Major party candidates have finished adding their names for consideration in May’s primary election, and some contested races have begun.
There’s now a three-way Republican Party primary race for Indiana House of Representatives District 56. Adam Blanton, Randy Retter and Pete Zaleski will seek to advance from the May election. And the winner will face a Democrat, Thomas Rockwell, in the fall.
Meanwhile, incumbent Indiana State Sen. Jeff Raatz faces a challenger in the Republican primary. Anthony Lee Jones also seeks the District 27 seat. That winner will face Democrat Ron Itnyre in November.
The District 1 race for Wayne County Commissioner added one more Republican challenger in Howard Price. Price and Mark Hoelscher seek to unseat Brad Dwenger.
Another candidate emerged for Wayne County Council’s District 4, giving voters a choice this fall. Tom Pennington filed as a Democrat. Pennington will face Republican Richard Tincher.
Tincher’s wife, Center Township trustee Vicki Chasteen, faces challenger Tanya Beckman in the Republican primary. Greene Township trustee Robert Conyers faces a Republican challenger, Gwynne Justice.
Jackson Township has four Republican candidates (Brad Bowman, Bobby Gene Gabbard, Judith Kerney and Harry Longnecker) for three spots on the township board.
For the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat voters now have four choices, and the Republican incumbent now faces a challenger in the primary.
Candidates for the two major parties had to submit paperwork by noon Friday, Feb. 6, to get on Indiana’s May 5 primary ballot.
Election Guide
Keep up on the latest election and candidate news using the Western Wayne News 2026 Primary Election Guide. Visit wwn.to/election.
Townships
About 20 Republicans filed between Feb. 2-6 to serve their township governments.
Newly filed board candidates are: Rodney Blanchford and Theresa Clark, Abington Township; Jodi Frech, Center Township; David McClain, Clay Township; Larry Joe Black, Craig Dishman and Bill Sullivan, Dalton Township; Benjamin Alyea, Alex Nocton and Steve Nocton, Greene Township; Tina Kinsinger and Sara Jane Moyer, Harrison Township; Bradley Bowman and Harry Longnecker, Jackson Township; Bradley Clark, Jefferson Township; Eric Davis, New Garden Township; Steven Abshire, Ken Banning and Randall Hunnicutt, Perry Township; Allen Wampler, Washington Township.
Last week’s new trustee candidates include Tanya Beckman, Center Township; Lance Lumpkin, Dalton Township; and Ken Risch, Washington Township, all Republicans.
All 15 townships (Abington, Boston, Center, Clay, Dalton, Franklin, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, New Garden, Perry, Washington, Wayne and Webster) need to select a trustee and three board members.
Although Indiana General Assembly is discussing the possibility of eliminating some township governments, Wayne County election officials are planning for all those offices to be on the ballot.
Town councils
Three Wayne County towns will also have at-large council races.
Michael Gray and Tony Wilson filed as Republicans for Fountain City’s two open town council seats, and Donnie Benedict and Bradley Clark filed as Republicans for Hagerstown.
No one filed for Dublin’s two seats. However, some current members are independents, so they have an extended filing deadline compared to those running as Republicans or Democrats.
How to run for office, register to vote
In Wayne County, those interested in running for office, registering to vote for the first time, updating incorrect information on the voter rolls or requesting an absentee ballot can visit the voter registration office inside the courthouse, 301 E. Main St., Richmond, call 765-973-9304 or go online at co.wayne.in.us/clerk/votersreg.html.
Other parties
Independent or minority party candidates can file a petition of nomination for the November election for verification of petition signatures. Those candidates’ forms are due by noon June 30. Write-in candidates can file their declaration of intent to run in November. Their form is due by noon July 6.
The Libertarian Party must conduct a county convention to nominate candidates by noon July 3.
Western Wayne News will soon ask candidates to submit responses to questionnaires so readers can learn more about their hopes and plans if elected or reelected. Follow our election guide at wwn.to/election.
Who’s on the ballot?
