Two More Contested Races Emerge In County

RISON - Two more contested races have emerged within Cleveland County for the 2026 Republican primary election based on the latest filings recorded at the Cleveland County Clerk’s office in Rison.Kingsland Mayor Karen Wiscaver filed for re-election late last week to join Samantha Johnson, who had previous filed for the position on Nov. 4. Both will be seeking the Republican nomination to serve a four-year term as mayor of Kingsland.Meanwhile, District 4 Justice of the Peace Pat Keegan is being challenged by Ron Workman, who previously served a shorty stint as mayor of Kingsland before resigning.The filing period for the 2026 primary elections opened on Nov. 3 and ended at noon today (Wednesday, Nov. 12). This list includes those candidates who had filed by close of business on Monday, Nov. 10. No filings were made Tuesday since the courthouse was closed for the Veterans Day holiday.The primary election for both the Democratic and Republican parties will be held March 3, 2026.Barring any new developments that took place during the final four hours of the filing period this morning (Wednesday, Nov. 12), there will be four locally contested races in Cleveland County during the 2026 election: Cleveland County judge, Cleveland County Sheriff, Kingsland mayor and District 4 justice of the peace.  Rickey Spencer of Kingsland followed through on his previous announcement to run for county judge and officially filed or the position last Friday. Spencer joins Jim Houston of the Rye community, Stephen McClellan of New Edinburg and Rosemary Sinclair of the Staves community  as the candidates seeking Republican nomination for the position left vacant by the passing of former County Judge Jimmy Cummings.The race for Cleveland County Sheriff remained at three with no new candidates having filed for the office. Those who have filed include Lee Freeman and Keden Shrum of Rison, and Brad Young of the Rowell community....