Nelson County, Kentucky

Nelson County Judge/Executive

2 candidates are tracked for Nelson County Judge/Executive on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Tim Hutchins and James Taylor "JT" Roby. Candidate information follows official Nelson County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Tim Hutchins, the incumbent, won the Republican primary with about 66% of the vote over Don Thrasher, per the Bardstown Bulletin's report on the Nelson County Clerk's official results. James Taylor "JT" Roby won a three-candidate Democratic primary with about 64% of the vote over Benjamin Corder and Shameca Ashby, per the same report. Hutchins and Roby meet in the November 3, 2026 general election.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Every voter in Nelson County votes on this seat. The sitting officeholder, Tim Hutchins, is on the ballot.

Kentucky › Nelson County › Nelson County Judge/Executive

Tim Hutchins

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities

Keeping county government fiscally conservative with low taxes
Fully supporting police, fire, and emergency medical services
Improving roads and expanding sewer and water infrastructure

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Hutchins owns Handy Food Mart, a local business he has run since 1972, per the campaign site. He previously served 17 years as Nelson County's 4th District Magistrate and completed four terms on the Fiscal Court, per the campaign site. A Nelson County native, he has spent decades in local business ownership, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

James Taylor "JT" Roby

Democratic

Top priorities

A public, easy-to-read tracking system for county spending
Repairing high-traffic roads and expanding broadband access
Modern equipment and competitive pay for first responders

Per the campaign site.

Biography

James Taylor "JT" Roby is a special education teacher at Nelson County High School and a lifelong resident of Bardstown, according to The Kentucky Standard. He is the Democratic nominee for Nelson County Judge/Executive and has campaigned on fiscal transparency, road and broadband infrastructure, and support for local first responders, per the same report. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Next on your ballotNelson County Clerk

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Nelson County Judge/Executive in 2026?

When is the Nelson County Judge/Executive 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 Nelson 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 Nelson County and state election office filings, last verified October 2, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Nelson County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Nelson County Attorney Nelson County Sheriff Nelson County Jailer See all 20 Nelson County races

Candidate profiles

Tim Hutchins, full profile James Taylor "JT" Roby, full profile Official Kentucky election office