The 2026 May 5th Primary Ballot has been set with many candidates filing.
On the Republican side, several seats don’t have challenges, including Jenny Bennitt, who is running for another four years as County Court Clerk, Peter Pauul seeks another term as County Assessor, Angie Johnson Birchmeier is seeking another four years as County Auditor, and Stan Klotz wants to stay on as County Commissioner.
Steve Gorski is seeking to fill the seat Janet Howard has held for 8 years, as County Recorder. Matthew Aldridge is seeking his first public election after being appointed to fill the seat Dean Colvin held for many years at Superior Court II Judge.
There are a couple of races for the Republicans, with Sheriff Matt Hassel retiring. Les McFarland and Jeff Snyder are both looking to head the Sheriff's Department.
There is also a race to fill the County Prosecutor position that E. Nelson Chipman has held for many years. Nicholas Langowski and Joseph Morris are both in the hunt to be the county’s next Prosecutor.
The four district seats on the County Council are open, and there are three races for those seats. County Council District 1 is currently held by Will Patterson, and he is unchallenged in the May Primary. District 2 is held by Deborah Johnson, and Thomas Flynn has filed for that seat, creating one of the races. District 3 is held by Nicole Cox, who will be challenged by Jessica O’Blenis,
while the District 4 seat, currently held by Greg Compton, who has decided not to run again, will be contested by Laura Brockway and Brandon Richie.
Republicans can send 16 members to the state convention, and 16 members will be on the ballot: Jesse Bohannon, Jonathan Bryant, Kip Cook, Nicole Cox, Duane Culp, Adam Faulstich, Lynn Fitzpatrick, Sharon Gilles, Tim Harman, Bryan Howard, Deborah Johnson, Creighton Prawat, Jim Purucker, Sam Schlosser, Deb VanDeMark, and Laura Vervynckt.
Democrats have only filed one candidate for a county seat, Jessica O’Blenis is on the ballot for the County Council District 3 seat.
They also have 10 positions open for the state convention and have 11 on the ballot: Susan Crump, Mary Jo Finley, Don Fox, Shannon Kling, Michael Leda, Michelle Livinghouse, Shiloh Carothers Milner, Amanda Petrucelli, Mike Petrucelli, Stephanie Petrucelli, and Bobbi Reinhold.
Democrats came out in full force to fill the Precinct Committeeman seats: Bourbon 1 - Brenda Gorr, Bourbon 2 – Kathryn Gorr, Center 1 – Megan Rogers, Center 3 - Anna Corbett, Center 4 - Michelle Livinghouse, Center 5 – Jason Antich, Center – 6 Mary Jo Finley, Center 8 – Stephanie Peverelle, German 4 - Paul Irons, Green - Amy Biggs, North 2 – Douglas Baney, North 3 – Judy Fisher, Polk 1 – Michael Leda, Polk 2 – Joslin Stiffler, Union 1 – Dvan Dutmer, Union 2 – Don Fox, Walnut 2 – Johnny Smith, West 1 – Cheryl McKinkley, and West 3 – Shannon Kling.
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