Only 1 Lexington council district has 2026 primary. See candidates in all the races
Only one of 12 Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council district races will have a Tuesday, May 19 primary, and at least five have already been determined with a sole candidate filing for the seat.
Friday was the filing deadline for most races in the 2026 General Election in Kentucky, giving voters a first peek at their ballot, including in a number of Lexington and Fayette County races.
Lexington council members who represent numerical districts serve two-year terms, and the races are nonpartisan. Council district members make $41,124.39. There are an additional three at-large seats on the council, and incumbent Linda Gorton faces six candidates in the mayoral primary.
As of close of filing Jan. 9, the five candidates with no challengers who will serve new terms on the council beginning in 2027 are:
- Tyler Morton, District 1, which includes neighborhoods on the East side and parts of downtown Lexington.
- Shayla Lynch, District 2, which includes neighborhoods surrounding Leestown Road and Georgetown Street.
- Joseph Hale, District 7, which includes neighborhoods around Richmond Road.
- Chris Woodall, District 10, which includes the Beaumont area. Woodall, a former city planner, replaces Councilman David Sevigny, who announced in 2025 he would not seek reelection.
- Hilary Boone IV, District 12, which includes rural Fayette County.
District 5 set for May primary
Only one race drew enough candidates to require a May primary: District 5, which includes Chevy Chase and other neighborhoods near the University of Kentucky’s campus.
Nicholas Wolter, a small business owner and real estate agent, will face Stephenie Hoelscher, a communications and public policy professional and former journalist, and Michael McLaughlin, a sales administrator for an artificial intelligence company.
Liz Sheehan, who was first elected in 2020, announced last year she would not seek reelection to the seat.
November races for other Lexington city council seats
The 3rd District race will pit Jon Larson, a lawyer and a former Fayette County judge executive, against Griffin VanMeter, a small business owner who has also been politically active, including as part of the “Yes to Parks” campaign — a push for a separate tax to improve city parks, which voters approved in 2024.
Incumbent Hannah LeGris resigned the District 3 seat Jan. 9 to take a position in city government. The district includes much of downtown and neighborhoods surrounding UK.
The race for the 4th District seat will be a re-match of a 2024 contest. Councilwoman Emma Curtis, who ousted incumbent Brenda Monarrez that year, is seeking a second term. Monarrez also filed Friday to run.
Monarrez lost her seat on the council weeks after a Lexington judge approved a three-year personal protective order against her that barred her from entering city hall. The order was requested by former 6th District Council member Denise Gray, who accused Monarrez of sexual assault in 2021 and 2024. Monarrez has vehemently denied the allegations.
The protection order expired in December, meaning Monarrez has no barriers to serve if elected.
Two political newcomers will face off in the 6th Council District, which has seen a lot of turnover since 2020. Tina Bryson, a communications director with the Christian Appalachian Project, will face Tyler Pyles, a representative for HVAC manufactures.
Lisa Higgins-Hord, who was appointed to the position in August, has decided not to run for reelection.
Incumbent Amy Beasley, who represents the 8th District, including neighborhoods around the Tates Creek school campus on Centre Parkway, will face Tray Hughes, a substitute teacher and football coach. Beasley was the only candidate for the district in 2024.
In the 9th District, Whitney Elliott Baxter is seeking a fourth term. Baxter, a realtor, has represented the Palomar and Veterans Park neighborhoods since first being elected in 2020.
She faces Matt Miniard, who has served as a supervisor with the Fayette County Conservation District. Miniard was booted from the board in 2023 and has a long history of aggressive behavior, court records show.
In the 11th District, a familiar face is seeking to return to city hall. Richard Moloney, who previously represented the district and served two terms as an at-large member, will face newcomer Cassandra Vogl, who has worked at the Bluegrass Area Development District as an aging and disability resource coordinator and also in criminal defense, according to her website.
The 11th District, which includes the Distillery District and neighborhoods in the Versailles Road corridor, is currently represented by Councilwoman Jennifer Reynolds. Reynolds announced in 2025 she would not be running for a fifth term.
This story was originally published January 11, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
