Louisville voters turned out in strong numbers for the November mayoral race, giving incumbent Craig Greenberg more than 130,000 votes and his challenger Shameka Parrish‑Wright just under 97,000. While those two names were the only ones printed on the ballot, Jefferson County Clerk David Yates reported that about 11,000 additional votes were cast as write‑ins.

Official write‑in candidates

Under Kentucky state law, the clerk’s office must review every write‑in ballot to determine eligibility. Yates said roughly 8,000 of the write‑ins were for Jeff Yocum, who had filed the required declaration of intent. Two other individuals – Dave Biggers and JusAustin Lane – also met the eligibility requirements and were listed as official write‑in candidates.

Some of the more colorful entries

The remaining write‑ins reflected a wide range of creativity and humor. Among the names recorded were:

• Mickey Mouse
• Donald Duck
• Steve “Urkle”
• Trump
• Opal the Dog
• Bugs “Bunnie”
• Neither
• Anybody Else
• Any Other Choice
• Jesus Christ
• David Yates (the clerk himself)
• Rebecca Fleischaker (Louisville Downtown Partnership)
• Bob DeVore (former mayoral candidate)
• Bill Dieruf (who ran against Greenberg in the previous election)
• Ed Gallrein (recent winner of Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District race)
• Julie (Raque) Adams (recently defeated in a Kentucky Senate race)
• Barbara Shanklin (Louisville councilmember)

These entries illustrate the freedom voters have to express support for public figures, local personalities, or simply to inject a bit of levity into the electoral process.

What the write‑ins mean for the election

Because the write‑in votes did not affect the final tally for the mayor’s office, Greenberg’s victory remains decisive. However, the volume of write‑ins underscores a healthy level of civic engagement, even when voters choose to voice alternative preferences.

Clerk Yates emphasized that the review process is thorough, ensuring that any write‑in candidate who meets the statutory filing requirements is counted. The election officials will continue to certify the results in the coming days.

Looking ahead

Mayor Greenberg’s second term is set to focus on public safety, economic development, and infrastructure improvements across Louisville. As the city moves forward, the election results – both the official vote totals and the spirited write‑in activity – provide a snapshot of community involvement that local leaders will likely consider when shaping policy priorities.

Original reporting: WLKY Louisville — read the source article.