Dennis Hancock, a Republican member of the St. Louis County Council, is running for county executive, the county's top elected executive position, in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democrat Jake Zimmerman and Green Party candidate J.D. McFarland.

Candidate information

  • Party: Republican
  • Residence: Fenton (since 1997); native of St. Charles County
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration, University of Missouri-St. Louis; master of business administration, Brenau University (Gainesville, Ga.)
  • Current office: St. Louis County Council, District 3 (since 2023)

Experience and public service

Hancock served as mayor of Fenton from 2001 to 2013. He focused on attracting manufacturing and professional jobs, and Fenton held the distinction of having more full-time jobs per resident than any city in Missouri, according to his St. Louis County Council biography.

Hancock said he has more than 40 years of private-sector experience, First Alert 4 reported. He worked as a community job retention and attraction strategist for Verizon Communications and chaired the St. Clare Hospital Community Advisory Board, according to his council biography.

On the issues

Economy: Hancock said St. Louis County "used to be a major hub for big and small business" and is "hardly keeping up with the surrounding counties," according to his campaign website. He said he would bring jobs back by fighting crime and cutting red tape.

Public safety: Hancock said he would prioritize support for first responders and ensure adequate staffing, according to his campaign website.

Taxes and budget: Hancock has supported freezing property taxes for seniors on the county council, FOX 2 reported. He pledged to end what he called "reckless spending on government projects."

City-county unification: Hancock opposes rushing a merger of St. Louis city and county. "We have to put our own mask on. We've got our own problems to solve," he told St. Louis Magazine. He argued any regional approach must include St. Charles and Jefferson counties.

Candidate positions are based on public statements, official biographies and questionnaire responses.