The fields have been set for the 2026 election of Woodford County offices. There will be both primary and general elections to decide the races.
The retirement of three long-serving officials, all Democrats, County Attorney Alan George, County Clerk Sandy Jones and Eighth District Magistrate Jackie Brown, guarantees new faces in those offices.
Unlike the cities of Versailles and Midway, these races are partisan, with both Republicans and Democrats fielding candidates in all but three offices. Woodford County Sheriff John Wilhoit, Woodford County Property Valuation Administrator John Paul Coyle and Fifth Magistrate William Downey, all three Democrats, drew no opposition and so will continue in office with new terms.
The top of the county ballot, Woodford County Judge-Executive, is a two-man race between the incumbent James Kay, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Michael Duckworth. This is Duckworth’s first political race.
All eight Fiscal Court magisterial districts are contested. An asterisk “*” denotes the incumbent, and appears first. The only current magistrate not running for reelection is District 8 Magistrate Jackie Brown, who is retiring from office after 20-plus years.
The candidates are:
District 1: Liles Taylor (D)*, Donald Mitchell (R); District 2: John Gentry (D)*, Adam Marshall (R) and Christopher Hooten (R). Since there are two Republicans running for this position, then there will be a primary in May with the winner moving onto the November general election; District 3: Darrell Varner (R)*, Amy Thomas Iwahara (D); District 4: Kelly Carl (D)*, Teresa Huddleston (R);
District 5: William Downey (D)*, unopposed District 6: Larry Blackford (D)*, Michael Gammper (R);
District 7: Mary Ann Gill (R)*, Joe Johnson (D); District 8: Kenneth Scott (D) and Linda Shyrock Papp (D) and Elizabeth Arrington (R). Again, since there are two Democrats running, then there will be a primary in May to decide the general election candidate
The open Woodford County Attorney’s race is set for the fall general election with no primary. Cassie Barnes (D) and Carmine Iaccarino (R) are both making their first run for elective office.
The open Woodford County Clerk seat will have a Democratic primary with two candidates, Jacqueline “Jackie” Green and Earl Littrell, and Amanda Centers is the Republican candidate.
County Jailer will be between incumbent Michele Rankin (D) and Sean Williams (R).
Since no Democrat filed, the County Coroner will be decided in the primary, where two Republicans will face off: incumbent Penny Baker and Danny Owens.
The Versailles and Midway city offices’ filing deadline is June 2, 2026.