Mayor
November 3, 2026 · Lexington-Fayette urban county, Kentucky · City · general
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 5 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 323,725 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(631,818 ÷ 323,725) ÷ ln(631,818 ÷ 5) = 5.69, comparing cities and towns in KY (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
Mayor is responsible for:
- Serving as the city's top elected leader and its public face
- Setting policy priorities and helping shape the city budget
- Running city government day to day in some cities; in others, a hired city manager runs daily operations
- Signing or vetoing council laws and appointing department heads, such as the police chief, in many cities
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Government Efficiency, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Civil Rights, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
Linda Gorton
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
Incumbent Mayor of Lexington-Fayette Urban County (since 2019), seeking a third term in the 2026 nonpartisan election. A registered Republican and former longtime council member and nurse.
Raquel Carter
Nonpartisan · declared
Candidate for Mayor of Lexington-Fayette Urban County in the 2026 nonpartisan election. A real estate agent; a registered Democrat.
Election sources
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Source: ballotpedia.org