Lexington mayor candidate labels herself a Democrat. Why it matters in nonpartisan race
Lexington’s mayoral race is officially nonpartisan, but one candidate has decided to let voters know where she stands within party lines.
Raquel Carter, who is aiming to unseat two-term incumbent Linda Gorton, has let voters know she’s a Democrat with a new mail ad from her campaign. The mailer places the word “Democrat” in her campaign logo.
A quote on the same page of the mailer reads, “With Trump’s policies and chaos in Washington making life harder for us all, I’m running for mayor because we need new, bold leadership focused on the future — holding us back in the past.”
Carter told the Herald-Leader she’s been consistently asked about partisan politics while she’s been on the campaign trail.
“As I’ve been talking to voters, they bring up two things: first, the mayor’s dismal response to the snow removal crisis a couple of months ago, and second, partisan politics,” Carter said. “I’m not afraid of being a Democrat, but I’m running for mayor to work for everyone who lives in this city and clean up the mess this mayor has left behind.
“Our people-powered campaign is proud to have earned support from Lexingtonians across the city and political spectrum who deserve a mayor who puts people first for a change.”
Gorton, a registered Republican, said the mailer is “disrespectful to the voters of Lexington” in a statement to the Herald-Leader.
“The voters approved a nonpartisan government when they voted on our charter and city-county merger to protect our mayor’s office and city council from national partisan politics that too often seek to divide us,” she said, “That should not happen in Lexington, and it will not happen as long as I am mayor.”
It’s not the first time Gorton, who is running for a third term, has had challengers bring partisanship to the race.
In her 2018 mayoral election, Gorton’s opponent Ronnie Bastin faced criticism for sending out a mailer contrasting his Democratic affiliation with Gorton’s Republican party registration.
“How will Gorton’s GOP roots affect progressive Lexington?” Bastin’s mailer asked.
Carter’s mailer does not mention Gorton or her political affiliation.
The mailer also highlights Carter’s appointment to the Kentucky Real Estate Commission by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who handily won Fayette County in all three of his statewide general elections for governor and attorney general.
Another page is more locally focused with nonpartisan language, saying Carter will “deliver efficient and responsive city services” and will “create opportunity and good jobs that pay a living wage.”
The mailer also includes a picture of Carter at a No Kings rally downtown, standing next to a woman holding a sign saying “Uphold the Constitution.”
Fayette County voters have leaned heavily Democrat in the 21st century. The county has swung for the Democratic presidential nominee every election cycle since 2008.
While local officials do speak up about national politics — including Vice Mayor Dan Wu and 4th District Council member Emma Curtis, who have attended No Kings protests in Lexington throughout President Donald Trump’s second term — local government elections typically hue toward local issues.
That comes in large part from the city’s nonpartisan system, according to 3rd District Council member and former Herald-Leader managing editor Tom Eblen.
Eblen said in a Facebook comment about Carter’s mailer that “Lexington’s non-partisan local government system is a blessing.”
“It allows — and forces — elected officials to deal with issues on their merits, rather than along party lines or ideology,” he continued. “Rather than looking at a party label, voters should look at a candidate’s experience and qualifications, their specific ideas and plans and, perhaps most importantly, where their campaign money is coming from.”
Carter, who owns Guide Realty and is a former board member of the development advocacy group Lexington for Everyone, has largely been supported by prominent realtors and developers.
Gorton has been supported by many donors with ties in Lexington’s horse industry.
Josh Douglas, an election law professor at the University of Kentucky, told the Herald-Leader voters may see party affiliation as a useful tool for judging candidates.
“Knowing a candidate’s party affiliation can help voters as it’s an easy proxy for them to understand the candidate’s general views,” Douglas said. “Especially with low turnout elections, partisanship can be a useful piece of information for voters.”
But nonpartisan races can allow campaigns to be about substantive issues rather than political talking points, he added.
“Ultimately, it’s up to the voters themselves as to whether this message makes the race too partisan.”
