By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 — While Wednesday, Nov. 5th is the first day candidates can file as a candidate for office, candidates have been vying for position for weeks making unofficial announcements they intend to run for office.
With state Sen. Jimmy Higdon’s announcement that he won’t seek re-election, a number of hopefuls in the Republican Party have stepped forward and plan to seek to replace him in the state Senate.
The “Republican Fall Fling” held on Saturday brought Republicans out to meet and greet constituents on the eve of the official filing date, including candidates for U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell’s seat as well as members of the general assembly who seek election.
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron were on hand, shaking hands and speaking with as many people as possible. Each candidate was setup with a table packed with stickers, buttons and campaign literature.
In his comments, Cameron said he had what it took to support the President’s agenda and to combat the “woke” liberal agenda that’s pushed by the Democratic Party.
Rep. Andy Barr cited his record of running against a strong Democrat — former U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler — and winning despite the heavily Democratic parts of the 6th Congressional District.
He said he had what it took to take on Democratic candidate Amy McGrath and win. Kentucky needs a common sense senator who will follow the will of his constituents, he said.
Michael Faris is also a candidate for McConnell’s U.S. Senate seat. The Indiana native has been a Kentucky resident for years and grew up on a farm in Meade County.
When COVID hit in 2018, as an employee of the air transportation industry, he was required to wear a mask, which he said was a prime example of “federal overreach.”
Despite the requirement, he had what he believed was an exemption due to a diagnosed medical condition, his airline required him to wear a mask. His refusal to wear a mask eventually led to his name being placed on a TSA terrorist watch list, he told the crowd. His lawsuits related to that action are still in litigation.
Republican candidate Nate Morris, also seeking McConnell’s U.S. Senate seat, did not attend the gathering of GOP voters from LaRue, Nelson, Marion, Spencer and Washington counties.
14th DISTRICT STATE SENATE CANDIDATES. Stephen Carney is a Washington County magistrate, farmer and businessman seeking to serve as the district’s new senator.
Carney said he is running on a platform of support for law and order, fiscal responsiblity and limited government. He pointed to his years of conservative leadership as a member of Washington County Fiscal Court as proof of what he stands for.
He said issues that come before the General Assembly should be viewed through the three “lenses” or pillars of his campaign — law and order, fiscal responsibility and limited government.
Doing so insures that our governmet will govern based on core conservative, Christian pro-life values and the U.S. Constitution, he said.
Pharmacist Ben Mudd who operates a phramacy in Springfield is also seeking to replace Higdon.
He is executive director of the state pharmacy board, a move he said he made after seeing insurance companies take advantage of his patients, and how those same companies make it difficult for independent pharmacies to remain open.
He said communities need to partner with bourbon companies and take advantage of the economic benefits bourbon tourism brings.
Health care is another matter, particular the cost of state-funded Medicaid insurance that helps the poor in Kentucky. Nearly half of the babies born in Kentucky are on Medicaid the day they are born, he said. The state needs to help grow the economy so people will be able to leave Medicaid and move to employer-provided health insurance.
Dallas Robinson is a farmer and businessman who decided to run for office in order to help continue Sen. Jimmy Higdon’s legacy of serving the 14th Senate district.
James Victery is a field representative who serves in U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie’s office. He said he was proud of the growth in the county GOP, and his role in that growth.
Victery said he was running on three main issues.
The first is property taxes, modify Title I school funding criteria so Nelson and other counties will receive their fair share, and to help farmers who wind up with high costs to farm and end up with low returns on the sales of their crops.
NELSON COUNTY SHERIFF. Jarren Culver plans to seek the office of Nelson County Sheriff.
Culver said he wanted to improve the working relationship of the Sheriff’s Office with KSP, local law enforcement agencies and the jail, as well as improve the transparency of the sheriff’s office. He also said there are changes needed in sheriff’s office culture that he would see to.
OTHER CANDIDATES. State Rep. Candy Massaroni is — to date — the only confirmed candidate for 50th District state representative. She spoke briefly and introduced the crowd to fellow state representatives James Tipton (District 53, Anderson and Spencer counties) and Ryan Bivens (District 24, Green, Hart and LaRue counties).
Other candidates at the event included Supreme Court Justice Debra H. Lambert, Nelson County Jailer Justin Hall, County Coroner Danielle Chladek, PVA Jay Williams, and Nelson County Judge-Executive Tim Hutchins.
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