Pike County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
Who is running for County Judge/Executive, County Clerk and County Sheriff and more, with bios, priorities and campaign sites.
County offices
ClerkDarrell Pugh (R) · Rhonda Taylor (D)
Darrell Pugh
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Improving office efficiency and reducing wait times
About Darrell Pugh
Darrell Pugh has owned and operated Castle's Jewelry and Gifts in Pikeville since 1989, per his campaign site. He has been a licensed real estate broker since 1988 and holds a Graduate Gemologist diploma from the Gemological Institute of America, per his campaign site. He has been a resident of Pike County for nearly 33 years, per his campaign site.
Rhonda Taylor
Rhonda Taylor previously served in the Pike County Clerk's office for two decades in both the clerk and deputy clerk roles and is seeking to return to the office, per the Pike County News-Express. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Contested: incumbent Darrell Pugh (R) faces Rhonda Taylor (D) on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list. Pugh is confirmed as the sitting county clerk on the Pike County government officials page.
Full race pageSheriffRodney Scott (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Rodney Scott
Rodney Scott is the Republican candidate for Pike County Sheriff in the 2026 general election, facing Democratic candidate Ellis McCoy, per News-Express. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Rodney Scott (R) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list, and is confirmed as the sitting sheriff on the Pike County government officials page.
Full race pageAttorneyPaul Howard Jr. (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Paul Howard Jr.
Paul Howard is running unopposed for Pike County Attorney in the 2026 general election, per News-Express. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Paul Howard Jr. (R) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list, and is confirmed as the sitting county attorney on the Pike County government officials page.
Full race pageJailerScott E. Bevins (D) · Ricky A. Bostic (R)
Scott E. Bevins
Scott E. Bevins filed as the Democratic candidate for Pike County Jailer for the 2026 election cycle, per Mountain Top Media candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Ricky A. Bostic
No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Open seat, contested: Scott E. Bevins (D) faces Ricky A. Bostic (R) on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list. The sitting jailer, Brian Morris (per the Pike County government officials page), did not run for re-election as jailer. He ran for county judge/executive instead and finished second in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary for that office, per the State Board of Elections' official primary recap. Ricky A. Bostic won a six-way Republican jailer primary ahead of Jeremy Todd Miller, Ronald "Bubby" Scott II, William A. White, John Jason Fields and Perry Wayne Hatfield, per the same recap; Verda Mae Thacker, a Democratic filer, withdrew per the SOS list.
Full race pageCoronerKevin Hall (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Kevin Hall
Kevin Hall is the Republican candidate for Pike County Coroner in the 2026 general election, facing Democratic candidate Brenda Johnson, per News-Express. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Kevin Hall (R) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list, and is confirmed as the sitting coroner on the Pike County government officials page.
Full race pageProperty Valuation AdministratorKevin Auton (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Kevin Auton
Kevin Auton is running unopposed for Pike County Property Valuation Administrator in the 2026 general election, per News-Express. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Kevin Auton (R) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list, and is confirmed as the sitting PVA on the Pike County government officials page.
Full race pageMagistrate District 1Ronald Scott (R) · Bobby Mullins (D)
Ronald Scott
Ronald Scott filed as the Republican candidate for Pike County Magistrate District 1 for the 2026 election cycle, per Mountain Top Media candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Bobby Mullins
Bobby Mullins filed as the Democratic candidate for Pike County Magistrate District 1 for the 2026 election cycle, per News-Express. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Contested: incumbent Ronald Scott (R) faces Bobby Mullins (D) on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list. Scott is confirmed as the sitting District 1 fiscal court member on the Pike County government commissioners page.
Full race pageMagistrate District 2Ronnie Robertson (R) · Ballard Martin (D)
Ronnie Robertson
Ronnie Robertson filed as the Republican candidate for Pike County Magistrate District 2 for the 2026 election cycle, per Mountain Top Media candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Ballard Martin
Ballard Martin filed as the Democratic candidate for Pike County Magistrate District 2 for the 2026 election cycle, per Mountain Top Media candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Contested: Ronnie Robertson (R) faces Ballard Martin (D) on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list. Incumbency is unresolved: the county's fiscal court commissioners page names Clinard "Bubby" Adkins for District 2, but the SOS filing list shows Adkins filed for District 4 instead - this is flagged as a discrepancy between the two official sources rather than resolved, so neither candidate here is flagged as incumbent.
