Franklin County, Kentucky

Franklin County Magistrate - 5th District

2 candidates are tracked for Franklin County Magistrate - 5th District on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Richard Tanner and John Hibbard. Candidate information follows official Franklin County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Richard Tanner, the incumbent, filed for the Democratic nomination and faced no primary opponent, per the Franklin County Clerk's candidate filings and the State Journal. John Hibbard filed for the Republican nomination and also faced no primary opponent. Tanner and Hibbard meet in the November 3, 2026 general election.

What this office does

Justice of the peace. Justices of the peace handle the lowest-level court matters: small claims, evictions, traffic and minor criminal cases, and, in some states, marriages and inquests. The office is part of the judiciary, so candidates are limited in what they may promise.

Kentucky › Franklin County › Franklin County Magistrate - 5th District

Richard Tanner

Democratic

Top priorities

Increased funding and modern equipment for first responders
Completing water and sewer infrastructure revitalization in the Farmdale area
Supporting affordable housing initiatives in downtown and other areas of the district

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Tanner is the sitting Fifth District Magistrate on the Franklin County Fiscal Court, seeking re-election to a second term, per Richard Tanner campaign site. Tanner is a military veteran and Murray State University graduate who spent more than 20 years as executive director of the Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association, per Richard Tanner campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

John Hibbard

Republican

Biography

John Hibbard is a 1993 graduate of Madison Central High School and holds a political science degree from the University of Kentucky, per his campaign site. He began his career in financial services in 2003 and has spent the past 18 years at Edward Jones, per his campaign site. He has served on the Chamber of Commerce board and with the Franklin County Humane Society since 2015, including two years as its president, and has coached youth football for nine years, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotFranklin County Magistrate - 6th District

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Franklin County Magistrate - 5th District in 2026?

When is the Franklin County Magistrate - 5th District election in Kentucky?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Kentucky are on the Kentucky election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Franklin County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Franklin County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Kentucky election office, or see the full Franklin County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Franklin County ballot

28 tracked races in Franklin County, Kentucky. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Franklin County Constable - 1st District Franklin County Constable - 2nd District Franklin County Constable - 3rd District See all 28 Franklin County races

Candidate profiles

Richard Tanner, full profile John Hibbard, full profile Official Kentucky election office