2026 Kentucky General Election

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Katherine Shumate earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Northern Kentucky University. 

Katherine currently serves as the Kenton County Magistrate for District 3. She previously worked as a litigation paralegal at Kohnen & Patton, LLP, a law firm in Cincinnati, Ohio. She also previously worked as a paralegal at Keating, Muething & Klekamp, LLC.


Katherine W. Shumate ran for Kenton County Justice of the Peace in 2018.

Here are Northern Kentucky voters' ballot choices for Election Day

Katherine currently serves as magistrate for Kenton County's 3rd Magisterial District, and serves as Justice of the Peace. She was first appointed in 2007 and was subsequently elected to the position and is serving her fifth term. 

As a justice of the peace, Katherine oversees cases involving minor criminal offenses and low-value civil suits, administers oaths to public officials, handles requests for orders of protection against harassment, and performs marriage ceremonies.

- As a justice of the peace, Katherine oversees cases involving minor criminal offenses and low-value civil suits, administers oaths to public officials, handles requests for orders of protection against harassment, and performs marriage ceremonies.

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As of August 12, 2026, Katherine W. Shumate did not have a website or any information online.

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Katherine W. Shumate

Buket Urgen

Stephen Hoffman is originally from Erlanger, Kentucky. He studied management, aviation administration, and military science at Northern Kentucky University. Stephen lives in Covington, Kentucky.

Stephen currently owns and operates A Day To Remember! USA, an event rental company in Covington, and The Wedding Chapel, through which he performs wedding ceremonies. He previously served as an enlisted soldier and officer in the United States Army. 

Stephen L J Hoffman is currently Justice of the Peace representing the 1st Magisterial District of Kenton County, Kentucky. He was first elected in 1989.

Kenton County magistrate to marry 12 couples on 2/22/22 - Local 12

Stephen currently serves as a magistrate for Kenton Count, where he serves as Justice of the Peace. He was first elected in 1989 and is serving his ninth term. 

Has served as an elected magistrate and justice of the peace in Kenton County, Kentucky, since 1989.

Oversees cases involving minor criminal offenses and low-value civil suits.

- Oversees cases involving minor criminal offenses and low-value civil suits.
- Performs marriage ceremonies.

As of August 12, 2026, Stephen L J Hoffman’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Stephen L J Hoffman

- A justice of the peace, also called a magistrate, is an elected official who represents a district within a county in Kentucky.
- The primary responsibility of the role is to serve on the fiscal court, which is the county’s main governing body.
- The fiscal court oversees county budgets, public spending, local ordinances, and administrative policies.
- Each county is divided into three to eight districts, with one justice of the peace elected from each district.
- Justices of the peace serve four-year terms. Candidates must be at least 24 years old, a U.S. citizen, a Kentucky resident for at least two years, and a resident of their county and district for at least one year before the election.
- In some counties, justices of the peace may perform limited functions such as officiating marriages or processing notary applications if authorized.
- For 2025, the average salary was approximately $95,335, though actual pay differs across counties.

An official who oversees county budgets and local policies.

Kenton Justice of the Peace, District 1

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