Craig Greenberg Bio
Craig Greenberg (born August 22, 1973) is an American businessman, lawyer, and Democratic politician who has served since 2023 as the third mayor of the consolidated city and county of Louisville Metro in Kentucky. A Harvard Law School graduate, Greenberg practiced law in Louisville before co-founding the 21c Museum Hotels chain, where he later served as president and chief executive officer. He has also been involved in local development projects and purchased a stake in Ohio Valley Wrestling. Greenberg campaigned for mayor on public safety, housing, education, and other local priorities, and during his 2022 campaign he survived an assassination attempt at his campaign headquarters.
Since taking office, Greenberg has focused on affordable housing, public safety, and economic development across Louisville Metro. He launched a re-election campaign in October 2025, framing it around the same priorities he emphasized in his first run.
Early Life and Background
Craig Greenberg was born on August 22, 1973, in Commack, New York. His family later relocated to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1980, and he spent his formative years in the city. He graduated from Ballard High School, where he developed the academic interests that would carry him into higher education.
Greenberg earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan in 1995, where he served as president of the student government. He went on to earn a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1998, completing the legal training that prepared him for a career in private practice. His early academic record reflects a steady progression from local schools to national institutions.
Path to US Politics
After law school, Greenberg joined the Louisville firm Frost Brown Todd, where he worked as an attorney and contributed to its ancillary business initiatives. His work at the firm gave him exposure to civic and economic issues across the region. In 2006, he co-founded 21c Museum Hotels with art collectors Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown, a venture that combined hospitality with contemporary art.
Greenberg was named president of 21c Museum Hotels in 2012 and chief executive officer in 2017, before stepping down in June 2020. He later purchased a majority stake in Ohio Valley Wrestling in January 2021 with sports radio host Matt Jones. He also contributed to the development of Louisville Museum Plaza and Whiskey Row, and served as a trustee for the University of Louisville, deepening his ties to the city ahead of his entry into public office.
Craig Greenberg Career
Early Career (1998–2005)
Greenberg began his professional career at Frost Brown Todd in Louisville, where he practiced law and worked on the firm’s ancillary business initiatives. His legal training at Harvard prepared him for the corporate and civic work he would later pursue. These early years helped him build relationships across Louisville’s business and civic communities.
During this period, Greenberg also became involved in civic organizations and charitable causes, laying the groundwork for his later philanthropic and development work.
Breakthrough (2006–2020)
In 2006, Greenberg co-founded 21c Museum Hotels alongside art collectors Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown, a concept that combined boutique hospitality with a contemporary art museum. The chain grew into a nationally recognized brand. He was named president of the company in 2012 and chief executive officer in 2017, guiding its expansion during a period of significant growth.
Greenberg stepped down from 21c Museum Hotels in June 2020, concluding a fourteen-year run with the company he helped build. His departure marked a transition toward broader civic and political work in Louisville.
In January 2021, Greenberg and Matt Jones, a sports radio host, purchased a majority stake in Ohio Valley Wrestling. He was also involved in the development of Louisville Museum Plaza and Whiskey Row, two high-profile local projects, and served as a trustee for the University of Louisville.
Democratic Era (2021–Present)
Greenberg entered electoral politics in April 2021 when he announced his candidacy for mayor of Louisville in the 2022 election, seeking to succeed Greg Fischer, who was barred by term limits from running again. He ran on a platform of public safety, affordable housing, universal pre-K, cracking down on illegal guns, supporting abortion rights, and cleaning up the city.
He won the Democratic primary in a field of eight candidates in May, finishing 20 percentage points ahead of the second-place finisher. On November 8, he defeated Republican nominee Bill Dieruf by five percentage points to become mayor of Louisville.
In October 2025, Greenberg announced a re-election bid at a rally, emphasizing public safety, economic development, education, and affordable housing. Louisville’s 2026 mayoral election will be nonpartisan following a change in state law in 2024, meaning party designations will not appear on the ballot.
Notable Events and Milestones
On February 14, 2022, during his campaign, Quintez Brown walked into Greenberg’s campaign headquarters near downtown Louisville and allegedly fired several shots from a 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol at Greenberg from the doorway. A bullet passed through Greenberg’s shirt and sweater but did not injure him. Brown was arrested less than half a mile away and charged with several crimes, including attempted murder. Louisville Metro Council President David James called the incident an attempted assassination, and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell characterized it as what appeared to be an assassination attempt against a Jewish mayoral candidate. Brown later pleaded guilty to federal charges in July 2024 and was sentenced to seventeen and a half years in prison in January 2025.
Craig Greenberg Career Wins
Craig Greenberg’s most significant political win came in November 2022, when he defeated Republican nominee Bill Dieruf by five percentage points to become the third mayor of Louisville Metro. His earlier primary victory in May 2022, where he finished 20 percentage points ahead of the second-place candidate in a field of eight, set the stage for his general-election success. These wins marked his transition from a business and civic leader to a public officeholder.
Election Highlights
Greenberg launched his mayoral campaign in April 2021, framing his bid around public safety, affordable housing, universal pre-K, and other local priorities. He secured the Democratic nomination decisively before going on to defeat Bill Dieruf in the November general election. In October 2025, he launched his re-election bid, signaling an intent to continue his priorities into a second term.
Other Wins & Achievements
Beyond electoral wins, Greenberg co-founded 21c Museum Hotels in 2006 and rose to become its president and later chief executive officer. He also contributed to the development of Louisville Museum Plaza and Whiskey Row, and served as a trustee for the University of Louisville.
Craig Greenberg Family
Family Background and Civic Lineage
Greenberg was born in Commack, New York, and his family moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1980. He is Jewish. His civic and business involvement in Louisville, including development work and a trustee role at the University of Louisville, has shaped his standing in the city’s public life.
Personal Life
Greenberg met his wife, Rachel, in Boston. She works as a public school teacher, and they have two children. The family lives in Louisville.