2026 Daviess County Candidate Forum: KY House, Senate & County Commission | Owensboro KY

Ten candidates in five races on the Daviess County ballot answer the same questions on data centers, the state income tax, child care, housing and Medicaid. Hosted by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. Recorded October 7, 2026 at the Daviess County Courthouse. Moderated by Don Wilkins of the Messenger-Inquirer. Election Day is November 3, 2026. THE CANDIDATES East Daviess County Commissioner Joe Hagan (R) owns and operates several businesses after a career in skilled trades, manufacturing and operations leadership. Sagan Storm (D) is director of institutional research and development at Brescia University, running in her first race. Kentucky House District 13 Rep. DJ Johnson (R), a former Army officer and small-business owner, is seeking a fifth term. Rev. Rhondalyn Randolph (D) is a pastor with more than 30 years of community service, including work with domestic violence survivors and at-risk students. Kentucky House District 7 Rep. Suzanne Miles (R), the House Majority Caucus Chair, is seeking reelection after running a local small business for 16 years. Laurie Campbell (D) is a former Daviess County Public Schools teacher and banker who served 19 years on school councils. Kentucky House District 14 (open seat) Wes Pate (R) is a registered nurse who served eight years on the Lewisport City Council. Donna Haynes (D), a longtime labor leader, has served on the Kentucky AFL-CIO Executive Board. Kentucky Senate District 8 (Daviess, Hancock and McLean counties) Sen. Gary Boswell (R), a farmer, real estate developer and business owner, is seeking a second term. Vicki Quisenberry (D) is a nonprofit leader and former executive director of the Foundation for Daviess County Public Schools. WHAT'S COVERED The four legislative races each answer the same five questions submitted by Chamber members: where each candidate stands on data centers in western Kentucky and the state's role in regulating AI, whether Kentucky should keep cutting the state income tax toward zero, how to use House Bill 6 to make child care easier to find, how to close the county's housing shortage, and what the state should do as more Medicaid and Medicare costs shift to Frankfort. The East Daviess County Commissioner candidates take on the role of the fiscal court, a data center in Daviess County, the county animal shelter, library board appointments, and attracting talent to the community. The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce is nonpartisan and does not endorse candidates. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome — Dave Kirk, Greater Owensboro Chamber 02:10 East County Commissioner: Opening Statements 05:00 East Commissioner: Role of a County Commissioner 07:31 East Commissioner: Data Centers in Daviess County 10:20 East Commissioner: The Animal Shelter 12:41 East Commissioner: Library Board Appointments 15:21 East Commissioner: Attracting Talent 17:58 East Commissioner: Closing Statements 20:16 House District 13: Opening Statements 23:22 HD 13: Data Centers & AI 25:56 HD 13: State Income Tax to Zero 28:28 HD 13: Child Care & House Bill 6 32:01 HD 13: Housing 35:02 HD 13: Medicaid & Medicare Costs 38:22 HD 13: Closing Statements 40:45 House District 7: Opening Statements 43:32 HD 7: Data Centers & AI 47:13 HD 7: State Income Tax to Zero 50:05 HD 7: Child Care & House Bill 6 53:08 HD 7: Housing 55:57 HD 7: Medicaid & Medicare Costs 59:15 HD 7: Closing Statements 1:01:44 House District 14: Opening Statements 1:04:56 HD 14: Data Centers & AI 1:08:11 HD 14: State Income Tax to Zero 1:11:12 HD 14: Child Care & House Bill 6 1:14:25 HD 14: Housing 1:17:25 HD 14: Medicaid & Medicare Costs 1:20:49 HD 14: Closing Statements 1:23:17 Senate District 8: Opening Statements 1:26:34 SD 8: Data Centers & AI 1:29:06 SD 8: State Income Tax to Zero 1:31:21 SD 8: Child Care & House Bill 6 1:34:07 SD 8: Housing 1:36:22 SD 8: Medicaid & Medicare Costs 1:38:49 SD 8: Closing Statements LINKS Daviess County Elections → https://www.daviessky.org/elections/ Kentucky voter information → https://govoteky.com Join the Chamber → https://chamber.owensboro.com/join-th... Chamber events → https://chamber.owensboro.com/calendar/ ABOUT THE CHAMBER The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce hosts nonpartisan candidate forums each election season so voters can hear directly from the people on their ballot. The Chamber's monthly Rooster Booster breakfast meets the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 a.m. at the Owensboro Convention Center. Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce 200 East 3rd Street, Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 926-1860 | https://chamber.owensboro.com Video produced by Wonder Boy Media Productions https://wboymedia.com #DaviessCounty #OwensboroKY #Election2026 #KentuckyElection #KYHouse #KYSenate #OwensboroChamber