County

County Judge/Executive, McCracken County

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

What this office does: The county judge/executive is the county's chief executive: presides over the fiscal court, prepares the county budget and runs county government.

Candidates Compare by issue

George P. Bray

Independent

Mayor of Paducah

The gist

Pledges collaborative leadership that involves every commissioner
Pledges city-county cooperation rather than a government merger
Supports an AI data center to redevelop DOE Paducah Site
Supports voluntary annexations so Paducah can keep growing

More about George

View sources (3)

Pledges collaborative leadership that involves every commissioner
Bray, Clymer ramp up for McCracken judge executive race
News coverage · WPSD Local 6 · May 20, 2026 · wpsdlocal6.com
“I involve all of my commissioners in decision making, because I know better than most that it takes three votes to get anything done”
Pledges city-county cooperation rather than a government merger
Bray, Clymer ramp up for McCracken judge executive race
News coverage · WPSD Local 6 · May 20, 2026 · wpsdlocal6.com
“he wants to encourage more collaboration between city and county government on projects like the Southside Revitalization Plan”
Clymer accuses Bray of consolidation agenda in judge executive race
News coverage · WPSD Local 6 · Apr 15, 2026 · wpsdlocal6.com
“while he is not running with the intent of merging governments, he would use the position to drive more cooperation”
Supports an AI data center to redevelop DOE Paducah Site
Project leaders share details of DOE Paducah Site's $100B AI energy hub
News coverage · WPSD Local 6 · Jul 29, 2026 · wpsdlocal6.com
“We believe that this is the next step in U.S. energy dominance. We have a responsibility to redevelop this site.”
Supports voluntary annexations so Paducah can keep growing
Clymer accuses Bray of consolidation agenda in judge executive race
News coverage · WPSD Local 6 · Apr 15, 2026 · wpsdlocal6.com
“we need the city to grow in order for the county to prosper … We certainly have not done anything but voluntary annexations.”

Craig Zeiss Clymer

RepublicanIncumbent

McCracken County judge/executive

The gist

Pledges to keep cutting, then end, the insurance premium tax
Opposes merging Paducah and McCracken County governments
Opposes Paducah annexing county property
Supports the planned AI data center at DOE Paducah Site

More about Craig

View sources (3)

Pledges to keep cutting, then end, the insurance premium tax
McCracken County judge executive Republican candidates speak at Paducah Chamber forum
News coverage · WPSD Local 6 · May 12, 2026 · wpsdlocal6.com
“We don't like the tax, but we're getting rid of it”
Opposes merging Paducah and McCracken County governments
Clymer accuses Bray of consolidation agenda in judge executive race
News coverage · WPSD Local 6 · Apr 15, 2026 · wpsdlocal6.com
“I don't think there's any way in the world that the county folks want to do that.”
Opposes Paducah annexing county property
Clymer accuses Bray of consolidation agenda in judge executive race
News coverage · WPSD Local 6 · Apr 15, 2026 · wpsdlocal6.com
“I've been trying to try to stand in the way of that, frankly, because the county needs to grow as well.”
Supports the planned AI data center at DOE Paducah Site
Project leaders share details of DOE Paducah Site's $100B AI energy hub
News coverage · WPSD Local 6 · Jul 29, 2026 · wpsdlocal6.com
“It's going to bring massive wealth into our county and community, so we're really excited about that.”

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; 3 issues covered in this race.