Slate of Candidates for ’26 Primary Set

The slate of candidates for the May 19 Primary Election is set. The filing deadline was 4 p.m. on Friday, January 9.

At the top of the ballot, the race for U.S. representative in Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District is drawing attention as longtime incumbent Hal Rogers seeks a 24th consecutive term. Three challengers have emerged to unseat the veteran lawmaker. Republicans Brandon R. Monhollen, Kevin Smith, Jerry Lee Shelton, Benjamin Hurley and Billy Ray Wilson, a write-in candidate, are opposing Rogers on the GOP side, while Ned Pillersdorf is the lone Democratic candidate. Pillersdorf, a Floyd County-based civil rights attorney, has gained statewide recognition for representing victims of the Eric Conn Social Security disability fraud case and displaced coal miners.

The open U.S. Senate seat created by Sen. Mitch McConnell’s decision not to seek reelection has attracted a crowded field as the filing deadline nears. Republicans who have officially filed include Andy Barr, Jonathan M. Holliday, Jimmy I. Leon, Other Donald Wenzel, George Washington, Michael James Faris, Valerie “Dr. Val” Fredrick, Nate Morris, Daniel Cameron, Anissa Catlett, James D. Duncan, and A. Nick Shelley. On the Democratic side, Logan Forsythe, Joshua Blanton Sr., Vincent Anthony Thompson, Charles Booker, Amy McGrath, Dale Lewis Romans, and Pamela Stevenson have entered the race.

In state races, incumbent Rep. Tom O’Dell Smith is unopposed as he seeks a fourth term representing the 86th District. Judicial races are also largely uncontested, with Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court Debra Hembree Lambert running unopposed, along with District Judge John P. Chappell of the 27th Judicial District, Division 2, and District Judge W. “Skip” Hammons of Division 1.

Several county-level races are taking shape ahead of Friday’s cutoff. Republican Judge-Executive Mike Mitchell faces a challenge from fellow Republican Jeff Ketcham, the current magistrate for the 4th District. Knox County Clerk Mike Corey is unopposed and seeking an eighth consecutive term.

Republican Sheriff Mike Smith is being challenged by former deputy Bobby Jones. The jailer’s race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive, with incumbent Republican Mary Hammons seeking a fifth term against Republican challengers Jerry Baker, Steve Mills, and Clyde Trent Jr.

County Attorney Gilbert Holland, Property Valuation Administrator Bob Blevins, and Coroner Mike Blevins—all Republicans—are currently unopposed. Mike Blevins has served as coroner since 2006.

In magistrate races, District 1 incumbent Roger C. Mills faces a challenge from Jordan Scott Daniels, while District 1 Constable Larry Eagle is unopposed. District 2 Magistrate Keith Abner is being challenged by five Republicans: Johnny Elliott, Larry Broughton, Billy Crawford, Tony Mills, and Farrel Riley. District 2 Constable James Honeycutt remains unopposed.

District 3 Magistrate Tony Golden will be challenged by Don Rose, and Eric Hicks, both Republicans, while Reed Murphy has filed for District 3 Constable. In District 4, where the magistrate seat is open due to Ketcham’s run for Judge-Executive, Republicans Doug Cobb, Ken Helton, and Herb Wells have filed, as well as one Democrat candidate, Will Dunaway. District 4 Constable Vencil Phipps is unopposed. District 5 Magistrate Sam Miller faces a challenge from Ray Smith, both Republicans.

In the race for Corbin City Commissioner, sitting commissioner Brandon Seth Shepherd filed in Knox County to run for re-election.

One individual has filed to run in the non-partisan November 3 General Election. Current Knox County Board of Education Chairman Kevin Hinkle has filed to run for re-election in District 1.

The drawing for ballot positions will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 15 in the Knox County Clerk’s Office.

The deadline to file for non-partisan races in November is 4 p.m., Tuesday, June 2. The last day to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate in the General Election is Tuesday, August 11.

The last day to register to vote in the May 19 Primary Election is Monday, April 20. The last day to register to vote in the November General Election is Monday, October 5.

Candidates or voters seeking more information about filing requirements or the election process may contact the Knox County Clerk’s Office at 606-546-3568.

************

2026 May 19, 2026 Primary Election Candidates

US Senate

Andy Barr – R

Jonathan M. Holliday – R

Jimmy I. Leon – R

Other Donald Wenzel – R

George Washington – R

Michael James Faris – R

Valerie ‘Dr. Val’ Fredrick – R

Nate Morris – R

Daniel Cameron – R

Anissa Catlett – R

James D. Duncan – R

A Nick Shelley - R

Logan Forsythe – D

Joshua Blanton Sr. – D

Vincent Anthony Thompson – D

Pamela Stevenson – D

Charles Booker – D

Amy McGrath – D

Dale Lewis Romans – D

US Representative 5^th Congressional District

Harold ‘Hal’ Rogers – R (Incumbent)

Benjamin Hurley – R

Jerry Lee Shelton – R

Brandon R. Monhollen – R

Kevin Smith - R

Billy Ray Wilson – Write-in

Ned Pillersdorf – D

STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE 86^TH DISTRICT

Tom O’Dell Smith – R (Incumbent)

CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT

Debra Hembree Lambert – (Incumbent)

27^TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, DIVISION 1

1. ‘Skip’ Hammons – (Incumbent)

27^TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, DIVISION 2

John P. Chappell – (Incumbent)

KNOX COUNTY JUDGE-EXECUTIVE

Mike Mitchell – R – (Incumbent)

Jeff Ketcham – R

KNOX COUNTY CLERK

Mike Corey – R – (Incumbent)

KNOX COUNTY SHERIFF

Mike Smith – R – (Incumbent)

Bobby Jones – R

KNOX COUNTY JAILER

Mary S. Hammons – R – (Incumbent)

Jerry Baker – R

Steve Mills – R

Clyde Trent Jr. – R

COUNTY ATTORNEY

Gilbert Holland – R – (Incumbent)

KNOX COUNTY PROPERTY VALUATION ADMINISTRATOR

Bob Blevins – R – (Incumbent)

KNOX COUNTY CORONER

Mike Blevins – R – (Incumbent)

DISTRICT 1 – MAGISTRATE

Roger C. Mills – R – (Incumbent)

Jordan Scott Daniels – R

DISTRICT 1 – CONSTABLE

Larry Eagle – R – (Incumbent)

DISTRICT 2 – MAGISTRATE

Keith Abner – R – (Incumbent)

Johnny Elliott – R

Larry Broughton – R

Billy Crawford – R

Tony Mills – R

Farrel Riley – R

DISTRICT 2 – CONSTABLE

James Honeycutt – R – (Incumbent)

DISTRICT 3 – MAGISTRATE

Tony Golden – R – (Incumbent)

Don Rose – R

Eric Hicks – R

DISTRICT 3 – CONSTABLE

Reed Murphy – R

DISTRICT 4 – MAGISTRATE

Doug Cobb – R

Ken Helton – R

Herb Wells – R

Will Dunaway – D

DISTRICT 4 – CONSTABLE

Vencil Ray Phipps – R – (Incumbent)

DISTRICT 5 – MAGISTRATE

Sam Miller – R – (Incumbent)

Ray Smith – R

DISTRICT 5 – CONSTABLE

Gary K. Elliott – R

CORBIN CITY COMMISSIONER

Brandon Seth Shepherd (Non-partisan)

NOVEMBER 3, 2026 GENERAL ELECTION FILING:

KNOX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DISTRICT 1

Kevin Hinkle (Non-partisan)