Candidates have begun to file for office for next year’s election. Periodically, Mountain Top News will update this list of candidates who are running for county, city and school board offices across our coverage area.
This list was last updated at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.
FLOYD COUNTY
Judge-Executive
- Debra “Dr. Debbie” Hall, Republican
- Mason Glenn Tackett, Republican
- Doug Hopkins, Republican
- Robbie Williams, independent
Sheriff
- John P. Hunt, Democrat
- Christopher Shepherd, Republican
County Attorney
- Meka Hall Castle, Democrat
County Clerk
- Chris Waugh, Democrat
Jailer
- Steve R. Montgomery, Democrat
- Steve Little, Democrat
- Ballard “Dr. BJ” Tussey Jr., Republican
Coroner
- Greg Nelson, Democrat
Property Valuation Administrator
- David A. Layne, Democrat
Magistrate, District 1
- Mark D. Crider, Democrat
- Roy Michael “Mike” Ousley, Republican
Magistrate, District 2
- Cody Conley, Democrat
- George Ousley, Democrat
- Rodney George Isaac, Democrat
- Dylan Kyle Patton, Republican
- Randy K. Davis, Republican
Magistrate, District 3
- Mike Tackett, Democrat
- Jimmy Dwayne Tackett, Democrat
- Glennis Ray Caudill, Democrat
- Orville Mitchell Jr., Republican
Magistrate, District 4
- Ronnie Akers, Democrat
- Donald Hall Jr., Republican
Constable, District 1
- Gary Wolfe, Republican
Constable, District 2
- Gary Nelson, Democrat
Constable, District 3
- Ernie Ray Moore, Democrat
- Gary Tackett, Democrat
Constable, District 4
- Allred Newsom, Democrat
- Curtis Tackett, Republican
- Eddie Case, independent
Prestonsburg Mayor
- Rick Hughes, nonpartisan
Prestonsburg City Council
- Matt Slone, nonpartisan
- Heather Ousley, nonpartisan
Floyd County School Board, District 2
- Timothy K. Combs, nonpartisan
- Jordan Case, nonpartisan
JOHNSON COUNTY
Judge-Executive
- Mark McKenzie, Republican
- Doug Saylor, Republican
Sheriff
- Scott Hazlette, Republican
- Jeff Castle, Republican
- Tom Wyatt, Republican
- Chadwick Chad Penix, Republican
Circuit Clerk (unexpired term)
- Hillary Chafin, Republican
County Attorney
- Michael S. Endicott, Republican
County Clerk
- Sallee Conley Holbrook, Republican
Circuit Clerk
- Hillary Chafin, Republican
Jailer
- Steve Rose, Republican
Coroner
- William “Billy” Taylor, Republican
- Jeremy Hyden, Republican
Property Valuation Administrator
- Ray E. Davis III, Republican
- Ross Conley Sanor, Republican
County Surveyor
- Clarence Scarberry, Republican
County Commissioner, District 1
- Jessica Click, Republican
- Larry Frisby, Republican
County Commissioner, District 2
- Nancy McKenzie Cantrell, Republican
- Mike “Mikey” Jarrell, Republican
- Clarence Ray Daniel, Republican
- Larry Duty, Republican
County Commissioner, District 3
- Bryan S. Childers, Republican
- Keith Patrick, Republican
- Noel Crum, Republican
Constable, District 1
- Tim J. Branham, Republican
Constable, District 2
- Ricky Joe Keeton, Republican
Constable, District 3
- John M. Stapleton, Republican
Paintsville Mayor
- Jeanette Kilgore Thornbury, nonpartisan
- Andrew Kirk Preston, nonpartisan
- Kalen B. Spencer, nonpartisan
Paintsville City Council
- Nicholas Hazelett, nonpartisan
