Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Murray Mayor & City Council Election 2026

12 of 12

council seats up

2 contests

18 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.

Find a candidate

Mayor · Unopposed

Danny HudspethMurray City Council member since 1988, who also served as mayor from October 2009 to December 2010.3sourced

City Council · Vote for up to 12

William C. Adams IIINonpartisan candidate for Murray City Council, listed on the Calloway County Clerk's 2026 candidate list.1sourced
Linda AveryNonpartisan candidate for Murray City Council, listed on the Calloway County Clerk's 2026 candidate list.1sourced
Jeremy BellIncumbentMurray City Council member who said in 2024 he had served on the council for 18 years.2sourced
Holly N. Blalock-HerodNonpartisan candidate for Murray City Council, listed on the Calloway County Clerk's 2026 candidate list.1sourced
Wesley BolinIncumbentMurray High School teacher and Bolin Books co-owner who has served on the Murray City Council since 2016.3sourced
Linda CherryIncumbentMurray City Council member who taught English and science for 28 years and holds a Murray State master's degree.2sourced
Ken ClaudNonpartisan candidate for Murray City Council, listed on the Calloway County Clerk's 2026 candidate list.1sourced
Adao "AJ" CunhaNonpartisan candidate for Murray City Council, listed on the Calloway County Clerk's 2026 candidate list.1sourced
Martha R. ErwinNonpartisan candidate for Murray City Council, listed on the Calloway County Clerk's 2026 candidate list.1sourced
Marty A. FutrellNonpartisan candidate for Murray City Council, listed on the Calloway County Clerk's 2026 candidate list.1sourced
Bonnie HigginsonIncumbentMurray City Council member and former Murray State professor and administrator.3sourced
Sue HoodNonpartisan candidate for Murray City Council, listed on the Calloway County Clerk's 2026 candidate list.1sourced
Thomas Hornbuckle Jr.IncumbentNurse, veteran and small-business owner running for Murray City Council.2sourced
Monty McCuistonIncumbentMurray City Council member who runs the family business Max's 641 Towing.3sourced
Gayle RogersNonpartisan candidate for Murray City Council, listed on the Calloway County Clerk's 2026 candidate list.1sourced
Rose RossIncumbentRetired teacher serving on the Murray City Council.2sourced
Alice RouseIncumbentMurray City Council member and former publisher of the Murray Ledger & Times.2sourced

Voters citywide choose the mayor and may vote for up to 12 City Council candidates; all 12 council seats are on the ballot.

1 note on these statements

Most incumbent statements shown here come from The Murray Sentinel's 2024 candidate questionnaire and were not written for the 2026 race. The Murray Sentinel · Nov 2, 2024

Start here

Match quiz2 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesData center regulation, Affordable housing, City budget and services Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Last day to register to vote (4:00 p.m.)

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Data center regulation

Where it standsThe council unanimously approved a data center ordinance on second reading on August 13, 2026.

What's on the tableHow the city enforces and amends its data center rules, including inspections and permits.

The Murray City Council unanimously approved a data center ordinance on second reading, establishing regulations for the industry within the city. The Murray Sentinel · Aug 19, 2026
The ordinance requires facilities to submit an annual usage report, and the city can conduct compliance testing at the facility owner's expense. The Murray Sentinel · Aug 19, 2026
The council adopted a one-week moratorium on data center applications at its June 11 regular meeting. The Murray Sentinel · Jun 20, 2026

Affordable housing

Where it standsAt its June 11, 2026 meeting the council held second reading of an ordinance on qualified manufactured homes, tied to House Bill 160.

What's on the tableHow zoning and city policy treat manufactured, modular and other lower-cost housing.

The planning director said House Bill 160 requires the city to amend its zoning ordinance for qualified manufactured homes. The Murray Sentinel · Jun 15, 2026
Council member Wesley Bolin said only about 40% of Murray's residents are homeowners. The Murray Sentinel · Jun 15, 2026

City budget and services

Where it standsThe council passed the fiscal year 2027 budget on June 11, 2026, with tax rates unchanged.

What's on the tableSpending priorities, pay and building fees in the next budget.

The vote to pass the FY 2027 budget was unanimous. The Murray Sentinel · Jun 15, 2026
The finance director said tax rates were unchanged and expenses were similar to the prior year. The Murray Sentinel · Jun 15, 2026
The council amended building permit fees, which had not been updated since June 2003. The Murray Sentinel · Jun 15, 2026

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. What should happen to city park funding?
2. Should council meeting times change to make attendance easier?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Last day to register to vote (4:00 p.m.)Kentucky Online Voter RegistrationOct 5, 2026
In-person no-excuse early voting beginsKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 29, 2026
In-person no-excuse early voting endsKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 31, 2026
Election DayKentucky State Board of ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 12 on this ballot

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

The City of Murray is governed by the mayor and twelve publicly elected council members, who serve four- and two-year terms respectively. City of Murray
Council members serve a two-year term that begins January 1 after the election. City of Murray
The council meets on the second Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. Central. City of Murray
The ballot lists 'Vote for up to Twelve' for Murray City Council. Calloway County Clerk

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