Gorton defeated challenger Raquel Carter in Tuesday’s election, earning 56,203 votes to Carter’s 45,869. That’s roughly 55% of the vote to Carter’s 45%.
Gorton was first elected mayor in 2018 and won reelection in 2022. She is the first woman in Lexington history to win three consecutive terms. The only other mayor to do it was Scotty Baesler, who was elected to a third term in 1989 but stepped down to run for Congress in 1993. If Gorton completes her next four years in office, she will become Lexington’s longest-serving mayor.
At her election-night celebration at LexLive in downtown Lexington, Gorton thanked her supporters, campaign volunteers, staff and family. She said the past eight years have brought major progress to the city, pointing to improvements in public safety, economic growth, parks and affordable housing. Gorton also highlighted the city's efforts to address homelessness and said she wants to build on those accomplishments.
Tuesday night's result gives Gorton another four years to carry out her vision for Lexington. She is expected to be sworn in for her third term in early January 2027. And while Carter says her work to move Lexington forward isn't over, Gorton made one thing clear to her supporters: she's ready to get back to work.
And Lexington voters have elected Councilmember-at-Large James Brown as the city’s next vice mayor after he received the most votes in the at-large council race.
Brown received 48,534 votes, followed by incumbent Dan Wu with 44,753 and newcomer Stephanie Aschmann Spires with 33,432.
Voters also decided six contested district council races. Winners included Griffin VanMeter in District 3, Brenda Monarrez in District 4, Tina Bryson in District 6, Amy Beasley in District 8, Whitney Elliott Baxter in District 9 and Cassandra Vogl in District 11.
Beasley and Baxter retained their seats, while VanMeter, Monarrez, Bryson and Vogl won new seats. Monarrez defeated incumbent Emma Curtis in District 4.
District councilmembers serve two-year terms, while at-large members serve four-year terms.
