U.S. House, Kentucky 4th Congressional District · November 3, 2026

Who should I vote for in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District?

Ed Gallrein has the strongest record in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District. Ed Gallrein scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Ed Gallrein's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Melissa Strange (6 of 15 criteria), Jeremy Todd (5 of 15 criteria) and Peter Harmon Williams (0 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Republican

Strongest record

Ed Gallrein

56 / 100

Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 60
Performance: NR

Campaign site FEC filings

Democratic

Melissa Strange

On the ballot as Melissa Claire Strange

Not enough public record for a score

Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 65
Performance: NR

Campaign site FEC filings

Libertarian

Jeremy Todd

Not enough public record for a score

Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 50
Performance: NR

Campaign site FEC filings

Write-in

Peter Harmon Williams

Not enough public record for a score

Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria

Character: NR
Qualifications: NR
Performance: NR

Who they are

Character

Integrity

Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.

2 / 4

Ed Gallrein. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and House candidate disclosures appear on the Clerk index. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search

2 / 4

Melissa Strange. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and House candidate disclosures appear on the Clerk index for 2025 and 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search

2 / 4

Jeremy Todd. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and a House candidate disclosure is on the Clerk index (July 2026). No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

Courage

Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.

Ed Gallrein. No public record found.

Melissa Strange. No public record found.

Jeremy Todd. No public record found.

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

Accountability

Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.

Ed Gallrein. No public record found.

Melissa Strange. No public record found.

Jeremy Todd. No public record found.

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

Temperament and judgment

Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.

2 / 4

Ed Gallrein. Served about three decades as a Navy SEAL officer, retiring as a captain, with no court-martial, censure or other formal conduct finding found.

Sources: Campaign site, Spectrum News 1, May 20, 2026

Melissa Strange. No public record found.

Jeremy Todd. No public record found.

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

Fidelity to the oath

Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.

2 / 4

Ed Gallrein. Military service as a Navy officer, honorably discharged per his campaign. No official finding of misconduct found.

Sources: Campaign site, NBC News, May 19, 2026

Melissa Strange. No public record found.

Jeremy Todd. No public record found.

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

What they bring

Qualifications

Relevant experience

Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.

3 / 4

Ed Gallrein. Navy SEAL officer for about 30 years who rose to captain and led SEAL teams and units, then returned to his family farm in Shelby County. Has not held elected office.

Sources: Campaign site, Spectrum News 1, May 20, 2026

2 / 4

Melissa Strange. Has worked 27 years in food manufacturing and supply chain. Has not held public office.

Sources: Campaign site, home page, WAVE, June 9, 2026

2 / 4

Jeremy Todd. Says he built a business career leading teams of up to more than 300 people. Has not held public office.

Source: Ballotpedia, Jeremy Todd, candidate survey

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

Command of the job

Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.

2 / 4

Ed Gallrein. Publishes five priorities in general terms: taxes and regulation, border security, gun rights, abortion and ending DEI programs.

Source: Campaign site, Priorities

3 / 4

Melissa Strange. Publishes an issues page with specific federal measures, for example reauthorizing the Older Americans Act, a national NICU leave bill and designating the Red River Gorge as a national park.

Source: Campaign site, Issues

2 / 4

Jeremy Todd. Publishes issue pages in general terms on gun rights, free speech, affordability, trade, campaign finance, immigration and taxes.

Source: Campaign site, Issues

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

Communication

Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.

2 / 4

Ed Gallrein. Publishes a priorities section on his campaign site. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.

Sources: Campaign site, Priorities, Ballotpedia, Ed Gallrein

3 / 4

Melissa Strange. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026, publishes an issues page, and gave interviews to Spectrum News and WAVE.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Melissa Strange, Spectrum News 1, May 29, 2026

2 / 4

Jeremy Todd. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026 and publishes issue pages.

Source: Ballotpedia, Jeremy Todd

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

Roots in the constituency

Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.

3 / 4

Ed Gallrein. A Shelby County farmer who says he was born and raised in Kentucky in a family that has farmed there for over a century. FEC by-state contribution totals were not retrievable at check time.

Sources: Spectrum News 1, May 20, 2026, Campaign site

3 / 4

Melissa Strange. A lifelong Northern Kentucky resident from Erlanger and a Dixie Heights High School graduate. FEC by-state contribution totals were not retrievable at check time.

Sources: Campaign site, home page, Spectrum News 1, May 29, 2026

Jeremy Todd. No public record found.

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

Management

Can build and run an organization.

2 / 4

Ed Gallrein. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Source: FEC candidate page

2 / 4

Melissa Strange. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Source: FEC candidate page

2 / 4

Jeremy Todd. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Source: FEC candidate page

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

What they deliver

Performance

Results

Turns ideas into outcomes.

Ed Gallrein. No public record found.

Melissa Strange. No public record found.

Jeremy Todd. No public record found.

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

Showing up

Does the basic work of the job.

Ed Gallrein. No public record found.

Melissa Strange. No public record found.

Jeremy Todd. No public record found.

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

Constituent service

Solves problems for the people they represent.

Ed Gallrein. No public record found.

Melissa Strange. No public record found.

Jeremy Todd. No public record found.

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

Coalition building

Wins support beyond their own faction.

Ed Gallrein. No public record found.

Melissa Strange. No public record found.

Jeremy Todd. No public record found.

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

Stewardship of public money

Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.

Ed Gallrein. No public record found.

Melissa Strange. No public record found.

Jeremy Todd. No public record found.

Peter Harmon Williams. No public record found.

How to read this

Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.

A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.

No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.

Questions

Who should I vote for in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District?

Who is running in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District in 2026?

Ed Gallrein (Republican), Melissa Claire Strange (Democratic), Jeremy Todd (Libertarian), Peter Harmon Williams (Write-in). The general election is November 3, 2026.

Is Ed Gallrein a good candidate for Congress?

Ed Gallrein scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.

Is Melissa Strange a good candidate for Congress?

Melissa Strange has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.

Is Jeremy Todd a good candidate for Congress?

Jeremy Todd has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.

Is Peter Harmon Williams a good candidate for Congress?

Peter Harmon Williams has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.

How is the strongest record decided?

The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.

More on this race: every Kentucky race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Kentucky 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.