Local races decided in the May primary
Daviess County's 2026 ballot is one of the largest in its history, with nearly every race contested, according to Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce president Dave Kirk. Even so, the Messenger-Inquirer reports that some local contests will effectively be settled in the May 19 primary because only one party fielded candidates, with the primary winner taking office in January 2027. That raises questions about whether the current primary-and-general structure gives all county voters a meaningful say.
Should Daviess County change how local elections work when races are effectively decided in one party's primary?
Tap a point along the line below to show where you stand.
How important is this to you?
✓ You told us where you stand
Sources
https://www.messenger-inquirer.com/news/local/slates-for-local-regional-2026-primary-elections-set/article_6736c5bc-7583-55e3-8edd-a5202e37cb9e.html
With no Democrat in the race, the primary winner will take office in January 2027.
Dave Kirk, Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce president and CEO — https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/chamber-commerce-hosting-candidate-forums-035900409.html
When you look at the ticket this year in Daviess County, it's one of the largest in our history, with nearly every race contested
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Adopt reforms like nonpartisan or ranked-choice ballots so every voter helps decide every local race.
- Support public financing and civic recruitment so more candidates from underrepresented parties can run.
- Keep the system but urge both parties to field candidates in every local race so primaries don't decide outcomes.
- Keep the current system as is; contested primaries still give engaged voters a real choice.
- No change is needed; one-party outcomes simply reflect the county's conservative electorate.