Joi McAtee is from Louisville, Kentucky. She has a bachelor 27s degree from the University of Kentucky, a master 27s in higher education administration from the University of Louisville, and she is currently pursuing a master 27s in public administration and a PhD in urban studies and public affairs from the University of Louisville. She has a daughter.

What we're watching in 2026 elections for Kentucky House, Senate

Joi McAtee - Festival of Faiths

Joi McAtee has a bachelor 's degree from the University of Kentucky, a master 's in higher education administration from the University of Louisville, and is pursuing a master 's in public administration and a PhD in urban studies and public affairs from the University of Louisville. She is a mother.

Joi is a project manager at the Muhammad Ali Center. She previously served as executive director of equity for Louisville Metro Government. 

Joi previously served as executive director of equity for Louisville Metro Government for over two years. She also has experience as a programs coordinator   for a workforce development board and as an admissions counciler for Spalding University. 

Joi previously ran for Kentucky State Representative in 2024 but did not win.

Kentucky House of Representatives District 43 - Ballotpedia

Filing Day Fun Facts - Forward Kentucky

As of March 10, 2026, Joi McAtee’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Joi McAtee

Joi is a project manager for the Ali Compassion Index at the Muhammad Ali Center. She previously served as executive director of equity for Louisville Metro Government. She has also worked with KentuckianaWorks, Spalding University, and Jefferson County Public Schools. 

Joi McAtee is from Louisville, Kentucky. She has a bachelor s degree from the University of Kentucky, a master s in higher education administration from the University of Louisville, and she is currently pursuing a master s in public administration and a PhD in urban studies and public affairs from the University of Louisville. She has a daughter.

Joi is a project manager for the Ali Compassion Index at the Muhammad Ali Center. She previously served as executive director of equity for Louisville Metro Government. She has also worked with KentuckianaWorks, Spalding University, and Jefferson County Public Schools.

Joi is a project manager. She works at the Muhammad Ali Center as project manager for the Ali Compassion Index. She previously served as executive director of equity for Louisville Metro Government and worked at KentuckianaWorks, Spalding University and Jefferson County Public Schools.

Joi McAtee's campaign for Kentucky State Representative, District 43, is her first entry into politics.

Joi is a project manager for the Ali Compassion Index at the Muhammad Ali Center. She previously served as executive director of equity for Louisville Metro Government. Joi has also worked with KentuckianaWorks, Spalding University, and Jefferson County Public Schools. 

Joi previously ran for Kentucky State Representative in 2026.

Jennifer Pike

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

For Candidate Joi McAtee on Issue voting-representation: Engages in volunteer efforts including voter registration drives.

Robert LeVertis Bell is from West Louisville. He is a father.

JCPS Teacher Robert LeVertis Bell announces candidacy for open ...

Robert is a public school teacher. He teaches English at Frederick Law Olmsted Academy North, an all-boys public school in South Louisville. He previously served as a union representative for the Jefferson County Teachers Association. 

Robert is a public school teacher. He teaches English at Frederick Law Olmsted Academy North. He previously served as a union representative for the Jefferson County Teachers Association. 

Robert previously ran for Kentucky State Representative in 2022 but did not win.

Our Endorsed Candidates - LOUISVILLE DSA

Supports a living wage for all workers, advocating for an increase in the state minimum wage from $7.25 to $18 per hour, with future rates tied to the cost of living and a reinstatement of the prevailing wage law.

Supports paid sick and family leave for all workers, advocating for at least six months of paid family leave surrounding the arrival of a new child.

Opposes the misclassification of workers as independent contractors to ensure compliance with laws on fair pay, benefits, and workplace safety.

Supports creating good union jobs, ending state funding for economic development without community benefits agreements, and investing in infrastructure, education, and climate resilience.

Supports funding public pensions for teachers and public employees, reversing previous cuts and tier systems.

Believes in repealing the "Right to Work" Law of 2017 to restore the power to organize for workers.