Full race pageMagistrate District 3Clif Smallwood (R) · Jerry Neal Little (D)
Clif Smallwood
No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Jerry Neal Little
No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Contested: Clif Smallwood (R) faces Jerry Neal Little (D) on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list. The county's fiscal court commissioners page names a different person, Jimmy Abshire, for District 3, and neither Smallwood nor Little appears on that page - flagged as a discrepancy between the two official sources; incumbency left unconfirmed for both.
Full race pageMagistrate District 4Clinard "Bubby" Adkins (R) · Brian K. Epling (D)
Clinard "Bubby" Adkins
No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Brian K. Epling
Brian K. Epling filed as the Democratic candidate for Pike County Magistrate District 4 for the 2026 election cycle, per Mountain Top Media candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Contested: Clinard "Bubby" Adkins (R) faces Brian K. Epling (D) on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list. The county's fiscal court commissioners page lists Adkins under "District Two" rather than District 4 - flagged as a discrepancy between the two official sources; incumbency for Adkins left unconfirmed pending resolution of that mismatch.
Full race pageMagistrate District 5Joshua Mayhorn (R) · Hilman Dotson (D) · Earl Thacker (Independent)
Joshua Mayhorn
Joshua Mayhorn filed to run for Pike County Magistrate District 5, per Mountain Top Media. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Hilman Dotson
Hilman Dotson previously served for many years as Pike County's District 5 magistrate before the office was reorganized as a commissioner seat, per News-Express. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Earl Thacker
Earl Thacker appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Pike County Magistrate District 5, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Three-way contest: Joshua Mayhorn (R) faces Hilman Dotson (D) and independent Earl Thacker on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list. Dotson is described in local coverage as a former Pike County magistrate, though not currently listed on the county's own commissioners roster page.
Full race pageMagistrate District 6Jerry "Freddie" Lewis (R) · James Michael May (D)
Jerry "Freddie" Lewis
Jerry "Freddie" Lewis filed as the Republican candidate for Pike County Magistrate District 6 for the 2026 election cycle, per Mountain Top Media candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
James Michael May
James Michael May filed as the Democratic candidate for Pike County Magistrate District 6 for the 2026 election cycle, per Mountain Top Media candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Contested: Jerry "Freddie" Lewis (R) faces James Michael May (D) on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list. A third filer, Cassandra Leigh Williamson, filed as a write-in; Kentucky write-in candidates never print, so she does not appear on the printed ballot.
Full race pageConstable District 2Billy Kendrick (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Billy Kendrick
Billy Kendrick said in a campaign post that he is running for Pike County Constable District 2 because he wants to serve and protect his community, per Billy Kendrick campaign Facebook page. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Billy Kendrick (R) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list.
Full race pageConstable District 3Joshua Lee Little (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Joshua Lee Little
Joshua Lee Little filed as the Republican candidate for Pike County Constable District 3 for the 2026 election cycle, per Mountain Top Media candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Joshua Lee Little (R) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list.
Full race pageConstable District 4Keith A. Meadows (R) · Robert Thacker (D)
Keith A. Meadows
Keith A. Meadows filed as a Republican candidate for Pike County Constable in the 2026 election cycle, per Mountain Top Media candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Robert Thacker
Robert Thacker ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for Pike County Constable District 4, per Mountain Top Media candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Contested: Keith A. Meadows (R) faces Robert Thacker (D) on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list. Not researched within this session's search budget.
Full race pageConstable District 5Gary C.J. Tomlin (R) · Harold Prater (D)
Gary C.J. Tomlin
Gary C.J. Tomlin filed as a Republican candidate for Pike County Constable District 5 for the 2026 election cycle, per Mountain Top Media candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Harold Prater
Harold Prater filed as the Democratic candidate for Pike County Constable District 5 for the 2026 election cycle, per Mountain Top Media candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Contested: Gary C.J. Tomlin (R) faces Harold Prater (D) on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list. Not researched within this session's search budget.
Full race pageConstable District 6Jody W. Bailey (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Jody W. Bailey
Jody W. Bailey filed as the Republican candidate for Pike County Constable District 6 for the 2026 election cycle, per Mountain Top Media candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Jody W. Bailey (R) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list.
