R. J. Palmer

R. J. Palmer
Judge/Executive of Clark County
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 26, 2026
Preceded bySteve Craycraft (interim)
Minority Leader of the Kentucky Senate
In office
January 4, 2011 – January 1, 2015
Preceded byEd Worley
Succeeded byRay Jones II
Member of the Kentucky Senate
from the 28th district
In office
September 19, 2001 – January 1, 2015
Preceded byDale Shrout
Succeeded byRalph Alvarado
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
from the 73rd district
In office
January 1, 1999 – September 19, 2001
Preceded byDrew Graham
Succeeded byDon Pasley
Personal details
Born (1970-12-25) December 25, 1970
PartyDemocratic
EducationTransylvania University (BA)
Eastern Kentucky University (MBA)

Ralph Joe Palmer II (born December 25, 1970) is an American politician who has served as judge/executive of Clark County, Kentucky, since March 2026. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a member of the Kentucky Senate from 2001 to 2015 and the Kentucky House from 1999 to 2001.

During his tenure, Palmer served as minority leader of the Kentucky Senate from 2011 to 2015.

Biography

Palmer is from Winchester, Kentucky. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Transylvania University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Eastern Kentucky University.[1]

He was first elected to the house in 1998 when incumbent representative Drew Graham retired to run for judge/executive of Clark County.[2] He served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from January 1, 1999, through September 19, 2001, and served in the Kentucky Senate from 2001 until he was defeated by challenger Ralph Alvarado and replaced in 2015.[3] His senate district included Bath, Bourbon, Clark, Harrison, Montgomery, Nicholas counties.

On March 26, 2026, Palmer was appointed judge/executive of Clark County by governor Andy Beshear following the resignation of incumbent Les Yates.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "R.J. Palmer | Compass Municipal Advisors". compassmuni.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  2. ↑ "N Central Kentucky legislative races". The Lexington Herald-Leader. November 4, 1998. p. A10. The seat was vacated by Rep. Drew Graham, D-Winchester, who was elected Clark County judge-executive.
  3. ↑ "R.J. Palmer to lead state Senate Democrats - schurz-centralkentuckynews". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  4. ↑ Patrick, Randy (March 27, 2026). "Palmer named interim judge-executive". WinCity Voices. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
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