Greenberg, Parrish-Wright move on in Louisville mayor primary: AP, NYT

Incumbent Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Metro Councilwoman Shameka Parrish-Wright advanced to the November mayoral runoff after securing the top two spots in the May 19 primary, according to the Associated Press and New York Times. Greenberg led with 51.7% of the vote, while Parrish-Wright earned 27.7%, with results remaining unofficial. The primary introduced a new nonpartisan election system, eliminating party labels from the ballot and allowing all Jefferson County voters—including the roughly 74,000 unaffiliated—to participate. This marks the first mayoral election under Kentucky’s 2024 law change, which consolidated candidates into a single primary. The top two vote-getters now progress to the general election, replacing the previous partisan system. Greenberg, who won the 2022 Democratic primary with 41.3% and defeated Republican Bill Dieruf in November, now faces Parrish-Wright, his closest challenger from that race. Seven other candidates competed in the primary, including Jody Hurt, Tina Burnell, and Bob DeVore, but none surpassed Parrish-Wright’s second-place finish. The runoff sets up a direct contest between two candidates who previously ran as Democrats, though party affiliations were not listed on this year’s ballot. Louisville’s shift to nonpartisan elections also applies to Metro Council races, though county-level offices remain partisan. The change reflects broader reforms aimed at increasing voter participation and reducing polarization. Greenberg celebrated his advancement via Facebook, calling for unity as the city moves toward November’s general election.