HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – There are currently three candidates running for mayor of Hopkinsville in the May 2026 primary as of Dec. 24. Natasha Francis is the most recently candidate who has filed with Christian County, previously serving on the Hopkinsville City Council for Ward 1. She will be running as a Republican against the current mayor, J.R. Knight, and Christian County Magistrate Russ Guffey.
The final day for candidates to file for candidacy is on Jan. 9 at 4 p.m. This election includes seats for Christian County Judge Executive, magistrates, city council, and Christian County Sheriff. In the last few days, a few additional candidates have filed for fiscal court and city council as the deadline approaches.
Here are the candidates that have officially filed for office in Christian County as of Dec. 24.
Hopkinsville Mayor
- James R. Knight, R
- Russ Guffey, R
- Natasha Francis, R
Christian County Judge Executive
- Jerry Gilliam, R
Christian County Sheriff
- Tyler DeArmond, R
- Erik Pacheco, R
Jailer
- Adam Smith, R
Hopkinsville City Council
- Vance Smith, R – 1st District
- Donald Marsh, R – 3rd District
- Terry Parker, R – 4th District
- Travis Martin, R – 6th District
- Clayton Sumner, R – 7th District
- Brittanie Bogard, R – 9th District
- Michael Velez, R – 10th District
- Andrea Santos Rickard, D – 11th District
- Elizabeth Draude, R, – 11th District
Christian County Magistrate
- Magaline Ferguson, D – 1st District
- Josh Turner, R – 2nd District
- Tana Loden, R – 3rd District
- George Barnett, R – 3rd District
- J.E. Pryor, R – 4th District
- Austin Crawford, R – 5th District
- James Smith, R – 5th District
- Phillip Peterson, R – 6th District
- Todd Morris, R – 7th District
- John Heltsley, R – 7th District
- John Bruce, R – 8th District
- Lucas Stagner, R – 8th District
Christian County Attorney
- Lincoln Foster, R
Constable
- Brian Diamond, R – 8th District
- Sherry Byerline, R – 7th District
Coroner
- Scott Daniel, R
County Clerk
- Melinda Humphries, R
Property Valuation Administrator
- Amber Ezell, R
- Tabitha Pryor Strader, R