LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One of the most well-known candidates in the race to be Louisville’s next mayor suspended his campaign Sunday evening.


What You Need To Know

  • Metro Council President David James suspended his campaign for Louisville mayor

  • James cited health concerns in his announcement 

  • The former police officer was one of a handful of Democrats in the race

  • Louisville will elect a new mayor in Nov. 2022

David James, president of the Louisville Metro Council, made the announcement on social media, revealing a recent prostate surgery. “I have another surgery scheduled soon, and I felt it would be disingenuous to continue fundraising at this time,” he wrote. 

The three-term council member added, “I need to focus on my health, and that is difficult with the rigors of a modern campaign.”

James, a Democrat, announced his campaign in January at the Teamsters Local 89 Union Hall. "I promise to be accessible," James said at the time. "I promise to be transparent. I promise to be committed and I promise to be a team player."

Though he was once a police officer and the president of the local police union, James has been a vocal critic of the Louisville Metro Police Department and its handling of the Breonna Taylor case and the Explorer sex scandal, among other issues.

Shameka Parrish-Wright, who is running for mayor as a Democrat, told Spectrum News 1 Monday that she wishes James "good health, speedy recovery and blessings."

"I always say 'Your health is your wealth,'" she said. "And we do our community best when we are able to be in good health." 

Craig Greenberg, also running for mayor as a Democrat, wished James a "speedy and complete recovery" in a tweet Sunday.

"Louisville owes a tremendous amount to the leadership of Council President David James and we look forward to many more years of leadership from him," Greenberg wrote.

The are now four Democratic candidates in the race to be Louisville's next mayor. Along with Greenberg and Parrish-Wright, Rev. Timothy Findley Jr. and Anthony Oxendine are running. Jeffersontown Mayor Bill Dieruf is the sole Republican to enter the race so far. 

With 17 months remaining until Election Day though, there's plenty of time for other candidates to enter the race. Barbara Sexton-Smith, however, is one former local leader who will not be running. Despite courting speculation that she would seek the office herself, the former councilwoman announced Monday that she would support Greenberg's bid for mayor.