Here’s the final list of Democrat and Republican candidates for the May primary, supplied by Wayne County’s voter registration office:
- Wayne County Auditor: Amy Chenowith (Republican)
- Wayne County Sheriff: Alan Moore and Kyle Weatherly, both Republicans
- Wayne Superior Court 2 judge: Austin Shadle (R)
- Wayne Superior Court 3 judge: Mark Cox (R)
- Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney: Ashley Green (R)
- County Council: District 1, Jeff Cappa (R); District 2: Bradley “Farmer Brad” Wood and Barry Ritter, both Republicans; District 3: Beth Leisure (R); District 4: Tom Pennington (D), Richard Tincher (R)
- County Commissioner (District 1): Brad Dwenger, Mark Hoelscher, Howard Price, all Republicans
- County Recorder: Debbie Tiemann (R)
- County Assessor: Timothy Smith (R)
- Wayne Township Assessor: Gary Callahan (R)
- Indiana House of Representatives District 56: Republicans Adam Blanton, Randy Retter and Pete Zaleski; Democrat Thomas Rockwell
- Indiana State Senate District 27: Ron Itnyre (D), Anthony Jones, Jeff Raatz (both Republicans)
- U.S. House of Representatives Sixth District: William Amyx, Nicholas Baker, David Boyd and Cinde Wirth (Democrats); Sarah Brown and Jefferson Shreve (Republicans)
- Fountain City town council: Michael Gray and Tony Wilson, both Republicans
- Hagerstown town council: Donnie Benedict and Bradley Clark, both Republicans
- Township board members (three for each township): Rodney Blanchford, Theresa Clark and Douglas Toschlog, Abington Township (R); Jack Buckland, Boston Township (R); Jodi Frech and Steve Poindexter, Center Township (R); Louis Artman, David McClain and Jan Riggleman, Clay Township (all R); Larry Joe Black, Craig Dishman and Bill Sullivan, Dalton Township (all R); Don Berger, Jason Roll and Scott Stemple, Franklin Township (all R); Benjamin Alyea, Alex Nocton and Steve Nocton, Greene Township (all R); Tina Kinsinger and Sara Jane Moyer, Harrison Township; Bradley Bowman, Bobby Gene Gabbard, Judith Kerney and Harry Longnecker, Jackson Township (R); Gary Keesling, Anne Smith and Max Soliday, Jefferson Township (R); Robert McGuire, (D), and Eric Davis and Jacquelyn Shroyer (both R), New Garden Township; Steven Abshire, Ken Banning and Randall Hunnicutt, Perry Township (all R); Allen Wampler, Washington Township (R); Marilyn Sowers, Wayne Township (R); Brittany Miller (D) and Amy Fouche and Courtney McCauley (R), Webster Township
- Township trustees (one for each township): Steve Kaiser, Abington Township (R); Tanya Beckman and Vicki Chasteen, Center Township (both R); Lance Lumpkin, Dalton Township (R); Robert Conyers and Gwynne Justice, Greene Township (both R); James Fagan, Harrison Township (R); Lyndon Wicker, Jackson Township (R); Christopher Lane, Jefferson Township (R); Jeff Himelick, New Garden Township (R); Ken Risch, Washington Township (R); Susan Isaacs, Wayne Township (R); Rodger Smith, Webster Township (R)
- Democratic Party precinct committee members: Beth Harrick, Catherine Morris, Alan Murdoch, Charles Ryan Ogden
- Democratic Party convention delegates: Catherine Morris and Tom Peck, both at-large
- Republican convention delegates: Debra Berry, Bob Bever, Jane Bumbalough, Jeff Cappa, Brad Dwenger, Misty Hollis, J. Clayton Miller, Tara Pegg, Stephen Rabe, Jerry Purcell and Melinda Wilson (District 1), Aaron Roberts and Lora Roberts (District 2), Chris Beeson, Beth Leisure, Jeff Plasterer, Gary Saunders and Max Smith (District 3), all Republicans. They will only be on the ballot if there is a contest.
A version of this article will appear in the February 11 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.