The ballots for the May 3 primary in Bartholomew County are set after the local filing deadline passed on Monday, with incumbents facing numerous challengers for federal, state and local offices.
The initial filing deadline was Friday but state officials allowed it to be extended to noon on Monday in Bartholomew County after a winter storm forced the Bartholomew County Courthouse to close Thursday and Friday.
Here are based the most recent update on candidate filings from state and local officials as of press time Monday:
Federal offices
Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, is seeking a second term in the U.S. Senate and will face challenger Danny Niederberger in the Republican primary. Three people will contend for the Democratic nomination: Haneefah Khaaliq, Valerie McCray and Thomas M. McDermott Jr.
Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana, is seeking a third term representing Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District and is being challenged in the GOP primary by Zach Smith and James Dean Alspach. George Thomas Holland, Mark J. Powell and Cynthia “Cinde” Wirth have filed to run in the Democratic primary.
Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District is also up for grabs, with a crowded field in the GOP primary after incumbent Rep. Trey Hollingsworth, R-Indiana, announced last month that he wouldn’t seek re-election. Nine people are seeking the Republican nomination, including state Sen. Erin Houchin, state Rep. J. Michael Davisson and Mike Sodrel, who represented the district at one point more than a decade ago. Other Republicans who have filed for the Ninth District nomination include Jim Baker, Stu Barnes-Israel, Dan Heiwig, D. Eric Schansberg, Bill J. Thomas and Brian Tibbs. On the other side of the aisle, Isak Asare, D. Liam Dorris and Matthew Fyfe have filed for the Democratic nomination.
State offices
Incumbent Rep. Ryan Lauer, R-Columbus, is now facing a primary challenge for GOP nomination for Indiana House District 59 after Bartholomew County Prosecutor Bill Nash threw his hat into the ring. Democrat Ross Thomas is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Melinda K. Griesemer, Craig Haggard and Rob Stiles are seeking the Republican nomination for Indiana District 57. The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. Sean Eberhart. No Democrats have filed to run.
Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, who has held the Indiana House District 69 seat since 2012, is seeking another two years in office and will run unopposed in the Republican primary. Davisson, who is now running for Congress, had initially filed to challenge Lucas in the primary. Chad Harmon has filed for the Democratic nomination for Indiana House District 69.
Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, is seeking another term at the Indiana statehouse and is running unopposed in GOP primary for Indiana Senate District 41. Bryan Muñoz has filed to run in the Democratic primary for the seat.
Incumbent Republican Sen. Chip Perfect is running unopposed for Republican nomination for Indiana Senate District 43. There were no filings by Democrats for District 43.
Local offices
Three incumbents on the Bartholomew County Council are facing primary challenges, including Republicans Scott Bonnell, Greg Duke and Mark Gorbett.
Bonnell, who currently represents Bartholomew County Council District 1, will face challengers Dave London and Greg Patterson in the GOP primary.
Duke will face challenger Leah Beyer in the Republican primary for Bartholomew County District 2.
Gorbett is being challenged by Derick Olson for in the GOP primary for Bartholomew County Council District 3. Blake Wesley Fields is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Incumbent Jorge Morales is running unopposed in the Republican primary for Bartholomew County District 4. Josh Burbrink also is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Two candidates — Lindsey Holden-Kay and Joshua K. Scherschel — will face off in the GOP primary for Bartholomew County prosecutor.
Republican Shari J. Lentz is running unopposed in the GOP primary for Bartholomew County Clerk. Lentz was appointed clerk last year in party caucus after former Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps resigned to take a position at the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office. Quisha Jackson is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Incumbent Republican Bartholomew County Assessor Ginny Whipple is facing a primary challenge from Laura DeDomenic.
Pia O’Connor is the lone candidate for the Republican nomination for Bartholomew County Auditor but will face Democratic challenger Sharon K. Persley in the general election.
Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Maj. Chris Lane is running unopposed for the GOP nomination for Bartholomew County Sheriff.
Incumbent Republican Carl H. Lienhoop has no challengers in the Republican primary for Bartholomew County Commissioner District 2.
Incumbent Republicans Bartholomew County Superior Court Judge Kelly S. Benjamin, Bartholomew County Treasurer Barb Hackman and Bartholomew County Recorder Tami L. Hines also are running unopposed in the primary and have no Democratic challengers.