- Eva M.J. Holbrook, nonpartisan
Johnson County School Board, District 2
- Jennifer McCoart Wilson, nonpartisan
Johnson County School Board, District 4
- Willard Burton, nonpartisan
KNOTT COUNTY
Judge-Executive
- Jordan Thomas Owens, Democrat
- Jeff Dobson, Republican
Sheriff
- Dale Richardson, Democrat
County Attorney
- Tim Bates, Democrat
County Clerk
- Robin King Hall, Democrat
- Jamie Hughes, Republican
Jailer
- Robby R. Slone, Democrat
Coroner
- Corey W. Watson, Democrat
Property Valuation Administrator
- Tonya Fugate, Democrat
Magistrate, District 1
- Kelly Smith, Democrat
- Carl Craft, Republican
Magistrate, District 2
- Tyson Slone, Democrat
- Avery J. Shrum, Democrat
- Ricky Thomas, Republican
- Travis Wayne Owens, Republican
Magistrate, District 3
- Brent Smith, Democrat
- Melvin Rose, Democrat
- Billy Slone, Republican
- Sandra “Sandy” Laferty, Republican
Magistrate, District 4
- Calvin Waddles, Democrat
- Kevin Huff, Republican
Constable, District 1
- Darren Slone, Republican
- Richmond Marvin Combs, Republican
Constable, District 2
- Landon Douglas Gibson, Republican
Constable, District 3
- Jessie Smith, Democrat
- Jeffrey R. Hartzler, Republican
Constable, District 4
- Keith Caudill, Democrat
- Keith Boles, Democrat
- John A. Hicks, Republican
Hindman Mayor
- Jordan Thomas Hall, nonpartisan
Hindman City Council
- Calvin Combs, nonpartisan
- Devon Skeens, nonpartisan
- Barbara Ann Smith, nonpartisan
- Vicky Hudson, nonpartisan
- Kari Patrick Fugate, nonpartisan
- Ruby A. Pigman, nonpartisan
- Nadine Waddell, nonpartisan
LAWRENCE COUNTY
Judge-Executive
- William Spradlin, Republican
- Eddie Preston, Republican
- Rick Blackburn, Republican
- Phillip L. Carter, Republican
Sheriff
- Chuck T. Jackson, Republican
- Mark Wheeler, Republican
County Attorney
- Johnny W. Osborne, Republican
County Clerk
- Chris Jobe, Republican
Jailer
- Roger Lee Jordan, Republican
Coroner
- Melissa Moore, Democrat
- Jimmy Castle, Republican
- Sam Michael Muncy, Republican
Property Valuation Administrator
- Chris Rose, Republican
County Surveyor
- Cliff A. West, Republican
Magistrate, District 1
- George F. Howell, Democrat
- Michael “Mouse” Halcomb, Republican
- Josh Trout, Republican
Magistrate, District 2
- Jay M. Childers, Republican
- George “Chicken” Wheeler, Republican
- Allan Scaggs, Republican
- Rick Kelly, Republican
Magistrate, District 3
- John “Tony” Lester, Democrat
- Brian Jordan, Republican
- David Pinson, Republican
Magistrate, District 4
- Dave York, Democrat
- Ron Boyer, Republican
- Joseph P. Hardin, Republican
- Todd Moran, Republican
Constable, District 2
- William Mynhier, Republican
Constable, District 3
- Jeff McCarty
Constable, District 4
- James “Woody” Thomas, Republican
- Jeff McCarty, Republican
LETCHER COUNTY
Judge-Executive
- Debra Parker Collier, Democrat
- Terry Adams, Republican
- Wade Adams, Republican
- Joseph Banks, Republican
Sheriff
- Billy D. Jones, Democrat
- Codell Gibson, Republican
- D.L. Hammonds, Republican
County Attorney
- Michael Watts, Republican
County Clerk
- Winston Meade, Democrat
- Christopher O. Sexton, Republican
- D. Colin Fultz, Republican
Jailer
