2 Fayette County school board seats up for grabs in 2026. Who is seeking reelection?

After a volatile year for the Fayette County Public Schools amid financial woes and transparency issues, two of five seats on the district’s governing board will be up for election Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The second district seat held by school board chairman Tyler Murphy and the fourth district seat held by Amanda Ferguson will both appear on the November ballot. Fayette County Board of Education terms last four years.

Unlike many other 2026 races in Kentucky that have a Friday, Jan. 9 filing deadline, candidates in FCPS board races have until Tuesday, June 2, an election staff member at the Fayette County Clerk’s office confirmed.

Murphy has not yet filed for reelection for the District 2 seat, and no other candidates have put their names forward as of Monday. But he told the Herald-Leader Tuesday morning in a text that he intended to run for re-election.

“It is my intention to run,” Murphy said. “My focus right now is on the work we’re doing to support students in FCPS and to continue building on our incredible success in the coming year and beyond.” Murphy was elected in 2018 and reelected 2022, and he’s served as chairman in 2021, 2023 and 2025, according to the district’s website.

Ferguson, representing the board’s District 4 seat, filed for another term Dec. 12. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment on her plans. She was most recently reelected in 2022, but also won terms in 2006, 2010 and 2014, the district website says.

Board members and the school district have been under fire since May, when officials announced a $16 million budget shortfall and a depleted contingency fund. The board and staff attempted to raise the local occupational tax to bring in more revenue for the school system but aborted the plan after intense public opposition and a Kentucky Attorney General’s opinion their first attempt was unlawful. In the months since, Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball said her office will conduct a special examination into the district’s finances.

Ferguson has gained attention for publicly asking questions about the $826.2 million budget for Lexington schools and pressing for more transparency and accountability.

This story was originally published January 6, 2026 at 5:00 AM.