2 candidates are tracked for Lexington-Fayette Urban County Mayor on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Linda Gorton and Raquel E. Carter. Candidate information follows official Fayette County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Linda Gorton (Nonpartisan), Raquel E. Carter (Nonpartisan) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Lexington-Fayette Urban County Mayor, per the Fayette County Clerk's November 3, 2026 general election candidates-in-ballot-order list (September 3, 2026).
Mayor. The mayor is the city's chief elected official. In a strong-mayor city the mayor runs the city government, prepares the budget and appoints department heads; in a council-manager city the mayor presides over the council and a hired manager runs operations. Which model applies depends on the city charter.
This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels.
Kentucky › Fayette County › Lexington-Fayette Urban County Mayor
Nonpartisan
Per the campaign site.
Linda Gorton is the sitting Mayor of Lexington, first elected in 2019 and reelected in 2022, per her campaign site. Before becoming mayor she served 16 years on the Urban County Council, including four years as vice mayor, per the site. She is a registered nurse and a graduate of the University of Kentucky.
Nonpartisan
Carter is a business owner and CEO of Guide Realty and serves on the Kentucky Real Estate Commission, appointed in 2020, per Vote Local Lexington. Carter previously chaired the Lexington Board of Adjustment from 2017 to 2025; this is her first run for office, per Vote Local Lexington. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Who is running for Lexington-Fayette Urban County Mayor in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Lexington-Fayette Urban County Mayor on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Linda Gorton and Raquel E. Carter. Candidate information follows official Fayette County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Mayor election in Kentucky?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Kentucky are on the Kentucky election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Fayette County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Candidate roster from official Fayette County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Kentucky election office, or see the full Fayette County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
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