Lori Halligan walks her dogs on Kentucky primary Election Day at Centenary Church in Lexington, Kentucky, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Isabella Sepahban/The Watchdog

Lexington voters cast their ballots in multiple local and state races during the Tuesday, May 19, primaries, choosing which candidates would advance to the general election in November.

Two of the most contested elections in the area were the mayoral and Council District 5 races. Lexington saw three candidates run for Council District 5 and seven candidates run in the mayoral election.
All election results were sourced from Kentucky’s Election Night Reporting website.

Mayoral race

Linda Gorton, Lexington’s current mayor, won one of the two bids for the city’s upcoming general mayoral election with 46% of the vote.

Gorton is seeking her third term as Lexington mayor, having held the office since 2018. 

Raquel Carter, principal broker and CEO of Guide Realty, also earned a bid for November’s general election, winning 28% of the vote.

Illustration by Isabella Sepahban

Council District 5

Stephenie Hoelscher and Nicholas Wolter have advanced to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council District 5 general election.

Hoelscher, a public policy professional and former journalist, advanced with 49% of the vote.

“I am so grateful for the response I received,” Hoelscher said. “I have so loved knocking doors, meeting voters, and seeing our 5th District neighborhoods on foot! I can’t wait to get back out there, building our punch list for a strong and vibrant Lexington.”

Wolter, owner of a home construction company, according to CivicLex, also advanced with 28% of the vote.

“I’m incredibly thankful for the support we’ve received throughout the 5th District,” Wolter said. “A lot of younger voters, students, and first-time voters engaged with this campaign, and that gives me a lot of optimism about Lexington’s future especially as a first time candidate.”

Council District 5 was the only district a part of Tuesday’s primary election. Key neighborhoods include Chevy Chase, Kenwick, Idle Hour, Lansdowne-Merrick and Ashland.

Hoelscher and Wolter will advance to the general election, which will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

Illustration by Isabella Sepahban

U.S. Senate

Sen. Mitch McConnell did not seek re-election for the first time in four decades, opening the office for the first time since 1985.

Rep. Andy Barr secured the Republican nomination in the race, winning 60% of the vote.

Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron finished in second to Barr, earning 31% of the vote.

Barr will move on to the general election and face off against Democratic nominee Charles Booker, who won 47% of the vote. 

Booker, a former state representative, won against Amy McGrath, who secured 36% of the vote.