St. Louis County voters will pick a new county executive on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The winner inherits a persistent structural budget deficit, shortened office hours and a headquarters the county must vacate by the end of 2027.

Democrat Jake Zimmerman, Republican Dennis Hancock and Green Party candidate J.D. McFarland are on the ballot for the four-year term. The race is the first open contest for county executive in 52 years, according to St. Louis Public Radio. Incumbent Sam Page chose not to seek re-election and will leave office in January 2027.

For Chesterfield, Wildwood and Ellisville residents, the county executive oversees day-to-day operations that touch roads, public safety and regional policy. Voter registration for the Nov. 3 election closed Wednesday, Oct. 7.

The candidates

Zimmerman, 15 years the county assessor, won the Aug. 4 Democratic primary with about 47% of the vote, defeating State Sens. Brian Williams and Angela Walton Mosley. He previously served as a state representative for the 83rd District from 2007 to 2011, according to Fox 2.

Hancock was elected to represent District 3 on the County Council in 2022. Before that, he served 12 years as mayor of Fenton and spent 27 years at Verizon, according to The Ballot Brief. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary. A Republican has not held the county executive's office since 1991, according to First Alert 4.

McFarland, the Green Party candidate, did not respond to West Newsmagazine's Wednesday, Oct. 7, Q&A with the other candidates.

Budget crisis at the center

The county's finances dominate the race. In the 2026 budget cycle, the County Council made $48 million in cuts to close an $81 million gap, then covered the rest with Rams settlement funds and reserves, St. Louis Public Radio reported. County offices have been closing at 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and staying shut on Fridays, according to Fox 2.

Zimmerman has pledged to stop using one-time funds to close structural budget gaps. In a written Q&A published Wednesday, Oct. 7, by West Newsmagazine, he called the deficit "no joke" and said the next executive must "end the drama and infighting to work constructively with the council …"

Hancock opposes new taxes. He pointed to his experience in Fenton, where he said the city lost 15% of its revenue when Chrysler closed its assembly facility. "We methodically looked at every line item in our budget and we reduced spending without touching essential services," he told West Newsmagazine.

Headquarters question

The county must bring its Clayton headquarters into compliance with fire-safety requirements or vacate it by Dec. 31, 2027, according to West Newsmagazine. Hancock wants to stay in the current building and bring it up to code, calling it the most cost-effective option. Zimmerman said he is open-minded and that no agreed-upon cost estimate exists for retrofitting.

What else is on the ballot

The County Council placed Proposition S on the Nov. 3 ballot. It would create a Senior Citizens Service Fund projected to generate about $15 million a year through a new property tax.

How to vote

Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. In-person no-excuse absentee voting begins Tuesday, Oct. 20, and runs through Monday, Nov. 2. Voters must bring a valid, unexpired photo ID.