LOUSIVILLE, Ky. — Louisville mayoral candidate Craig Greenberg received a surprise endorsement on Thursday from one of his former rivals in the Democratic primary. Rev. Timothy Findley, the pastor of Kingdom Fellowship Christian Life Center who ran for mayor in the spring, threw his backing behind Greenberg, saying that the choice between him and Republican Bill Dieruf was an “easy choice.” 

“I’m here because Louisville must understand that Kentucky Republicanism is an existential threat to our city. We have to put everything to the side and do what is best for our children, what’s best for our neighborhoods, what’s best for the future of women,” Findley said. “That’s where my heart is and that’s where my focus is.”

Greenberg welcomed the endorsement in a tweet, saying he was honored and humbled to receive it. 

After May’s primary, Findley joined the runner-up in the Democratic primary, Shameka Parrish-Wright, and state representative Attica Scott in reserving their endorsement of Greenberg. During the primary, Findley was a strong critic of Greenberg, saying that Louisville needed a new kind of leadership rather than what Greenberg had to offer.

Bill Dieruf, Greenberg’s Republican opponent, was quick to pick up on the turnabout from Findley. “I have to ask Pastor Findley what has changed since a Feb. report on the mayor’s race by WFPL News,” Dieruf said in a news release. He quoted Findley from the report in which he said, “If you put Craig Greenburg side by side with Mayor (Greg) Fischer, and 99.9% of white male Democrats that are running this country, they all talk the same.”

“Does Pastor Findley’s endorsement of Mr. Greenberg mean Pastor Findley is now aligned with those elitist backers that he accused Mr. Greenberg of having as his network of supporters?” Dieruf asked.

The race between Greenberg and Dieruf will be decided on election day, Nov. 8. To learn more about what candidates are running, how to vote and where to vote, visit our voter guide.