The 2026 election cycle is taking shape across Daviess, Hancock, and McLean counties, with voters set to decide federal, state, and local party primaries, nonpartisan judicial contests, countywide offices, and municipal roles. Several races will require primaries before the general election.
Federal Races
U.S. Senate
A crowded field has emerged for Kentucky’s U.S. Senate seat long-time senator Mitch McConnell announced his retirement.
Democratic candidates include:
• Joshua Blanton Sr.
• Charles Booker
• Logan Forsythe
• Amy McGrath
• Dale Lewis Romans
• Pamela Stevenson
• Vincent Anthony Thompson
Republican candidates include:
• Andy Barr
• Daniel Cameron
• Anissa Catlett
• James D. Duncan
• Michael James Faris
• Valerie “Dr Val” Fredrick
• Jonathan M. Holliday
• Jimmy I. Leon
• Nate Morris
• A. Nick Shelley
• George Washington
• Other Donald Wenzel
Partisan primaries will determine each party’s nominee for November.
U.S. House of Representatives
Daviess, Hancock, and McLean counties are located in Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional District, while McLean County lies in the 1st Congressional District.
2nd District (includes Daviess, Hancock, and McLean counties)
Filed candidates include:
• William Dakota Compton (Democrat)
• David S. Hatfield (Democrat)
• Hank Linderman (Democrat)
• Megan Wingfield (Democrat)
• Joshua M. Ferguson (Republican)
• S. Brett Guthrie (Republican)
• G. “Shay” Perry-Adelmann (Republican)
Partisan primaries will determine which candidate from each party advances to the general election.
Editor’s note: The original version of this article incorrectly listed McLean County as being part of the 1st District. McLean County moved to the 2nd District following the adoption of new boundaries in 2023.
State Legislature
All state legislative races are partisan. Republicans face only Republicans, and Democrats face only Democrats during the primary stage.
State Senate — 8th District (Daviess County area)
• Gary M. Boswell (Republican)
• Vicki Quisenberry (Democrat)
State House of Representatives
• District 7: Suzanne Miles (Republican), Laurie C. Campbell (Democrat)
• District 13: DJ Johnson (Republican), Rhondalyn Randolph (Democrat)
• District 14: Wes Pate (Republican), Marty Shephard (Republican), Donna Haynes (Democrat)
State Rep. District 7 covers southern Daviess County.
State Rep. District 13 covers the central and western parts of Daviess County.
State Rep. District 14 covers all of Hancock County, Ohio County, and parts of Daviess County.
• District 12 (McLean County): Jim Gooch (Republican) — running unopposed
Judicial Races (Nonpartisan)
Judicial races are nonpartisan and hold primaries when more than two candidates file. The top two advance to November.
Daviess District Judge
• Division 1: Russell Duty, William C. Mattingly, Nick Payne, Lelah Rogers
• Division 2: Phillip J. Page, Brian L. Quattrocchi
• Division 3: Shannon Meyer
Daviess Circuit Judge
• Division 1: Bryce Caldwell
McLean County Judicial Races
• District Court (45th Judicial District): Eric Stovall — running unopposed
Hancock County Judicial Races (38th Judicial District)
• Division 1: Gregory Vincent — running unopposed
• Division 2: Daniel Boling — running opposed
Owensboro Board of Commissioners (Nonpartisan)
The Owensboro Board of Commissioners race is nonpartisan and will include a primary. Ten candidates have filed for four seats:
Christopher Stuchell, Pamela L. Smith-Wright, Sharon NeSmith, Harley Metcalf, Bob Glenn, Curtis Maglinger, Tyler Goad, Jeff Sanford, Steve Johnson, and John Ross Martin.
The primary will narrow the field to eight, and in November, the top four vote-getters will earn seats.
Daviess County Partisan Races
Partisan primaries will determine each party’s nominee for November.
County Judge-Executive
• Charlie Castlen (Republican)
• Janie Marksberry (Republican)
• William Rod Kuegel Jr. (Democrat)
County Commissioner
• West District: Christopher T. Castlen (R), Dustin Warren (R)
• Central District: Larry Conder (R), Robert Morris (R), William “Bill” Jagoe (D)
• East District: Shane Cox (R), Sagan Storm (D), Steven Shake (R), Joe Hagan (R)
Other Countywide Offices
• County Attorney: John Burlew (R)
• County Clerk: Leslie A. McCarty (R), Matt Galloway (R-Central)
• Sheriff: Bradley R. Youngman (R)
• Property Valuation Administrator: Rachel Pence Foster (R), William Pogue (D)
• Jailer: Art Maglinger (R)
• Coroner: Jeffrey S. Jones (R)
Magistrate/Justice of the Peace
• East: Anthony Cobb (R)
• Central: Chris Saalwaechter (D), Craig Pounds (D)
• West: Cathy Kramer (R)
Constable
• West: Kris Crawford (R), Scotty Smith (R)
• Central: Steve Nave (R)
• East: Dan Bennett (R)
Hancock County Races
Partisan primaries will determine each party’s nominee for November.
County Judge-Executive
• Johnny “Chic” Roberts (R)
County Clerk
• Austin Gray (R)
• Jake Powers (D)
County Attorney
• Paul Madden Jr. (D)
Sheriff
Candidates include Democrats Aaron Emmick, Roger Estes, and Robert Rice, and Republicans BJ Burton, Billy Bozarth, and Joshua Vandgrift.
Jailer
• Steve Jackson (R)
• Jonathan Rice (D)
• Tracie Powers (R)
Property Valuation Administrator
• Karen Robertson (R)
Magistrate/Justice of the Peace
Candidates include Gary Baker, Kasey Emmick, John Gray, Brent Wigginton, Mike Blan, and L. Newton.
Constable
• Brandon Bozarth (D)
• Josh Estes (D)
• Brandon Boone (R)
• W. Basham (D)
McLean County Races
Partisan primaries will determine each party’s nominee for November.
County Judge-Executive
• Curtis Dame (R)
County Clerk
• Collin Eaton (R)
County Attorney
• Donna Dant (D)
• Harrison Taylor (R)
Sheriff
• Scott Sallee (R)
• Kenneth Frizzell (R)
Jailer
• Chris Ellis (R)
• Stephen Hill (R)
Coroner
• Lee Muster (R)
Property Valuation Administrator
• Dale Ayer (D)
Magistrate/Justice of the Peace
Candidates include Democrats Robert Bishop, Gary Johnson and Keith Stratton, and Republicans Clay Troutman, Kyle Stroud, and Joseph Lowery.
Constable
• Mark Badertscher (R)
• Jason Arnett (R)
• Troy Slinker (R)
Owensboro Times has begun running individual candidate stories. Candidates who would like to be included should contact the newsroom at [email protected].