Full race pageSchool board
Board of Education, Division 1Nonpartisan race · Madison Thomas Compton · Donald Thornsbury
Madison Thomas Compton and Donald Thornsbury are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Pike County Board of Education, Division 1.
Madison Thomas Compton
Madison Thomas Compton is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Pike County Board of Education, Division 1, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's candidate filings. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Donald Thornsbury
Donald Thornsbury is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Pike County Board of Education, Division 1, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's candidate filings. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Nonpartisan Pike County Board of Education seat on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot; 2 filers per the Secretary of State candidate filings.
Full race pageBoard of Education, Division 4Nonpartisan race · Dr. Joshua Leonard
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Dr. Joshua Leonard is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Pike County Board of Education, Division 4.
Dr. Joshua Leonard
Dr. Joshua Leonard filed for Pike County Board of Education, Division 4 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State candidate filings (filed 5/22/2026). No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Nonpartisan Pike County Board of Education seat on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot; one filer, unopposed per the Secretary of State candidate filings.
Full race pagePikeville Independent Board of EducationNonpartisan race · Kevin W Pugh · Brittany Carter Ratliff · Joe Ray Thornbury
Kevin W Pugh, Brittany Carter Ratliff and Joe Ray Thornbury are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Pikeville Independent Board of Education.
Kevin W Pugh
Kevin Pugh is a current member of the Pikeville Independent Board of Education, per Pikeville Independent Board of Education meeting records. They are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Pikeville Independent Board of Education. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Brittany Carter Ratliff
Brittany Ratliff is a current member of the Pikeville Independent Board of Education, per Pikeville Independent Board of Education meeting records. They are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Pikeville Independent Board of Education. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Joe Ray Thornbury
Joe Ray Thornbury is the chairman of the Pikeville Independent Board of Education, per Pikeville Independent Board of Education meeting records. They are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Pikeville Independent Board of Education. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Nonpartisan Pikeville Independent Board of Education seat on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot; 3 filers per the Secretary of State candidate filings.
Full race pageJudges
Judge/ExecutiveSuzy Gibson Shearer (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Suzy Gibson Shearer
Suzy Gibson Shearer is an attorney and a 2003 graduate of the Appalachian School of Law, with experience in criminal prosecutions and civil litigation, according to the law school and the News-Express. Her mother, Karen Gibson, previously served as Pike County Judge Executive, and Shearer would become only the second woman to hold the office, per the News-Express. Shearer is unopposed on the November ballot for Pike County Judge Executive. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Open seat: Suzy Gibson Shearer (R) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's county candidate filing list. The sitting judge/executive, Ray S. Jones II (per the Pike County government officials page), did not file for the November 2026 ballot. A different Republican filer, Kenneth Reed "Reed" Adkins, withdrew from this race (per the SOS list).
Full race pageDistrict Judge, 35th Judicial District, Division 1Nonpartisan race · Robert F. Wright
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Robert F. Wright
Robert F. Wright serves as the District Court judge for the 35th Judicial District, Division 1, per the Kentucky Court of Justice. No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.
Robert F. Wright is the only name on the ballot for this seat; Kentucky prints unopposed candidates, so the race is on the November 3, 2026 ballot but is not contested. Voters across the 35th Judicial District (Pike) vote on this seat. Kentucky judicial elections are nonpartisan; a primary narrows the field only when three or more candidates file for a seat. Listed from the Kentucky Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate filings list.
Full race pageDistrict Judge, 35th Judicial District, Division 2Nonpartisan race · Tommy "T. J." May
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Tommy "T. J." May
Tommy "T. J." May serves as the District Court judge for the 35th Judicial District, Division 2, per the Kentucky Court of Justice. No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.
Tommy "T. J." May is the only name on the ballot for this seat; Kentucky prints unopposed candidates, so the race is on the November 3, 2026 ballot but is not contested. Voters across the 35th Judicial District (Pike) vote on this seat. Kentucky judicial elections are nonpartisan; a primary narrows the field only when three or more candidates file for a seat. Listed from the Kentucky Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate filings list.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Pike County is split across 4 Kentucky House districts.
Find your districts by addressKentucky House: 4 districtsDistricts 92, 94, 95, 97
Kentucky House District 92John Blanton (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
John Blanton
John Blanton is the incumbent Republican state representative for Kentucky House District 92, according to the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission's member roster. No campaign website or independent biographical source was found as of September 8, 2026.
