Elwood Caudill Jr.
Elwood Caudill Jr. is an American government administrator who has served as the Rowan County Clerk in Kentucky since 2019. He defeated incumbent Kim Davis in the 2018 general election, succeeding her after she gained national attention for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Early life and career
Caudill worked in the Rowan County Property Valuation Office for over 20 years before being elected County Clerk. During his tenure, he specialized in measuring, sketching, and assessment of real property including residential, commercial, farm and tangible property, as well as mapping and property transfers using ArcGIS.Elections
2014 Democratic primary
Caudill first ran for Rowan County Clerk in the 2014 Democratic primary against Kim Davis. He lost by only 23 votes.- Incumbent
2018 elections
Democratic primary
In May 2018, Caudill won the Democratic primary to challenge Kim Davis in the general election. In a race that drew national attention, he defeated David Ermold, a gay man who had been denied a marriage license by Davis in 2015, along with candidates Jamey Jessee and Nashia Fife. Despite Ermold's high-profile campaign and significant fundraising support from donors around the country, including celebrity donors, Caudill secured the nomination.General election
In the November 2018 general election, held during the U.S. midterm elections, Caudill defeated incumbent Kim Davis with 4,210 votes to Davis's 3,566 votes, a margin of 644 votes. Davis, who had switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party after winning in 2014, conceded the race to Caudill and congratulated him on his victory.- Incumbent
County Clerk tenure
Caudill took office as Rowan County Clerk in January 2019. During his campaign, he pledged to serve all citizens equally, stating on his campaign website: "When I say I will faithfully execute the job of Rowan County Clerk and serve all citizens equally... Of course that means LGBTQ+ citizens. I support every American's right to 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,' afforded them under the laws of our nation, and I do not believe our government should discriminate against anyone for being who they are."Following his election, Caudill expressed his desire to move past the controversies of the previous administration, stating: "I want Rowan County and Morehead to get back to where it was and treat everyone equally and treat everyone with respect."
As County Clerk, Caudill's office handles vehicle registration, delinquent tax sales, elections, and record keeping for Rowan County. He has demonstrated a commitment to government administration with experience spanning multiple decades.