Supports cracking down on employer wage theft by strengthening enforcement, increasing penalties, and protecting whistleblowers.

Supports closing the loophole that excludes certain workers from receiving overtime pay.

Believes in repealing state-level preemptions that prevent local governments from raising labor standards, including minimum wage ordinances.

Supports an adequately funded statewide right to counsel for tenants in eviction courts.

Supports a Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), requiring property owners to offer tenants the chance to purchase a property at fair market value before it is sold on the open market.

Supports increased support for democratically controlled housing on community land trusts.

Proposes a special tax for career house flippers.

Supports universal rent control and aims for permanently affordable, quality housing for all Kentuckians.

Supports renewed investments in public housing.

Supports developing new revenue streams to fund quality social housing in Kentucky's urban centers.

Supports a Housing First approach to homelessness.

- Supports a living wage for all workers, advocating for an increase in the state minimum wage from $7.25 to $18 per hour, with future rates tied to the cost of living and a reinstatement of the prevailing wage law.
- Supports paid sick and family leave for all workers, advocating for at least six months of paid family leave surrounding the arrival of a new child.
- Opposes the misclassification of workers as independent contractors to ensure compliance with laws on fair pay, benefits, and workplace safety.
- Supports creating good union jobs, ending state funding for economic development without community benefits agreements, and investing in infrastructure, education, and climate resilience.
- Supports funding public pensions for teachers and public employees, reversing previous cuts and tier systems.
- Believes in repealing the "Right to Work" Law of 2017 to restore the power to organize for workers.
- Supports cracking down on employer wage theft by strengthening enforcement, increasing penalties, and protecting whistleblowers.
- Supports closing the loophole that excludes certain workers from receiving overtime pay.
- Believes in repealing state-level preemptions that prevent local governments from raising labor standards, including minimum wage ordinances.
- Supports an adequately funded statewide right to counsel for tenants in eviction courts.
- Supports a Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), requiring property owners to offer tenants the chance to purchase a property at fair market value before it is sold on the open market.
- Supports increased support for democratically controlled housing on community land trusts.
- Proposes a special tax for career house flippers.
- Supports universal rent control and aims for permanently affordable, quality housing for all Kentuckians.
- Supports renewed investments in public housing.
- Supports developing new revenue streams to fund quality social housing in Kentucky's urban centers.
- Supports a Housing First approach to homelessness.

Supports increased professionalization standards for the Kentucky State Police, including ending under-regulated private training, raising education and experience requirements, and mandating that body and vehicle cameras are always on and subject to open records requests.

Opposes noncriminal deportation and cooperation with federal agencies like ICE.

Supports the repeal of SJR 55 to restore students' right to protest, advocates for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and calls for an end to genocide and apartheid in Gaza, promoting justice for all people in the region.

For Candidate Robert LeVertis Bell on Issue public-safety:  
Believes in banning conversion therapy.

Supports syringe exchanges, fentanyl test strips, and naloxone to prevent overdose deaths.

Supports community-based alternatives to jail for individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders, including mental health courts and crisis drop-off centers.

Supports school-based mental health services in every district, starting with counselors and telehealth in high-need schools.

For Candidate Robert LeVertis Bell on Issue public-safety:  
Advocates for a "no wrong door" approach, ensuring Kentuckians can access help before crises occur through schools, primary care offices, or a 24/7 crisis center, rather than relying on emergency rooms or the justice system.

Advocates for a "no wrong door" approach, ensuring Kentuckians can access help before crises occur through schools, primary care offices, or a 24/7 crisis center, rather than relying on emergency rooms or the justice system.

Supports fair pay for mental health providers by closing the reimbursement pay gap and enforcing insurance parity.

