2 candidates are tracked for Kenton County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Larry Shelton and Tom Collins. Candidate information follows official Kenton County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Larry Shelton (Republican) faces Tom Collins (Democratic) on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Kenton County Clerk's official 2026 General Ballot Draw. This is an open seat: sitting Sheriff Jude Hehman, who had been appointed by County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann to fill out the remainder of a predecessor's term, lost the May 19, 2026 Republican primary to Shelton.
Sheriff. The sheriff runs the county's law enforcement agency, operates the county jail, provides courthouse security and serves court papers such as warrants, subpoenas and evictions. In many counties the sheriff's office is the primary police force for areas outside city limits. The sheriff hires deputies and manages the office's budget within what the county board approves.
This race. Every voter in Kenton County votes on this seat.
Kentucky › Kenton County › Kenton County Sheriff
Top priorities
Per the campaign site.
Larry Shelton is a retired captain from the Kenton County Police Department and a licensed attorney, and is a candidate for Kenton County Sheriff, per his campaign site.
Tom Collins is a former Newport, Kentucky police chief who was born in Ludlow and has lived in Morning View since around 1990, per the LinkNKY news site. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Who is running for Kenton County Sheriff in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Kenton County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Larry Shelton and Tom Collins. Candidate information follows official Kenton County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Kenton County Sheriff 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 Kenton 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.
Candidate roster from official Kenton 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 Kenton County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
32 tracked races in Kenton County, Kentucky. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.