EDWARD MARLOWE | News Edge Media Group Incumbent Trigg County Jailer James Hughes paces along Jefferson Street, minutes before the conclusion of Primary 2026, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
All Trigg County Jailer James Hughes wanted was one final term to serve his constituents.
Voters gave it to him during Tuesday night’s May Primary, as the long-time incumbent beat Troy Belt 1,534 to 964 — mere weeks after delivering his 17th consecutive budget to fiscal court.
Hughes reaffirmed “this will be his last term,” but in his eyes, that doesn’t make it a lame-duck scenario.
He cut his department’s budget nearly $10,000 this fiscal calendar, and he said he worked closely with Judge-Executive Stan Humphries and the fiscal court in making sure it was effective and responsible.
Hughes is aware that Belt, and some voters even, have been curious about Trigg County’s lack of a jail — instead opting for services in Christian County and other extraditions.
Having a jail in Cadiz and Trigg County, Hughes added, “just isn’t feasible.”
Speaking of Humphries, he won the Republican nomination for judge-executive against Sam Carter by a large margin: 1,963 to 528.
Currently, both Hughes and Humphries remain unopposed for the November general election, and stand as elects-in-waiting.
Independent candidates have until 4 PM Tuesday, June 4 to enter their names on the ballot.
