Roarx (D) will face Carrie Sanders McKeehan (R). 
• House District 46: Rep. Al Gentry (D) will face Bob DeVore (R). 
• House District 48: Rep. Ken Fleming (R) will face Katie Farrow (D). 
• House District 58: Rep. Jennifer Decker (R) will face Richard Henderson (D). 

Metro Council 

All even numbered Metro Council districts were up for election this year. Across all 13 districts there were 43 candidates.  Here are some of the details on these primaries and how the general election will look despite many races decided in the primary: 

• District 2: In the Democratic primary, incumbent Barbara Shanklin defeated opponent Latosha Harrison. Shanklin will not face a challenger in the general election.  
• District 4: This Democratic primary had 11 candidates in the running with Ken Herndon ultimately carrying the district. He will replace Jecorey Arthur who announced he would not be seeking reelection last year.  
• District 6: Incumbent Phillip Baker (D) was defeated in his primary contest by J.P. Lyninger. Lyninger will not face any challenge in the general election. 
• District 8: Incumbent Ben Reno-Weber (D) defeated a challenge in this primary election from Taylor McGovern-U’Sellis. He will not face a general election challenge. 
• District 10: After incumbent Pat Mulvihill (D) announced that he was not seeking reelection, State Representative Josie Raymond (D) entered the race. She did not face a primary challenger and does not currently have a general election challenge. 
• District 12: Incumbent Rick Blackwell (D) did not face a primary challenge but will face Jonathan “JJ” Joseph in the general election after his victory in the Republican primary.  
• District 14: Incumbent Cindi Fowler (D) faced primary opposition, ultimately winning by a wide margin and will face Crystal Bast, the winner of the Republican primary in the general election. 
• District 16: Incumbent Scott Reed (R) went unopposed in the primary and will face Matthew Golden (D) in November, who also went unopposed this primary season. 
• District 18: Incumbent Marilyn Parker (R) faced primary opposition from the current mayor of Douglas Hills Bonnie Jung. Parker ultimately carried the district and will face Mera Kathryn Corlett in the general election.
• District 20: Incumbent Stuart Benson (R) faced primary opposition from Brian Abrams, a councilmember from Jeffersontown. Benson ultimately carried the district and will face Marita Willis in the general election.
• District 22: Councilmember Robin Engel announced he would not be seeking reelection. His successor will be State Rep. Kevin Bratcher (R) after winning his primary. He will face Dr. Rasean Crawley in the general election. 

• District 24: Councilmember Madonna Flood announced she would not be seeking reelection. Her successor will be Tyra Thomas-Walker (D) after winning her primary. She will face Ginny Mulvey-Woolridge in the general election.  
• District 26: Incumbent Brent Ackerson did not have any opposition this primary season and does not currently have any opposition in the general election. 

For election results outside of the Louisville region, check here.