Most All Local Candidates Running for 2026 Election Are Unopposed Incumbents: US Senate, House Seats Up for Grabs

Edmonson County Courthouse, Brownsville, KY.

Darren Doyle, story and photo:
The 2026 Primary Election just a few months ahead but with most all county positions up for grabs, there are very few challenging incumbents for those seats.

County Clerk Kevin Alexander's Office provided the final list of candidates for county offices after the January 9th deadline for filings.

The current local candidate list with no opposition is as follows:

• Coroner – Brentley Esters (R), incumbent
• County Attorney – Adam Turner (R), incumbent
• County Clerk – Kevin McDaniel Alexander (R), incumbent
• County Judge-Executive – Ronald Scott Lindsey (R), incumbent
• Jailer – Todd Vincent (R), incumbent
• Property Valuation Administrator – Kyle White (D), incumbent
• Sheriff – James Edward Vincent (R), incumbent
• District 1 Magistrate – Mark Meeks (R), incumbent
• District 2 Magistrate – T.J. Massey (R), incumbent
• District 6 Magistrate – James C. Vincent (R), incumbent
• District 4 Constable – Tim Skees (R)

Races with challengers:*

• District 3 Magistrate – Anthony Hennion (R), incumbent
• District 3 Magistrate – Charlie Tarter (D)
• District 4 Magistrate – Mickey Johnson (R), incumbent
• District 4 Magistrate – Adam Coates (R)
• District 5 Magistrate – Hunter Ashley (R)
• District 5 Magistrate – Pat Haycraft (R)

*Hennion will run unopposed in the Dist. 3 Republican Primary and will face Tarter in the November General Election. The winner of Johnson/Coates in Dist. 4 will determine the overall winner as there is no democratic challenger; the same will follow suit with the Dist. 5 Ashley/Haycraft race.
 
Ballot positions for the Primary were drawn on January 15th and are as follow:
 
District 4 Magistrate
#1 James “Mickey” Johnson
#2 Adam Coates
 
District 5 Magistrate
#1 Hunter Ashley
#2 Pat Haycraft
 
"While district judges do not file locally but at the state, both incumbents Gregory R. Vincent and Daniel Boling filed for reelection as District Judge in the 38th District without opposition," said County Clerk Kevin Alexander. "Additionally, longtime State Representative Michael Lee Meredith is running unopposed in the 19th State District."

In the U.S. Senate race to fill the seat of Mitch McConnell, multiple republicans are vying for the position: U.S. Rep Andy Barr, former KY AG Daniel Cameron, and Lexington Businessman Nate Morris, who was backed by the late Charlie Kirk, along with a host of other candidates.

Leading democrat candidates for the U.S. Senate seat are former candidate Amy McGrath, former state rep Charles Booker, Pamela Stevenson, KY House Minority Leader, along with several other candidates. 
 
US Representative 2nd Congressional District currently held by republican Brett Guthrie, who is seeking reelection, has republican candidates G. Perry Adelmann and Joshua Ferguson. 

On the democrat side, candidates are William Compton, David Hatfield, Hank Linderman, and Megan Wingfield.
 
Local Brownsville City Council, Edmonson County School Board Districts 3 and 5, and Soil and Water Conservation District positions are all non-partisan and candidates have until June 2, 2026 to file.

The Primary Election is set for Tuesday, May 19, 2026 and the General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026.