2002 Louisville mayoral election

2002 Louisville mayoral election

← 1998 November 5, 2002 2006  →

Nominee Jerry Abramson Jack Early Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 170,384 56,830 Percentage 73.51% 24.52%

Mayor before election David L. Armstrong Democratic Elected Mayor Jerry Abramson Democratic

The 2002 Louisville mayoral election was held on November 5, 2002. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 28.

This was the first election of the merged metro government of Louisville and Jefferson County. Incumbent Democratic mayor David L. Armstrong, who was elected by the voters of Louisville proper in 1998, declined to seek reelection. ^[1] He was succeeded by former mayor Jerry Abramson.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jerry Abramson, 55th Mayor of Louisville (1986–1999)

Eliminated in primary

• Jerry Mills

Results

Democratic primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jerry E. Abramson	61,675	88.8
	Democratic	Jerry Thomas Mills	7,754	11.2
Total votes			69,429	100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jack Early, state representative from the 85th district (1952–1954)

Independent and third-party candidates

Independent candidates

• Bryan Bunch

Libertarian party

• Donna Walker Mancini

General election

Results

2002 Louisville mayoral election ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jerry E. Abramson	170,384	73.5
	Republican	Jack Early	56,830	24.5
	Libertarian	Donna Walker Mancini	3,756	1.6
	Independent	Bryan Thomas Bunch	806	0.3
Total votes			231,776	100.0
	Democratic hold

References

1. Rodriguez, Nancy (January 11, 2002). "Armstrong won't run". The Courier-Journal . Louisville, Kentucky. p. 1.
2. Rodriguez, Nancy (May 29, 2002). "Abramson overwhelms Mills, faces Early in fall". The Courier-Journal . Louisville, Kentucky. pp. 1–2.
3. Jefferson County Clerk (August 10, 2007). "2002 Jefferson County General Election Results". elections.jeffersoncountyclerk.org. Retrieved August 28, 2025.