Oldham County, Kentucky

Oldham County Judge/Executive

One candidate is tracked for Oldham County Judge/Executive on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Robert Houchens. Candidate information follows official Oldham County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Open seat: current Judge/Executive David Voegele (per the county's official page) did not file for another term. Robert Houchens won a five-way May 19, 2026 Republican primary with 4,401 votes (39.86%), ahead of John W. Black (2,940, 26.63%), Laura Tapp (2,114, 19.15%), Tom Sheffer (806, 7.30%) and Chris Haunz (779, 7.06%), per the clerk's official cumulative results. No Democratic or independent candidate filed for this office per the clerk's April 2026 filing list; Houchens is expected to be unopposed in November pending the posted composite ballot.

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 Oldham County votes on this seat. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

Kentucky › Oldham County › Oldham County Judge/Executive

Robert Houchens

Republican

Top priorities

Lower property taxes for county residents
Pro-growth development balanced with preserving the county's rural and historic character

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Robert Houchens is a small business owner and certified public accountant with a background in public and private accounting, according to the Oldham Era. He has served on Oldham County's Board of Adjustments and Appeals for more than ten years and chairs the board of the nonprofit Operation Parent, per the same report. Houchens is the Republican nominee for Oldham County Judge Executive; the county's official Judge Executive's Office page identifies David Voegele, not Houchens, as the sitting officeholder.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotOldham County Clerk

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

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

When is the Oldham 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 Oldham 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 Oldham 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 Oldham County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Oldham County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Oldham County Sheriff Oldham County Attorney Oldham County Jailer See all 32 Oldham County races

Candidate profiles

Robert Houchens, full profile Official Kentucky election office