Democrat Markeeta Oldham Wilkerson joins Hopkinsville mayoral race

Another competitor has joined Hopkinsville’s mayoral race, and it's Democrat Markeeta Oldham Wilkerson.

Wilkerson is a lifelong resident of Hopkinsville who currently works at Sanctuary, Inc. She also teaches Sunday School at Virginia Street Baptist Church and serves as a local Girl Scout troop leader. She also ran for Hopkinsville City Council's Ward One seat in 2024, but lost to Vance Smith. Wilkerson says she decided to run for mayor because she feels as though she could have a positive impact on Hopkinsville.

If elected as mayor, Wilkerson says her priorities are education, making neighborhoods safer, strengthening the local workforce and economy, ensuring city services are reliable and being responsible with taxpayer dollars.

Wilkerson says all cities face challenges, and she believes Hopkinsville is currently facing infrastructure and housing challenges. As the new Christian County High School is set to open in the fall, Wilkerson says some of the roads in the area might not be prepared for the upcoming spike in traffic. She also says access to affordable and fair housing are issues impacting residents.

Wilkerson has no opponents in the Democratic primary election, so she will face whoever wins the Republican primary. In that primary, incumbent Mayor J.R. Knight, Christian County Fiscal Court Magistrate Russ Guffey and former Hopkinsville City Council Member Natasha Francis are facing off.