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Lexington Business Leader Raquel E. Carter Announces Intent to Run for Mayor in 2026
For Immediate Release - Monday, April 28, 2025
Lexington, KY – April 24, 2025 – Raquel E. Carter, a prominent Lexington business owner and community leader, has officially filed her intent to run for Mayor of Lexington in what stands to be a transformative 2026 election. This announcement marks the beginning of a campaign focused on the future and creating a vision of Lexington for all of its residents
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Raquel E. Carter is a distinguished figure in the Lexington community, serving as the CEO and Principal Broker of Guide Realty, Inc., and the founder of Best Chapter, LLC. Under her leadership, Guide Realty has become one of the area’s largest, independent-owned real estate companies, expanding from a boutique office to a full-service firm with offices in Lexington and Louisville, and a professional rental space, The Compass Center.
“Lexington is at a pivotal moment, and I am committed to leading our city towards a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” said Carter. “My experience in business, community leadership, and public service has prepared me to address the challenges and opportunities facing our city and build a stronger, more inclusive Lexington.”
Carter’s extensive community involvement and public service record includes:
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Kentucky Real Estate Commission: Appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear in 2020, 2024.
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LFUCG Board of Adjustments: Current Chair.
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Lexington For Everyone: Active board member, promoting jobs, homes, and equity.
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Bluegrass Realtors Government Affairs Committee, REALTOR Community Housing Foundation, Urban League of Lexington, and Lexington Community Land Trust Development Committee: Past board and committee involvement.
Carter is also actively involved with the BMW Academy, SoulFeast Week, Robert H. Williams Cultural Center, National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), Fayette County Public Schools, UK Center of Entrepreneurship Mentor Program, Women Leading Kentucky, and the Women’s Business Center of Kentucky Advisory Board.
Her dedication has been recognized with numerous awards, including:
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U.S. Small Business Administration 2024 KY Women Small Business of the Year.
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Women Leading Kentucky Janet Holloway Pathlighter Award 2023.
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Commerce Lexington 2021 Small Business Minority Business Award.
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2020 LBAR Distinguished Service Award.
A lifelong Lexington resident, Carter is a graduate of Fayette County Public High Schools and Eastern Kentucky University. She resides in Lexington with her husband and their two children.
ABOUT
Meet Raquel E. Carter: Business Leader. Community Advocate. Lexington Proud.
Raquel E. Carter has spent her life in Lexington — raising a family, building a business, and creating pathways to opportunity for others. As CEO and principal broker of Guide Realty, Inc., Raquel has led one of Kentucky’s most respected real estate firms, helping hundreds of families become first-time homeowners and mentoring dozens of real estate professionals along the way.
But her journey hasn’t been easy — and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Raquel didn’t choose real estate. Her late mother, Phyllis Williams Alexander, saw its potential and pushed her daughter to take a leap. Together, they launched Guide Realty in 2008 with a simple but powerful mission: to transform communities through homeownership and wealth-building.
Over time, Raquel became not just a business owner, but a community builder. She opened The Compass Center to promote professional development and engagement. She was appointed to the Kentucky Real Estate Commission by Governor Andy Beshear. In 2024, she was named the SBA’s Kentucky Women Small Business of the Year.
In the midst of this success, Raquel received a life-altering breast cancer diagnosis. Rather than retreat, she responded with focus, faith, and determination — continuing to lead her company and her family while undergoing treatment. That experience, along with the loss of her mother, brought urgency to her purpose.
“It gave me a true sense of responsibility," she said. “God doesn’t bless you with gifts just to better yourself. You are required to do something more.”
Now, Raquel is answering that call by stepping further into public service. She is running for Mayor of Lexington because she believes leadership means creating solutions, lifting others up, and building a future where everyone has a chance to thrive — no matter their background or zip code.
She lives in Lexington with her husband and their two children.
Raquel E. Carter is ready to lead Lexington forward — with heart, vision, and action.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Our campaign needs your support. Your contribution ensures your voice is heard. Please consider a one-time donation or a recurring donation.
Note: The maximum per individual per election is $2,200.
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"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." -Maya Angelou
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