Kentucky is one of four states holding primary elections today, the others being Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Oregon.

Kentucky voters in Greenup and Lewis counties will pick a Republican and Democrat candidate for the U.S. Senate Fourth Congressional District. The winners will face each other this fall in the November general election.

Republican voters will choose one of six Republican candidates. They are Rand Paul, Jon Schribner, John Stephenson, C.M. “Trey” Grayson, Bill Johnson and Gurley Martin.

Democrats will choose among Darlene Price, Maurice Sweeney, James Buckmaster, Jack Conway and Daniel Mongiardo.

Local races in Greenup County show three people on the ballot for mayor of South Shore, a city of about 1,700 residents in the western end of the county. Incumbent Cheryl Moore faces opposition in the nonpartisan race from Larry Wells and M. “Peggy” Hutchinson.

Countywide, 16-year incumbent county Judge/Executive Bobby Carpenter faces opposition from Jeff Hurn for the Democratic nomination. The winner has no opposition in the fall.

There is no Republican running in the primary for jailer. On the Democrat side, incumbent Dallas Prince, who was appointed to the post until the election by Carpenter when Jim Womack retired, faces off against Glen Riley, Ronnie Tackett and Robert “Bob” Workman.

In the race for county commissioner from the 2nd District, Democrats Ralph Sammons, Rick Brown, Richard L. Howerton and Ronald Gullett are listed on the ballot. There is no Republican running in the primary.

In the 3rd District Democrat race for county commissioner, Billy Ray Stephens and Randy Ashley face each other. There is no Republican running in the primary.

In Republican-dominated Lewis County, three candidates are running for county judge/executive in the Republican primary. They are Bill Tom Cooper, Thomas Massie and Steve Applegate.

Five candidates are listed for the Republican nomination for sheriff. They are Johnny W. Bivens, Joe Paul Gilbert, Jeffrey K. Himes, Gary Corns and Tim Walters.

In the Republican nomination for county clerk, incumbent Glenda K. Himes, appointed to the position when Shirley Hinton retired last year, faces opposition from Charles “Joe” Hall and George Anderson.

There are two candidates each on the Republican and Democrat side for state representative for the 96th House Seat.

On the ballot for the Republicans are Jill York and Vernon Messer. The Democrat side of the ballot shows David Hayes and Barry Webb facing each other.

G. SAM PIATT can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.