- Supports increased professionalization standards for the Kentucky State Police, including ending under-regulated private training, raising education and experience requirements, and mandating that body and vehicle cameras are always on and subject to open records requests.
- Opposes noncriminal deportation and cooperation with federal agencies like ICE.
- Supports the repeal of SJR 55 to restore students' right to protest, advocates for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and calls for an end to genocide and apartheid in Gaza, promoting justice for all people in the region.
- Believes in banning conversion therapy.
- Supports syringe exchanges, fentanyl test strips, and naloxone to prevent overdose deaths.
- Supports community-based alternatives to jail for individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders, including mental health courts and crisis drop-off centers.
- Supports school-based mental health services in every district, starting with counselors and telehealth in high-need schools.
- Advocates for a "no wrong door" approach, ensuring Kentuckians can access help before crises occur through schools, primary care offices, or a 24/7 crisis center, rather than relying on emergency rooms or the justice system.
- Supports fair pay for mental health providers by closing the reimbursement pay gap and enforcing insurance parity.

Supports a statewide Fairness Law and the repeal of SB150 to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of Kentucky’s trans youth and families.

Supports reproductive freedom and advocates for the statewide return of abortion rights.

Supports the legalization, regulation, and taxation of recreational cannabis following the legalization of medical marijuana in Kentucky.

Supports access to affordable healthcare through Medicaid expansion and participation in a national universal, single-payer health program: Medicare for All.

Supports the implementation of school-based mental health services in every district, starting with counselors and telehealth in high-need schools.

Supports Medicaid coverage that fairly compensates mental health and addiction providers and includes crisis, peer, and recovery support services.

Supports the Kentucky Mental Health Fairness Act to address insurance discrimination and improve access to mental health care.

- Supports a statewide Fairness Law and the repeal of SB150 to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of Kentucky’s trans youth and families.
- Supports reproductive freedom and advocates for the statewide return of abortion rights.
- Supports the legalization, regulation, and taxation of recreational cannabis following the legalization of medical marijuana in Kentucky.
- Supports access to affordable healthcare through Medicaid expansion and participation in a national universal, single-payer health program: Medicare for All.
- Supports the implementation of school-based mental health services in every district, starting with counselors and telehealth in high-need schools.
- Supports community-based alternatives to jail for individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders, including mental health courts and crisis drop-off centers.
- Supports syringe exchanges, fentanyl test strips, and naloxone to prevent overdose deaths.
- Supports Medicaid coverage that fairly compensates mental health and addiction providers and includes crisis, peer, and recovery support services.
- Supports the Kentucky Mental Health Fairness Act to address insurance discrimination and improve access to mental health care.

Supports fully and better staffed schools with holistic support for learners, including counselors and sufficient operational staff.

Supports providing teachers with access to high-quality, paid professional development opportunities and defending them from censorship and attacks on culturally responsive curricula.

Believes in de-emphasizing standardized assessments and removing high stakes tied to them.

Opposes state-level political interference that restricts educators from teaching accurate history, particularly regarding race, enslavement, labor exploitation, indigenous displacement, and queer contributions to Kentucky's history.

For Candidate Robert LeVertis Bell on Issue education:  
Aims to work toward tuition-free community college and vocational training, with the long-term goal of making all public higher education free and accessible.

Aims to work toward tuition-free community college and vocational training, with the long-term goal of making all public higher education free and accessible.

Supports Kentucky’s English Language Learners and advocates for more Newcomer Academies.

Supports fair wages and safe working conditions for teachers statewide.

Supports taking real action to address the substitute teacher crisis.

Supports a rich curriculum for every Kentucky public school student, ensuring access to art, music, physical education, and world languages.

Supports comprehensive public funding for universal, high-quality, developmentally appropriate pre-Kindergarten.

Supports increasing K-12 and higher education funding to at least 2008 levels, adjusted for inflation.

