Primaries Include Judge, City Races, State Reps

The primary election has the presidential and US Senate races front-and-center, but voters will also make choices in some local and regional races. 

In Paducah, voters will narrow the choices in nonpartisan races for mayor and city commissioner. 

George Bray, incumbent Brandi Harless and Richard Abraham are running for mayor, and the top two candidates in the primary will move on to the November general election. 

There will be three new Paducah city commissioners after November 3, since Abraham is running for mayor, Gerald Watkins has withdrawn, and Brenda McElroy is not running for re-election. Candidates are John "Buzz" Vontezmar, Mike Reed, Melinda Winchester, Lakilia Bedeau, Carol Gault, Robert Shy, Raynarldo Henderson, David Guess and incumbent Sandra Wilson. Shannon Wathen has withdrawn her candidacy.

The top eight candidates will move on to the general election, which means only one candidate will be eliminated by the primary. 

All voters in this area will choose a candidate to fill an unexpired term in the non-partisan race for Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge for the 1st Appellate District. The candidates are recently-appointed incumbent Chris McNeill of Paducah, attorney Jenny Hines of Paducah, and Judge C. Rene' Williams of Dixon. Candidate Jason Coltharp has withdrawn. The top two candidates in this primary will be on the November ballot. 

In Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, Hickman and part of McCracken County, Republicans will choose the 1st District State Representative between incumbent Steven Rudy and challenger Carroll Hubbard. No Democratic candidates filed to run for this office. 

Voters in Marshall and Calloway counties will choose the Family Court Judge to fill an unexpired term for the 42nd Circuit, 2nd Division. Candidates in the non-partisan race are Ryan R. Yates, Stephanie Perlow, and Catherine S. Fuller. 

Democrats in Lyon, Marshall and part of McCracken counties will select a candidate to face incumbent State Representative Chris Freeland in November's general election. The candidates are Linda Story Edwards and Al Cunningham.

Several candidates are running unopposed in their primaries, so the November general election ballot will have more races for voters to decide.