John Blanton (Republican) is on the November 3 ballot for Kentucky House District 92; John Blanton is the sitting member, per the General Assembly roster (legislature.ky.gov). Party nominees were chosen at the May 19 primary (plurality, no runoffs); independent and minor-party candidates qualified by petition. The field is the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate filings list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot. John Blanton is the only candidate on the ballot for this seat; unopposed candidates still appear on Kentucky ballots, so the race is on the November 3 ballot but is not contested.
Full race pageKentucky House District 94Mitchum Addison Whitaker (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Mitchum Addison Whitaker
Mitchum Addison Whitaker is the incumbent Republican state representative for Kentucky House District 94, according to the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission's member roster. No campaign website or independent biographical source was found as of September 8, 2026.
Mitchum Addison Whitaker (Republican) is on the November 3 ballot for Kentucky House District 94; Mitchum Addison Whitaker is the sitting member, per the General Assembly roster (legislature.ky.gov). Party nominees were chosen at the May 19 primary (plurality, no runoffs); independent and minor-party candidates qualified by petition. The field is the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate filings list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot. Mitchum Addison Whitaker is the only candidate on the ballot for this seat; unopposed candidates still appear on Kentucky ballots, so the race is on the November 3 ballot but is not contested.
Full race pageKentucky House District 95Tanner Hesterberg (R) · Johnny Ray Turner (D)
Tanner Hesterberg
Tanner Hesterberg is the Republican nominee for Kentucky House District 95 in the November 2026 general election, according to the Kentucky Secretary of State's certified candidate filings. No campaign website or independent biographical source was found as of September 8, 2026.
Johnny Ray Turner
Johnny Ray Turner is the Democratic nominee for Kentucky House District 95 in the November 2026 general election, according to the Kentucky Secretary of State's certified candidate filings. No campaign website or independent biographical source was found as of September 8, 2026.
Tanner Hesterberg (Republican), Johnny Ray Turner (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Kentucky House District 95. Not on the November ballot: Ashley Tackett Laferty, the sitting member per the roster. Party nominees were chosen at the May 19 primary (plurality, no runoffs); independent and minor-party candidates qualified by petition. The field is the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate filings list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageKentucky House District 97Bobby W. McCool (R) · Rebekah D. Skaggs (D)
Bobby W. McCool
Bobby W. He faces Democrat Rebekah Skaggs in November. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Rebekah D. Skaggs
Top priorities
From other published sources
- Describes her campaign mission as restoring "common sense and integrity to Frankfort", per Paintsville Herald, from her campaign announcement
About Rebekah D. Skaggs
Skaggs spent 32 years as a classroom teacher in Johnson County Schools and was named Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year in 2008, per the campaign site. Skaggs holds a bachelor's and master's degree from Morehead State University in elementary education and reading, and served as a Kentucky Education Association Uniserv director from 2011 to 2020, per the campaign site. Skaggs is president of the Johnson County Democratic Women's Club, per the campaign site.
Bobby W. McCool (Republican), Rebekah D. Skaggs (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Kentucky House District 97; Bobby W. McCool is the sitting member, per the General Assembly roster (legislature.ky.gov). Party nominees were chosen at the May 19 primary (plurality, no runoffs); independent and minor-party candidates qualified by petition. The field is the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate filings list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageVoting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Kentucky party nominees were chosen at the May 19 primary (plurality, no runoffs); independent and minor-party candidates qualified by petition, and the field is the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate filings list (web.sos.ky.gov/CandidateFilings). Kentucky prints unopposed candidates; declared write-in candidates never print. Kentucky elects its statewide constitutional officers in odd-numbered years, so no governor or row-office race is on this ballot; county officers (judge/executive, clerk, sheriff, attorney, jailer, magistrates, PVA and coroner) run in 2026 and file with county clerks.
Who is on the ballot in Pike County, Kentucky on November 3, 2026?
Pike County sample ballot 2026: who is running for magistrate, county clerk and county jailer, with bios, priorities and campaign sites. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Kentucky?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Kentucky are listed on the Kentucky election hub. Kentucky election hub →
How do I see my exact Pike County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
Sample ballot by ZIP code in Pike County37 ZIP codes
Candidate roster last updated Oct 14, 2026 from official election sources.