- Brian K. Fields, Republican
- Brian Anthony Slone, Republican
Coroner
- Tony Fugate, Democrat
- Josh Lowe, Republican
- Clifford Wade Fields, Republican
Property Valuation Administrator
- Ricky Raymond Rose, Democrat
County Surveyor
- Stephen Alan Dicks, Democrat
Magistrate, District 1
- Rodney Gilley, Republican
- Troy Dingus, Republican
- Jack D. Banks, Republican
- Tammy Elaine Trent, Republican
Magistrate, District 2
- Sherry K. Sexton, Democrat
- Kenneth “Kenny” Anderson, Republican
Magistrate, District 3
- Jessee Mullins, Democrat
- Terry L. Adams, Democrat
- Starla Deardorff, Republican
- Michael Pack, Republican
- Edwin Narvil Bentley, Republican
- William “Billy” Smallwood, Republican
Magistrate, District 4
- William Cheddy Smith, Democrat
- Christopher Jerome Hogg, Republican
Magistrate, District 5
- Rodney Wayne Rose, Democrat
- Hilman Dotson, Democrat
- Roy Triplett, Democrat
Constable, District 1
- Jordan Absher, Republican
Constable, District 2
- Robert Tony Sturgill, Republican
Constable, District 3
- Charles Eugene Polly, Democrat
Constable, District 4
- Terry Perkins, Democrat
Constable District 5
- Eugene Williams, Democrat
- John F. Wyatt, Democrat
MAGOFFIN COUNTY
Judge-Executive
- Matthew Chalmer Wireman, Democrat
- Charles “Doc” Hardin, Republican
- Dewey Thomas Howard, Republican
Sheriff
- Dakota Murphy, Democrat
- Dewey Marshall, Democrat
- Randall “Bob” Jordan, Democrat
- William “Bill” Meade, Republican
- Rodney Patrick, Republican
- Jonathan “Pippy” Holbrook, Republican
- Chris Minix, Republican
- James Harless, Republican
County Attorney
- Travis Joseph, Democrat
County Clerk
- Renee Arnett Shepherd, Democrat
- Justin Williams, Republican
- Isaac S. Minix, Republican
Jailer
- Bryan Montgomery, Democrat
- Teddy Jenkins, Democrat
- Robbie W. Russell Jr., Republican
Coroner
- Mark Jenkins, Democrat
- Timmy Salyer, Republican
- Johnny Lovely, Republican
Property Valuation Administrator
- Rebecca “Becky” Allen, Republican
County Surveyor
- Kerry K. Howard, Democrat
Magistrate, District 1
- Darrel Ray Howard, Republican
- Stanley Ryan Hensley, Republican
Magistrate, District 2
- Christopher “Doodie” Lemaster, Democrat
- William Paul B. Howard, Democrat
- Joshua Watson, Democrat
- Eddie Jenkins, Republican
Magistrate, District 3
- Joe Bailey, Democrat
- Paul Bailey, Democrat
- Samuel Patrick Bailey Jr., Democrat
- Jeremy Handshoe, Republican
- Franklin Ray Bailey, Republican
- Tim Conley, Republican
- Clayton D. Howard, Republican
Constable, District 1
- Eric Trusty, Democrat
- James E. Rudd, Republican
Constable, District 2
- Jeffery Perkins, Democrat
- Wade Lee Collinsworth, Republican
Constable, District 3
- Mitchell Bailey, Democrat
- Gabrial “Gabe” Rex Brown, Republican
- Chester Dwayne Risner, Republican
- Danny C. McCarty, Republican
Constable, District 4
- Richard Rex Love, Democrat
MARTIN COUNTY
Judge-Executive
- Lon E. Lafferty, Republican
Sheriff
- William “Bill” Preece III, Republican
- Austin Harless, Republican
- Anthony Tony Preece, Republican
- John Herman Kirk, Republican
- Kristopher Lang, Republican
County Attorney
- Melissa Fannin Phelps, Republican
County Clerk
