2 candidates are tracked for Whitley County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Bill Elliotte and Jim Walden. Candidate information follows official Whitley County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
William "Bill" Elliotte won the Republican primary with 3,176 votes to Willard Scott Bunch's 2,795 and B. J. Leach's 218, per the Kentucky State Board of Elections' certified Whitley County primary canvass and The News Journal. No Democrat filed. Jim Walden filed as a certified write-in candidate on August 24, 2026, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's candidate filings; write-in candidates are not printed on the Kentucky ballot. Elliotte is the sitting Whitley County Sheriff, per the Whitley County Fiscal Court website.
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 Whitley County votes on this seat.
Kentucky › Whitley County › Whitley County Sheriff
Republican
Bill Elliotte is the incumbent Whitley County Sheriff, running for re-election on the November 3, 2026 ballot. He held off a strong Republican primary challenge from Willard Scott Bunch, per The News Journal. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Bill Elliotte.
Write-In
Jim Walden filed as a certified write-in candidate for Whitley County Sheriff, per the Kentucky Secretary of State's candidate filings. Write-in candidates are not printed by name on the Kentucky general election ballot. No verified campaign website was found for Walden as of September 10, 2026. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Jim Walden.
Who is running for Whitley County Sheriff in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Whitley County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Bill Elliotte and Jim Walden. Candidate information follows official Whitley County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Whitley 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 Whitley 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 Whitley County and state election office filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Kentucky election office, or see the full Whitley County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
26 tracked races in Whitley County, Kentucky. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.