KNEE DEEP…Are we really having an election this year?

Are we really having an election this year?

There’s no TRUMP on the ticket but conservatives still have the ballot almost clear in the November 3, 2026 General election in Lawrence County. The most glaring fact is most of the $100,000 a year courthouse jobs have no competition from the Democrat side or the Independents. Wonder if this is a plus or minus in our route to progress?

Despite the low number of competitive races, Lawrence Clerk Chris Jobe said Monday that absentee voting has been brisk and he expects a better turnout than when the ballot first came out. “It seems like we’re getting more absentee requests this year,” Jobe said. “Actually more than we expected with the short ballot.”

Like the majority of Lawrence County taxpayers I personally like the courthouse officials but I’m old enough to remember the days when rigorous fights for candidates was the norm. Seems like Johnson County still has competitive races for major county offices and so do Carter and Boyd. Only neighboring Martin County has no Democrat registered for the Fall.

The top of the ballot is U.S. Senator where GOP Andy Barr, a heavy Trump supporter, will face Democrat Charles Booker who was on the campaign list four years ago, to replace the retiring Mitch MConnell. Christopher Campbell is the third party candidate. My pick to win… Andy Barr.

Once again longtime Republican Hal Rogers will seek re-election as  U.S. Representative. Rogers does have more than token opposition from legal rights advocate and Democrat Ned Pillarsdorf this time around. The Prestonsburg attorney has a  following throughout the district from Social Security recipients he helped during the Eric Conn case. My pick to win is Hal Rogers… but the term limits poster boy has less than usual support.

From there it’s all incumbents with no opposition for state rep. Scott Sharp, County atty. Johnny Osborne, Co. Clerk Chris Jobe, County PVA Chris Rose, County sheriff, Chuck Jackson, County jailer Roger Jordan, County surveyor, Cliff West. All are Republicans and all but Jordan and West make at least $100,000 a year. I pick all of them to win.

At the bottom of the ticket is the only local county-wide race, for county Coroner which has Republican Sam Muncy facing Democrat Melissa Moore, who is currently serving as assistant coroner under incumbent Wes Heston who did not seek re-election. GOP Muncy could win this job because of the heavy straight Republican ticket.

Running for magistrate are GOP Todd Moran facing Democrat Dave York in District 4 and Republican Brian Jordan will run against Democrat John Tony Lester in the 3rd magisterial district and GOP Josh Trout will have opposition from Democrat George Howell in District 1. I pick Josh Trout, Brian Jordan and Todd Moran to work with Dist 2 winner Alan Scaggs who had no opposition this Fall from the Democrats.

MAYOR’S RACE

IN THE CITY’S NON PARTISAN ELECTION ALL SIX OF THE CANDIDATES WHO SIGNED UP WILL BE ELECTED AS THERE ARE SIX SEATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL (See Below) I pick them all to win.

Incumbent mayor Harold Slone faces newcomer Cory Vanhoose in the non-partisan mayor’s race. Slone should win this in a runaway.

Also of interest is the lone BOE race between incumbent Madelynn Roberts and challenger Jason Marcum in District 1. Don’t know Marcum but Madelyn will prolly win a close one here. The BOE will have a new member after veteran Garnett Skaggs decided to retire from the board. Her replacement will be Chris Williams, the lone candidate who filed.

The judicial branch has District Judge John T. Chaffin and Circuit judge J. Kevin Holbrook both running unopposed.

The ballot question concerning the governor’s power to pardon criminals could be interesting but I figure the “No” votes will be on top since Kentucky voters are usually resistant to change and this one hasn’t been explained to the public well enough.

How do you pick em?