- Supports fully and better staffed schools with holistic support for learners, including counselors and sufficient operational staff.
- Supports providing teachers with access to high-quality, paid professional development opportunities and defending them from censorship and attacks on culturally responsive curricula.
- Believes in de-emphasizing standardized assessments and removing high stakes tied to them.
- Opposes state-level political interference that restricts educators from teaching accurate history, particularly regarding race, enslavement, labor exploitation, indigenous displacement, and queer contributions to Kentucky's history.
- Aims to work toward tuition-free community college and vocational training, with the long-term goal of making all public higher education free and accessible.
- Supports Kentucky’s English Language Learners and advocates for more Newcomer Academies.
- Supports fair wages and safe working conditions for teachers statewide.
- Supports taking real action to address the substitute teacher crisis.
- Supports a rich curriculum for every Kentucky public school student, ensuring access to art, music, physical education, and world languages.
- Supports comprehensive public funding for universal, high-quality, developmentally appropriate pre-Kindergarten.
- Supports increasing K-12 and higher education funding to at least 2008 levels, adjusted for inflation.

For Candidate Robert LeVertis Bell on Issue energy-and-environment: Supports a Kentucky Green New Deal that aims to reduce pollution from data centers, regulate LG&E, and promote public ownership of utilities.

Supports a Kentucky Green New Deal that aims to reduce pollution from data centers, regulate LG&E, and promote public ownership of utilities.

Supports expanding and defending the tree canopy, protecting pollinators, building public transportation infrastructure, democratizing energy infrastructure, demanding green construction, and prioritizing people over profits in energy generation decisions.

Supports a statewide vehicle emissions testing program and local governments creating their own environmental standards.

Supports new regulations to limit industrial pollution and increase testing in high-density urban areas with significant residential exposure.

Supports the possibility of public ownership of energy and other utilities for local governments, along with state government support for communities that choose this option.

Supports stopping the fossil fuel buildout for data centers and rejecting new gas plants and coal upgrades unless companies commit to using clean energy, pay for grid expansion, and obtain community approval.

Supports requiring environmental justice reviews before siting data centers or power plants to ensure clean air and water in working-class neighborhoods.

Supports aggressive action to expand urban tree canopy coverage and establish thriving pollinator populations through regulation and the creation of new pollinator habitats.

Supports legislation that mandates green construction for new state buildings and a program to update existing buildings to be cleaner and more efficient.

Wants to protect state parks and conserve ecological heritage for future generations while improving access to natural wonders.

- Supports a Kentucky Green New Deal that aims to reduce pollution from data centers, regulate LG&E, and promote public ownership of utilities.
- Supports expanding and defending the tree canopy, protecting pollinators, building public transportation infrastructure, democratizing energy infrastructure, demanding green construction, and prioritizing people over profits in energy generation decisions.
- Supports a statewide vehicle emissions testing program and local governments creating their own environmental standards.
- Supports new regulations to limit industrial pollution and increase testing in high-density urban areas with significant residential exposure.
- Supports the possibility of public ownership of energy and other utilities for local governments, along with state government support for communities that choose this option.
- Supports stopping the fossil fuel buildout for data centers and rejecting new gas plants and coal upgrades unless companies commit to using clean energy, pay for grid expansion, and obtain community approval.
- Supports requiring environmental justice reviews before siting data centers or power plants to ensure clean air and water in working-class neighborhoods.
- Supports aggressive action to expand urban tree canopy coverage and establish thriving pollinator populations through regulation and the creation of new pollinator habitats.
- Supports legislation that mandates green construction for new state buildings and a program to update existing buildings to be cleaner and more efficient.
- Wants to protect state parks and conserve ecological heritage for future generations while improving access to natural wonders.

- Supports a statewide Fairness Law and the repeal of SB150 to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of Kentucky’s trans youth and families.

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Robert LeVertis Bell

Mauricio Mendez

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Kentucky State House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Kentucky General Assembly.
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. 
- There are 100 members of the Kentucky House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 24 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
- State Representatives are elected to two-year terms. They only serve in the role part-time. 
- In addition to a $203 per day salary, state representatives also receive mileage reimbursements and a daily expense stipend of $182. 

Kentucky State Representative, District 43, Democratic Primary

Election results

Candidates (2)