Incumbents file for Fayette County offices. One race will have primary this spring
Most of Fayette County’s top elected leaders have no opposition to winning new terms in 2026.
Fayette County Judge-Executive Mary Diane McCord Hanna faces Mike Pickard, a teacher who previously ran as a Democrat in the 45th state House race in 2020, in the Tuesday, May 19 Democratic primary. Hanna was first elected to the position in 2022.
As of close of filing Friday, no Republican had filed for the seat — meaning the Democratic primary this spring will produce an uncontested election for the seat in the fall.
Because of the merged city-county government, the Fayette County judge-executive and the Fayette Fiscal Court in Lexington has limited power compared to the position elsewhere in the commonwealth. Among the powers the position retains, the Fayette County judge-executive can appoint someone to fill an unexpired county term.
The fiscal court was also thrust into the spotlight in 2025 after Fayette County Public Schools floated raising the occupational tax, or the tax on wages. The fiscal court has to approve any occupational tax increase.
The court didn’t get to consider the change, however. After public push back, the school system dropped the proposed tax increase.
Who is running unopposed for county-level seats in Lexington?
Other incumbent Fayette County officials will run unopposed this year.
Longtime Fayette County Sheriff Kathy Witt drew no challengers. Witt was first elected in 1998, and in 2022, she easily beat Christopher Holliday with 70% of the vote.
Fayette County Clerk Susan Lamb and Fayette County Attorney Angela Evans also have no opponents. Lamb was appointed in January 2023 when former clerk Don Blevins Jr. stepped down from the position. She easily won reelection later that year, beating Republican challenger Dawn Perkins with 67% of the vote.
Evans beat longtime Fayette County Attorney Larry Roberts during the May 2022 Democratic primary. Both Evans and Lamb are former Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council members.
Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn and Fayette County Property Value Administrator David O’Neill are also unopposed.
