Hopkinsville, KYVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Hopkinsville Mayor & City Council Election 2026

6 of 12

council seats up

7 contests

15 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Mayor · 1 seat

City Council Ward 1 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 5 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 8 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 9 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 10 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 11 · 1 seat

Voters citywide pick between a Republican and a Democrat in each of six wards (1, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11), plus a three-way race for mayor.

5 notes on these statements

Russ Guffey defeated sitting Mayor James R. Knight in the May Republican primary for Hopkinsville mayor. Christian County Now

Council incumbents Vance Smith, Brittanie Bogard and Mike Velez lost May primaries; Jamie Lienberger and Steve Keel, former Ward 9 and Ward 10 representatives, respectively, won. WHOP · May 19, 2026

Marie Hughes was appointed to the Ward 5 council seat after Amy Craig’s resignation and faces Anna Norris in the November election. Christian County Now · Jul 7, 2026

Six other wards are not contested in November: Adrian Bruce (Ward 2), Donald Marsh (Ward 3), Terry Parker (Ward 4), Travis Martin (Ward 6), Clayton Sumner (Ward 7) and Elizabeth Draude (Ward 12) had no opponents after the May primary. WHOP · May 19, 2026

League of Women Voters debate forums for Hopkinsville City Council candidates in Wards 8, 9, 10 and 11 were scheduled for Monday at Hopkinsville City Hall. WHOP · Oct 2, 2026

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesData centers, Fire stations, Flock camerasKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Online mail-in absentee request portal closes (11:59 p.m.)

Tue, Oct 20, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Data centers

Where it standsThe city has no data center rules yet; a draft zoning amendment is still being revised at the Planning Commission.

What's on the tableWhether and where data centers are allowed, with what setbacks and standards.

  • Hopkinsville's existing zoning ordinance does not define data centers or list them as an allowable use. Kentucky New Era
  • The Planning Commission sent the draft amendment back to its Plan Review Committee, and the City Council has final authority over whether the ordinance changes. Kentucky New Era
  • The draft would require small data centers to have a 50-foot setback and 300-foot separation from adjoining residential, public or quasi-public uses, and larger ones 100 to 150 feet and 500 feet. Kentucky New Era

Fire stations

Where it standsA feasibility study recommended a sixth station near Commerce Park and upgrades or replacement for three others.

What's on the tableFunding and timing for new and upgraded fire stations.

  • A feasibility study for the Hopkinsville Fire Department recommended a sixth fire station in the Commerce Park area and significant upgrades or replacement for three others. Christian County Now
  • The council voted unanimously to buy a 10-acre parcel at 101 Walton Way for $2.5 million for a fire station; the study recommended two new stations. Hoptown Chronicle

Flock cameras

Where it standsFlock cameras are in use and were a point of disagreement among the three mayoral candidates at the October 1 forum.

What's on the tableWhether and under what control the city uses Flock cameras.

  • At the October 1 forum, Guffey said Flock cameras can help locate missing people but should be locally controlled, Wilkerson raised racial-profiling concerns, and Vansauwa opposed their use. WHOP · Oct 1, 2026
  • Guffey said he learned from Flock that data ownership depends on who installs the camera. Christian County Now

City planning and development staff

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council voted to move most Community Development Services operations into city government.

What's on the tableHow the city runs planning, zoning and downtown programs.

  • At a special meeting, the second reading of the budget amendments passed 8-3, with Councilmember Vance Smith abstaining. Christian County Now
  • CDS keeps planning and zoning work, and its employees can apply for equivalent city positions rather than transferring automatically. Christian County Now

Council pay

Where it standsThe council approved a one-time 3% raise that takes effect for the term starting after the 2026 election.

What's on the tableCouncil pay in later years.

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. How should Hopkinsville handle data center proposals?

  2. 2. What should Hopkinsville do about Flock cameras?

  3. 3. How should the city respond to the fire department study?

  4. 4. How should the city address homelessness?

  5. 5. Where should city planning and development programs sit?

  6. 6. How should council pay change for the next term?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 6 on this ballot

12 council seats. The council decides by a 7-vote majority.

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