- Susie Skyles, Republican
Jailer
- Billy Lee Patrick, Republican
- Buddy Stacy, Republican
- Nicholas Nick Marcum, Republican
- Darrell Spence, Republican
- Oscar “Ock” Jude, Republican
Coroner
- Chris Todd, Republican
Property Valuation Administrator
- Bobby E. Hale, Republican
Magistrate, District 1
- Cody Slone, Republican
- Matthew Baisden, Republican
Magistrate, District 2
- Kermit Howell, Republican
- Amanda J. Jude, Republican
- Jason “Booger” Jude, Republican
Magistrate, District 3
- James Derrick Stepp, Republican
- Craig Keagan Haney, Republican
- Tracy Spence, Republican
- Chris Blackburn, Republican
Magistrate, District 4
- Joseph Junior Hunt, Republican
- Eric Jude, Republican
Magistrate, District 5
- Ronald Workman, Republican
Contable, District 1
- Bobby Gene Maynard, Republican
- Homer “Pickle” Mills Jr., Republican
Constable, District 2
- Ryan May, Republican
- Charles Randy Lafferty, Republican
Constable, District 3
- Kody Thomas Rainwater, Republican
Constable, District 4
- James Brad Preece, Republican
- Charles Eddie Spear, Republican
Constable, District 5
- Granville Sweeney, Democrat
- Melvin Mitchell Bowen, Republican
Warfield Mayor
- Michael Hinkle, nonpartisan
PIKE COUNTY
Judge-Executive
- Brian A. Morris, Republican
- Suzy Gibson Shearer, Republican
Sheriff
- Rodney Scott, Republican
- Ellis McCoy, Republican
County Attorney
- Paul Howard Jr., Republican
County Clerk
- Rhonda Taylor, Democrat
- Darrell Pugh, Republican
- Subrenia Thacker Moon, Republican
Jailer
- Verda Mae Thacker, Democrat
- Scott E. Bevins, Democrat
- John “Jason” Fields, Republican
- Jeremy Todd Miller, Republican
- William A. White, Republican
- Ronald “Bubby Scott, Republican
- Perry Wayne Hatfield, Republican
- Ricky A. Bostic, Republican
Coroner
- Kevin Hall, Republican
- Brenda Johnson, Republican
Property Valuation Administrator
- Kevin Auton, Republican
Magistrate, District 1
- Bobby Mullins, Democrat
- Ronald Scott, Republican
- Joseph “Big Joe” Adkins, Republican
- Amanda Blackburn Muncy, Republican
Magistrate, District 2
- Ballard Martin, Democrat
- Ronnie Robertson, Republican
- Elmon L. Walters, Republican
- Jamey Kidd, Republican
- Danny Lee Newsome, Republican
Magistrate, District 3
- Ancil Wayne Trivette, Democrat
- Jerry Neal Little, Democrat
- William Dale Meadows, Republican
- Nathan Little, Republican
- Robert “Rob” Elkins, Republican
- Jamie Little, Republican
- Justin Colby Kiser, Republican
- Alvin D. Newsome, Republican
- Jackie Dean Justice, Republican
- Clif Smallwood, Republican
Magistrate, District 4
- Brian K. Epling, Democrat
- Jeremy Darrell “Bo” Roberts, Republican
- Clinard Arthur “Bubby” Adkins, Republican
- Kenneth Allen Prater, Republican
- Anthony Lee “Tony” Taylor II, Republican
Magistrate, District 5
- Harold Justice, Democrat
- Hilman Dotson, Democrat
- Earl Thacker, independent
- Laveta Pearl Slone, Republican
- Joshua Mayhorn, Republican
- Thomas W. Davis, Republican
- Ronnie Dean Blankenship, Republican
- Benjamin Eric Hurley, Republican
- Sammy Wilson, Republican
Magistrate, District 6
- James Michael May, Democrat
- Jerry “Freddie” Lewis, Republican
Constable, District 1
