Wayne County now has a contested race for judge featuring an independent and a Republican. Richmond attorney and law firm owner Jessica Richert announced her candidacy for Superior Court 2 on Feb. 13, saying she’s the county’s first-ever independent candidate for judge. Richert isn’t running in May’s primary. Independent candidates will be on the Nov. […]
Tag: election-2026-primary
Articles and coverage of the 2026 primary election in Wayne County, Indiana, including local races for judge, prosecutor, sheriff, county council, county commissioner, as well as state and national contests.
Posted inNews
Voter registration deadlines loom
Here are key dates for Indiana voters planning to register or cast ballots in May’s primary election:
Posted inNews
2 township candidates withdraw
While the filing deadline passed for Wayne County Republicans and Democrats, primary voters will see a few differences from the list of candidates shared by Western Wayne News in our Feb. 11 edition. 2 townships Republican voters in Center Township will now have just one choice, incumbent Vicki Chasteen, in the May primary to serve […]
Posted inNews
Voters in primary face registration deadlines
After candidates did the work to get on Indiana’s primary election ballot, it’s prospective voters’ turn to do the work to be able to vote. Deadlines loom for voters to register to vote for the first time, correct out-of-date names or addresses on voter registration rolls, or apply for absentee ballots to be mailed to […]
Posted inNews
2 challenge Dwenger
Brad Dwenger, who represents eastern Wayne County as a county commissioner, faces two challengers in May’s primary. Howard Price filed last week for the District 1 opportunity, joining fellow Republicans Dwenger and Mark Hoelscher on the ballot. Price ran for Richmond mayor in 2023. He returned to Richmond after serving in the Air Force and […]
Posted inNews
New candidates emerge for state races
Voters will have more choices for candidates to represent Wayne County at the state level on their primary ballots. On Thursday, Feb. 5, Republican Pete Zaleski announced his candidacy for Indiana House of Representatives District 56. That filing came two days after fellow Republican Adam Blanton filed to run against his former boss at the […]
Posted inNews
Final Republicans, Democrats file for office
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 […]
Posted inNews
New candidates emerge for Indiana House, Senate races
More candidates are filing to represent Wayne County at the state level as the primary election deadline nears this week. On Tuesday, Feb. 3, Adam Blanton announced his candidacy for Indiana House of Representatives District 56. He will face fellow Republican and Blanton’s former boss at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Randy Retter, in […]
Posted inNews
Election filing deadline nears
Just days before a key deadline to file for the May primary election, some additional names had joined the list of candidates. As of press time, no one had filed to run for Dublin, Fountain City and Hagerstown town councils. Each community needs to fill two at-large seats. However, some current members are independents, so […]
Posted inNews
Auditor will challenge commissioner in GOP primary
Mark Hoelscher wants to bring a different perspective to county government, and he’s decided he can best do that as a county commissioner. Hoelscher has withdrawn from this year’s Republican primary to be re-elected as auditor and instead filed to challenge Commissioner Brad Dwenger for the party’s District 1 Board of Commissioners nomination. Hoelscher served […]