Where Paducah candidates stand on taxes and spending
9 sourced statements in 7 races. Every candidate in each race is listed, including those with nothing on record. Nobody is scored or ranked.
U.S. Senate
- Andy Barr (Republican)
Tax policy: His campaign lists tax cuts among his priorities. (Andy Barr for Senate — Issues)
- Charles Booker (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
- Thomas Michael Murphy (Write-In)
No public statement found in our sources.
- Christopher Campbell (Kentucky)
No public statement found in our sources.
U.S. Senate, Kentucky
- Mitch McConnell (Republican)
No public statement found in our sources.
- Jacob Trimble (Republican)
Inflation: In an announcement of his 2025 Senate campaign, Trimble’s platform included combating inflation and economic instability. The Kentucky Secretary of State’s 2026 general-election filing list does not identify him as a candidate, so this is not presented as a current general-election position. (Somerset 106, "Jacob Trimble Announces Campaign for U.S. Senate in Kentucky")
State Senate, 2nd Senatorial District
- Danny Carroll (Republican Party, incumbent)
Property taxes: He said a proposed property-tax measure would freeze the taxable value of a home for people age 65 and older, beginning when they turn 65 or purchase the home, whichever is later. (Senator Danny Carroll’s Legislative Update)
State House, 1st Representative District
- Steven Jack Rudy (Republican Party, incumbent)
Taxes and safety: Rudy says he will continue efforts to protect unborn life, create jobs, lower income taxes, oppose what he calls unconstitutional gun-control measures, and strengthen school safety. (Steven Rudy for Kentucky)
State spending: He says he will continue working to fully fund Kentucky’s pension systems, reduce what he calls wasteful spending, and limit executive power. (Steven Rudy for Kentucky)
State House, 2nd Representative District
- Kim Holloway (Republican Party, incumbent)
Income tax: Holloway said she hopes to continue working to reduce Kentucky’s income tax. (WKMS, 2026 Kentucky State House District 2 primary)
County Judge/Executive
- Craig Zeiss Clymer (Republican Party, incumbent)
Taxes and costs: He said new development revenue should allow the county to reduce taxes, and that companies should pay their fair share and cover infrastructure costs rather than shifting those costs to residents. (WKMS)
- George P. Bray (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
City Commissioners, City of Paducah (vote for up to four)
- Sandra Wilson
No public statement found in our sources.
- Robert "Buz" Smith
No public statement found in our sources.
- Raynarldo Henderson
No public statement found in our sources.
- Dujuan Thomas
Property taxes: Thomas said he advocated capping property-tax rates to help keep people from being priced out of their neighborhoods, while noting state law complicates the issue. He said he would continue advocating against property-tax increases and connecting seniors with organizations that can help them; these statements were reported from the Oct. 15, 2026, candidate town hall. (The Paducah Sun)
- Gerald Watkins
Property taxes: Watkins supported reducing property taxes as much as possible and increasing the homestead exemption from just under $10,000 to at least $20,000. He said he was discussing possible legislation with his state senator; reported from the Oct. 15, 2026, candidate town hall. (The Paducah Sun)