- James Tolliver, Republican
Constable, District 2
- Christopher Michael Mills, Democrat
- Billy Kendrick, Republican
- James “Bubby James” Adams, Republican
Constable, District 3
- James Hartsock, Republican
- Joshua Lee Little, Republican
- Frederick Aaron Spears, Republican
Constable, District 4
- Robert Thacker, Democrat
- Troy Frazier, Republican
- Keith A. Meadows, Republican
- Shannon Foster Keene, Republican
Constable, District 5
- Harold Prater, Democrat
- Christopher Michael Daniels, Democrat
- Keith A. Meadows, Republican
- Troy Frazier, Republican
- Gary C.J. Tomlin, Republican
Constable, District 6
- Jody W. Bailey, Republican
Pikeville Mayor
- Steve Hartsock, nonpartisan
- Bob Shurtleff, nonpartisan
Pikeville City Commission
- Alexandria “Lexie” Mims, nonpartisan
- Roger Staton, nonpartisan
- Donald Howard “Don” Combs II, nonpartisan
- Patrick McNamee, nonpartisan
- Allison A. Powers, nonpartisan
- Allie Allen, nonpartisan
- Frank G. Dawahare, nonpartisan
Coal Run Mayor
- Andrew H. Scott, nonpartisan
Coal Run City Commission
- Mike Steele, nonpartisan
- Vince Ratliff, nonpartisan
- Herbert “Trey” Deskins III, nonpartisan
- Beverlyjo Justice Osborne, nonpartisan
- Matt Amick, nonpartisan
Elkhorn City Mayor
- Nathan Bryant, nonpartisan
U.S. CONGRESS, FIFTH DISTRICT
- Ned Pillersdorf, Democrat
- Harold Rogers, Republican
- Benjamin Hurley, Republican
- Jerry Lee Shelton, Republican
- Brandon R. Monhollen, Republican
- Kevin Smith, Republican
- Billy Ray Wilson, write-in
U.S. SENATE
- Joshua Blanton Sr., Democrat
- Logan Forsythe, Democrat
- Pamela Stevenson, Democrat
- Vincent Anthony Thompson, Democrat
- Amy McGrath, Democrat
- Dale Lewis Romans, Democrat
- Charles Booker, Democrat
- Andy Barr, Republican
- Jonathan M. Holliday, Republican
- Jimmy I. Leon, Republican
- Other Donald Wenzel, Republican
- Michael James Faris, Republican
- Nate Morris, Republican
- George Washington, Republican
- Valerie “Dr. Val” Frederick, Republican
- Daniel Cameron, Republican
- James D. Duncan, Republican
- A. Nick Shelley, Republican
- Anissa Catlett, Republican
KENTUCKY SENATE
District 30
- Brandon D. Smith, Republican
- Billy Wesley, Republican
KENTUCKY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
92nd District
- John Blanton, Republican
94th District
- Mitchum Addison Whitaker, Republican
95th District
- Johnny Ray Turner, Democrat
- Tanner Hesterberg, Republican
- Willie Crase Jr., Republican
97th District
- Rebekah D. Skaggs, Democrat
- Bobby W. McCool, Republican
100th District
- Scott Sharp
JUDICIAL RACES
District Judge, District 24, Division 1
- John T. Chafin, nonpartisan
District Judge, District 24, Division 2
- David Brett Butcher, nonpartisan
District Judge, District 31, Division 1
- Jimmy “Blue” Marcum, nonpartisan
District Judge, District 31, Division 2
- Tyler Green, nonpartisan
- Ashley Tackett Laferty, nonpartisan
District Judge, District 35, Division 1
- Robert F. Wright, nonpartisan
District Judge, District 35, Division 2
- Tommy “T.J.” May, nonpartisan
District Judge, District 36
- Dennis B. Prater, nonpartisan
District Judge, District 47
- J. Nick Whitaker, nonpartisan
