Wonder where Nancy is? That’s the biggest question being asked at the post office and in church services in local towns and counties, but the conflict in Iran and the Middle East is quickly taking over.
In Louisa, it seems like this coming GOP Primary election, especially the executive judge’s race, is also beginning to draw notice.
76 counties will have a contested Republican primary for judge/executive. on May 19, 2026. And Lawrence County is one of them. Currently we pay the experienced judge $110,000 for the salary which usually pays just over $80,000 for a newly elected one.
After riding through Louisa this week, there seemed to be more litter signs for political candidates which is glaringly illegal but who cares, it’s that time of year and yard signs are cheap for candidates.
And on the facebook our four candidates for judge/executive are beginning to let it go! These signs are on the web and one on a billboard or two.
Since Judge/Exec. is the race most counties in Kentucky let’s start here.
- First on the ballot is Louisa is Eddie Preston, a veteran public servant who is running for the first time as a candidate. As Fire Chief Preston, 59, has a very close view of the workings of government on everyday people’s lives. He says he wants to forget political parties and work together with all involved.
- Looks like three term judge/exec Phillip Carter has a group of potential supporters including incumbent office holders who haven’t had opposition in years like Chris Rose, Roger Jordan, and powerful county clerk Chris Jobe. None of these have to say who they’re for, since they have a free ride. Also, Carter has assembled a county crew with his family members and members of other large families. He is the man to beat at this point.
- Rick Blackburn is a key figure in the BOE’s staff as Transportation Director and is a leader of the county fair board as well as a two term member of the fiscal court. He has apparently tired of the direction the court and wants to take the reins. He’s a young, energetic candidate and plenty of Carter experience in hid pocket. Question is why he has become soured on the current court?
- Perhaps the least known of the four candidates is businessman William Spradlin who ran for the same office four years ago finished with several votes. Spradlin relies on strong family backing amd a lot of politicking grass roots politics. Less signs but lots of talk.
By the numbers: Kentucky’s 2026 county primary candidates
Nearly 3,000 candidates file for county offices
With the close of the candidate filing period on Jan. 9, a clearer picture has emerged of the county-level electoral landscape heading into Kentucky’s 2026 primary election.
As of Jan. 13, 2026, there were a total of 2,994 active candidates* for county-elected offices, according to the Secretary of State’s searchable database, which can be viewed here.
Breakdown by party and office
Among the 2,994 candidates, 21.5% are Democrat (644), 78.2% are Republican (2,342) and .3% are Independent (8).
The county office with the most candidates is magistrate/commissioner with 1,476 candidates, followed by judge/executive with 328 candidates.
The county with the most candidates is Pike County, with 53 total candidates for county office, followed by Breathitt (48) and Bell (44). Greenup and Lyon counties have the fewest number of candidates, each with 11 active filings.
View the 2026 election calendar here.
Uncontested judge/executive races
In 66 counties, no Democrat candidates have filed for judge/executive, and in an additional 43 counties, only one Democrat candidate has filed. That means eleven counties have contested primaries for Democrat judge/executive candidates.
On the Republican side, four counties (Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson and Rowan) have no Republican candidates filed for judge/executive. In each of these counties, the Democrat incumbent has filed for re-election. In 40 counties, only one Republican candidate has filed. Consequently, 76 counties will have a contested Republican primary for judge/executive.
Lawrence County sample ballot 2026
Online signs including the Easter Egg Hunts have cropped up in the last weeks. The first one is sponsored by Carter allies that is shown on the FB sign below.
This one is a FB ad circulating online this week. He also has road signs that are similar in various parts of the county. He is also sponsoring a Easter Weekend Meet the Candidate rally six months before the May 19 Primary at Fallsburg this weekend..
Candidate Eddie Preston has chosen billboards in Louisa to draw attention. They look professional and expensive. Lots of voters are familiar with Preston because of his decades of service as chief of the Louisa Vol. Fire Dept.
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All candidates can send comments about the story or pics used: Please answer these questions.
- Name and personal background
- Education and/or training
- Office you are seeking and why would you be the best choice for voters
- Comments
Email them to: markgrayson@me.com
Carter’s got it in the bag.
Rick Blackburn only wants it to direct money to the fair.
Preston, would be good but not yet.
Spradlin, give it up bud