A map of Lexington. Illustration by Simon Thach

As primary elections take place across Kentucky, Lexington will have seven names on the ballot for urban county mayor vying to earn the nomination for the General Election in November. 

Five candidates are making their first run for mayor, and for four, it is their first run for any elected office.

Ramazani Asmani

Since arriving in Lexington as a young teenager, Ramazani Asmani said he has always wanted to serve his community. 

The 2017 Paul Laurence Dunbar High School graduate built his campaign for mayor on three pillars: Public safety through caring for the unhoused and improving high-crime neighborhoods, growth in the economy by expanding affordable housing and creating jobs, and providing an honest and trustworthy government that serves the people of Lexington.

Asmani and his family fled their home country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the Second Congo War, and in 2010, he lost his eyesight. In 2013, when Asmani’s family settled in Lexington, he was diagnosed with phthisis bulbi at Albert B. Chandler Hospital.

Asmani said his journey escaping conflict and adapting to life with a disability instilled in him the idea of resilience and fighting for your community.

Despite never holding or running for any elected position in the past, he said he is running now to give back to the community that welcomed him with open arms.

Raquel Carter

Before entering her name in the race for mayor, Raquel Carter was a student at Henry Clay High School and Eastern Kentucky University. A businesswoman, Carter helped found Guide Realty in 2008, later becoming CEO and principal broker.

In 2020, Carter was appointed to the Kentucky Real Estate Commission by Gov. Andy Beshear. As the owner of her own real estate company, Carter is running her campaign on the promise to create more jobs by reducing unnecessary delays and bringing more jobs downtown, as well as creating more housing opportunities and lowering housing costs for families.

“I will eliminate the obstacles and create incentives to make it possible to create more homes and reach our housing goals,” Carter said. “I will create an environment that allows businesses of all sizes to invest and grow in our city, attract new industries, and create more jobs by reducing red tape.”

Linda Gorton

Incumbent candidate Linda Gorton is seeking re-election for a third term as mayor, the position she has held since first being elected in 2018.

“The entire time I’ve been the mayor, we have stayed a very steady city,” Gorton said. “Our economy has improved every year.”

During the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020, Lexington’s budget had a nearly $40 million shortfall due to tax revenue loss.

“I have no regrets,” Gorton said in an interview with LEX18 in 2021, recapping the last year of dealing with COVID in Lexington.

According to Gorton, she manages a budget of $900 million, leads 3000 government workers and a city of 329,000 residents. She said that maintaining existing leadership is crucial for Lexington’s future.

“Next year we will have six new council members in Lexington, and this is certainly not the time to change leadership,” Gorton said. “It’s always very tricky when new council members come in, and they’re very new to the job.

Skip Horine 

Skip Horine is one of the most consistent names on the Lexington ballot, having run for mayor in 1993, 2010 and 2018.

Horine has not garnered enough votes in any election to hold an elected position, however he holds decades of technical experience in his role as chief technology officer at Deborah Ball Realty.

The Lafayette High School graduate aims to eliminate corruption within law enforcement.

“There are people who are being killed by the police,” Horine said during a mayoral forum held at UK in 2018. “I will actually get these problems fixed.”

Horine’s history of mayoral campaigns brings a familiar presence in Lexington politics.

C.E. Huffman

Born and raised in Lexington, first-time candidate C.E. Huffman emphasizes his understanding of the Lexington community in his promise to lead with trust and honesty.

Huffman said he believes the city is not doing all it could with its finances.

“This is about really taking a hard look at our government and how it returns its investment onto the taxpayers,” Huffman said. “I’m running because I don’t feel like my tax money is being used to the best of its abilities.”

Huffman promised to strengthen community trust through building a stronger economy and providing reliable spending of taxpayer dollars. He said he believes that trust is built through a proactive government, not a reactive government. 

Before his current position with the University of Kentucky in public relations, Huffman worked numerous jobs, including driving for Lextran, Lexington’s public transit service, from 2013 to 2015. He credited his time with Lextran for his understanding of the city he hopes to serve.

“You’re talking to riders who work at those businesses, and you’re hearing mostly from some of the most vulnerable people in the city,” Huffman said. “Those drivers know the city. I got to know the city.”

Greg O’Neal 

With his roots in lawncare and landscaping, Greg O’Neal is a first-time candidate for mayor who is running on the promise to clean up Lexington.

The Lafayette High School and UK graduate is a self-employed contractor, using his projects as a way to create a cleaner Lexington.

O’Neal vowed to target traffic light systems in an effort to reduce reckless driving, as well as enforce rules on waste disposal to address pollution concerns in the city. 

“Our littered grounds are so prevalent that our sewer system has become polluted, even downtown,” O’Neal said in a questionnaire on Vote Local Lexington.

With a focus on improving everyday conditions, O’Neal said he hopes that will create a positive workspace for all residents.

Darnell Tagaloa

Darnell Tagaloa is making his first run as a mayoral candidate after previously running for 1st District Councilmember in 2022 and 2024. 

“I ran for city councilman two years ago. Seeing how our council speaks in our community’s best interest, but votes against the best interests,” Tagaloa said. “I grew issues with that.” 

Tagaloa said he believes in “people over politics,” with an emphasis on community support systems, something he said is not present due to the current elected officials.

“I think we need a lot more people who are dedicated towards helping people and not just in it for a paycheck,” Tagaloa said.

Mental health is a key pillar in his campaign, emphasizing that it plays a role in residents’ overall quality of life.

“Mental health is a big thing, and I don’t think a lot of people actually realize how much our mental health affects our daily lives,” Tagaloa said. “Life wasn’t intended for us to struggle in the ways that we do, but having a good support system is very key to that.”