County

County Judge/Executive, Marion County

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The county judge/executive is Marion County's chief executive and leads the fiscal court: the judge/executive develops the county budget, oversees county policies and represents the county to the state and federal governments.

Candidates Compare by issue

Joe Strong

Republican

The gist

Pledges to treat the office as public service, not power
Supports uniting residents across political and social divides

More about Joe

View sources (1)

Pledges to treat the office as public service, not power
Judge Executive candidates debate before upcoming election
News coverage · The Lebanon Enterprise · Apr 15, 2026 · pmg-ky2.com
“First and foremost it is a public service position, not a position of power, so it has to be taken seriously.”
Supports uniting residents across political and social divides
Judge Executive candidates debate before upcoming election
News coverage · The Lebanon Enterprise · Apr 15, 2026 · pmg-ky2.com
“Uniting immigrants, Republicans, the left, right, whatever you want to call it, male, female, black, white, and do what's right.”

David Daugherty

DemocraticIncumbent

The gist

Supports pursuing grants to free county money for services
Secured funding to repair four county bridges
Supported building a new animal shelter and health department

More about David

View sources (1)

Supports pursuing grants to free county money for services
Judge Executive candidates debate before upcoming election
News coverage · The Lebanon Enterprise · Apr 15, 2026 · pmg-ky2.com
“whenever you get a grant, it frees up the money that you got, to do things for your people”
Secured funding to repair four county bridges
Judge Executive candidates debate before upcoming election
News coverage · The Lebanon Enterprise · Apr 15, 2026 · pmg-ky2.com
“Around the county Daugherty has secured the funds to repair four bridges”
Supported building a new animal shelter and health department
Judge Executive candidates debate before upcoming election
News coverage · The Lebanon Enterprise · Apr 15, 2026 · pmg-ky2.com
“breaking ground on a new animal shelter and health department”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 4 issues covered in this race.