A surge of candidates entered the 2026 primary race in the final days before the filing deadline, with state and local officials collectively receiving over 20 filings over the last two days for offices that will appear on Bartholomew County ballots.
The filing deadline to run in the May 5 primary was Friday at noon. Based on the most recent records available, there will be at least eight contested races on the Republican ticket and three contested races on the Democratic ticket.
A primary is considered contested when more candidates are running than there are nominations available. Primary elections are held to nominate candidates from each party to appear on the general election ballot in the fall.
Rep. Jefferson Shreve, R-Ind., will face a primary challenge in Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, according to records with the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office. Sarah Janisse Brown has filed to challenge the first-term congressman for the Republican nomination for the seat.
The GOP primary for Indiana House District 73 is now a three-person race after Jacob J. Johnson filed to run. He joins incumbent Rep. Jennifer Meltzer, R-Shelbyville, and Edward K. Comstock II in vying for the party’s nomination.
Julie Del Genio will challenge Kris K. Weisner for the GOP nomination for Columbus Township trustee.
Other contested Republican primaries include: Indiana Senate District 41, Bartholomew County Council District 2, Bartholomew County Council District 4, Columbus Township Advisory Board and Harrison Township Advisory Board.
On the Democratic side, both congressional races in Bartholomew County have gotten more crowded in recent days.
James H. (Jim) Graham and Tim Peck have turned to the Democratic primary for Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District into a four-person race, joining Brad A. Meyer and Keil L. Roark.
Nicholas Frederick Baker also turned the Democratic nomination for Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District into a four-person race, joining William Kory Amyx, David Lawrence Boyd and Cynthia “Cinde” Wirth.
Based on the most current records available early Friday afternoon, the only other contested Democratic primary in Bartholomew County is Columbus Township Advisory Board.
Who has filed?
According to the most current records available shortly after the filing deadline on Friday, here are the filings for either the Democratic or Republican primary so far:
Democratic ticket
- Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, William Kory Amyx
- Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, Nicholas Frederick Baker
- Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, David Lawrence Boyd
- Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, Cynthia Cinde Wirth
- Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District, Brad A. Meyer
- Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District, James H. (Jim) Graham
- Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District, Tim Peck
- Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District, Keil L. Roark
- Indiana House District 69, Chris Bowen
- Indiana House District 73, Allen J. (A.J.) Miller
- Indiana Senate District 41, Ross Thomas
- Bartholomew County Clerk, Lula Young
- Bartholomew County Commissioner District 2, Grant Hale
- Bartholomew County Council District 4, Michelle E. Carr
- Bartholomew County Auditor, Kimberly Wadholm
- Bartholomew County Recorder, Nancy Merbitz
- Columbus Township Trustee, Paul Hoffman
- Columbus Township Advisory Board, Sandra L. Crawford
- Columbus Township Advisory Board, David Riley
- Columbus Township Advisory Board, David Spear
- Columbus Township Advisory Board, Stephanie Kay Carmer
- Clay Township Advisory Board, Maddy Halloran
- Clifty Township Trustee, Kim DeClue
- Harrison Township Advisory Board, Andrea Mikrut
- Harrison Township Advisory Board, Elizabeth N. Kestler
- Jackson Township Advisory Board, Joe Hoene
- Sandcreek Township Advisory Board, Ruben Guthrie
- Sandcreek Township Advisory Board, Marilyn Williams
- Wayne Township Advisory Board, Dennis Tibbetts
Republican ticket
- Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, Jefferson Shreve
- Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, Sarah Janisse Brown
- Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District, Erin Houchin
- Indiana House District 59, Ryan Lauer
- Indiana House District 69, Jim Lucas
- Indiana House District 73, Edward K. Comstock, II
- Indiana House District 73, Jacob J. Johnson
- Indiana House District 73, Jennifer Meltzer
- Indiana Senate District 41, Michelle Davis
- Indiana Senate District 41, Greg Walker
- Bartholomew County Commissioner District 2, Carl H. Lienhoop
- Bartholomew County Council District 1, Greg Patterson
- Bartholomew County Council District 2, Mark T. Bense
- Bartholomew County Council District 2, Leah Beyer
- Bartholomew County Council District 3, Mark E. Gorbett
- Bartholomew County Council District 4, Barbara (Barb) Hackman
- Bartholomew County Council District 4, Rick Miller
- Bartholomew County Recorder, Debra K. Beck Settle
- Bartholomew County Assessor, Ginny Whipple
- Bartholomew County Auditor, Vickie E. Michael
- Bartholomew County Sheriff, Chris Lane
- Bartholomew County Treasurer, Sandy Beatty
- Bartholomew County Clerk, Shari J. Lentz
- Bartholomew Superior Court 2 Judge, Jonathan L. (Jon) Rohde
- Bartholomew County Prosecutor, Lindsey Holden
- Columbus Township Trustee, Kris K. Weisner
- Columbus Township Trustee, Julie Del Genio
- Columbus Township Advisory Board, William Harold Adams
- Columbus Township Advisory Board, Ralph Douglas Hollenbeck
- Columbus Township Advisory Board, Lloyd Miller
- Columbus Township Advisory Board, J. Stuart Cundiff
- Clay Township Trustee, Haley Kittle Hardwick
- Clay Township Advisory Board, John McDonald
- Clifty Township Advisory Board, Brett Glick
- Flatrock Township Trustee, Lisa Moore
- Flatrock Township Advisory Board, Charlie Deweese
- Flatrock Township Advisory Board, Tom R. Finke
- Flatrock Township Advisory Board, Jason R. Pence
- German Township Trustee, Chris West
- German Township Advisory Board, James A. Stevens
- German Township Advisory Board, Larry W. Hoeltke
- German Township Advisory Board, James Mahoney
- Harrison Township Trustee, David Dwyer
- Harrison Township Advisory Board, Angela Burton
- Harrison Township Advisory Board, Alicia Monroe
- Harrison Township Advisory Board, Dana Parks
- Harrison Township Advisory Board, Eric Grow
- Harrison Township Advisory Board, Noah Abfall
- Jackson Township Trustee, Camden Jeffries
- Jackson Township Advisory Board, Luke Otte
- Jackson Township Advisory Board, Dennis Von Dielingen
- Jackson Township Advisory Board, Devon R Stewart
- Ohio Township Trustee, Matthew D. Perry
- Ohio Township Advisory Board, David Theile
- Rockcreek Township Trustee, Trish Ward
- Rockcreek Township Advisory Board, Jim Reed
- Rockcreek Township Advisory Board, Eric Don Scheidt
- Rockcreek Township Advisory Board, Doug Brougher
- Sandcreek Township Advisory Board, Donald L. Moss
- Wayne Township Trustee, Brenda K. Mijares
- Wayne Township Advisory Board, R.J. Burton
- Wayne Township Advisory Board, Steve Shuler
- Wayne Township Advisory Board, Vanessa Meredith
- Clifford Clerk-Treasurer, Glenna Floyd
- Clifford Town Council, Mark Floyd
- Clifford Town Council, Mark (Jr.) Floyd
- Edinburgh Town Council At-Large, Debra Buck
- Elizabethtown Clerk-Treasurer, Shirley J. Nugent
- Elizabethtown Town Council, Christopher Sztaba
- Elizabethtown Town Council, Loretta Henderson
- Elizabethtown Town Council, Rick Mullins
