2026 candidate filings: Who’s running and why
A running look at who will be on May 5 primary ballots in Tippecanoe County.
(Updated Jan. 10)
The filing deadline for major party candidates for the May 2026 primary opened Jan. 7, with a deadline of noon Feb. 6.
Here’s a look at candidates who have filed or announced they plan to be on Tippecanoe County ballots and why they are running.
This edition will be updated through the filing period.
Election dates: The primary will be May 5. The general election will be Nov. 3.
To register to vote: The voter registration deadline to vote in the May 5 primary is April 6. To check your voter registration, get registered or to see candidates who will be on your general election ballot, go to the Secretary of State’s portal at www.indianavoters.com.
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U.S. House, District 4
Current: Jim Baird, Republican
Republicans
Jim Baird is a Greencastle Republican first elected to Congress in 2018.
Craig Haggard, a Mooresville Republican who represents District 57 in the Indiana House, announced his plans to run in the 4th District in August.
Motivation to run: Haggard filed paperwork ahead of the previous election, signaling his intention to run if Baird didn’t. This year, Haggard announced he planned to run, either way. In his campaign announcement last summer, Haggard said, “I have been touring the district for several months, listening to citizens from all walks of life, about their dreams for their families. I have also heard thousands of Hoosiers articulate the issues they believe need to be addressed, and the opportunities they think need to be seized for our state and our nation. It all comes down to one word: ‘Freedom.’ It is now time to act.”
John Piper filed to run in the primary, as he did in 2024. That year, he received 8% of the vote, trailing Baird and fellow GOP challenger Charles Bookwalter.
Democrats
Several Democrats are expected to run for the seat, including Drew Cox, Thomas Hall, Joe Mackey and John Whetstone.
Indiana Senate, District 22
Current: Ron Alting, Republican
Republicans
Ron Alting is a Lafayette Republican and longest-serving member of the Indiana Senate, first elected to the seat in 1998.
Motivation to run: “I’m running because this job is about doing the work, not putting on a show. People want conservative leadership that gets results, especially when it comes to affordability. What happens at the Statehouse always shows up at home — in taxes, fees and the cost of everyday services. My focus has been on protecting local control and pushing back when the state tries to shift costs onto communities. That includes supporting public safety and local schools in ways that are stable, predictable, and affordable — not driven by politics or headlines. Experience matters when the goal is progress, not gridlock. As long as the people of Tippecanoe and Carroll counties want steady leadership that puts results ahead of noise and keeps an eye on what families can afford, I’m motivated to keep serving.”
Richard Bagsby is a Realtor and minister from the eastern edge of Tippecanoe County. He ran in Indiana House District 41 in 2022, finishing third in a Republican primary that went to eventual state Rep. Mark Genda, a Frankfort Republican now serving his second term in the General Assembly.
Motivation to run: When announcing his campaign in May 2025, Bagsby told Based in Lafayette: “We definitely need new blood and a fresh pair of eyes representing District 22, especially since it’s changed over from the West Side to more of the east side. I think it’s more of a conservative district. And nothing disparaging against Mr. Alting … but a politician is identified by his voting record. And looking at Mr. Alting’s voting record, especially in the last eight years, I don’t think it reflects the sentiment of our district.”
Democrats
Natasha Baker, a 2010 Harrison High School graduate with two degrees from Purdue, is a consumer sciences teacher in Carroll County, married to a volunteer firefighter and raising children ages 3 and 6 in Battle Ground.
Motivation to run: “I’m running for Senate in District 22, because we need real people with real lives to help real Indiana families,” Baker said in a 90-second announcement on TikTok in October, featuring her running through a day with her family and set to Taylor Swift’s “Opalite.” Among her “campaign cornerstones,” Baker lists strong public schools, state funding for child care, universal pre-K, expanded access to Medicaid, mental health and addiction services, and raising Indiana’s minimum wage.
Marlena Edmonson is a Lafayette resident and 2006 Harrison High School graduate, she is a student service coordinator for the past 12 years with Tippecanoe School Corp.
Motivation to run: In December, Edmondson told Based in Lafayette she believed a social worker’s approach to issues is lacking in the General Assembly. “I have been working with families involved with child welfare, the juvenile justice system, and the last 12 years have been in public education,” she said. “I’ve gotten to the point where I feel like I’ve advocated as much as I can and keep getting caught up by red tape by policies that don’t benefit all students, by seeing how our economy is impacting families and their ability to send their children prepared for school, and by the impact that has on other students and our teachers. I’ve come to a point where I need to make change in a different way. I need to advocate on a larger scale.”
Indiana Senate, District 23
Current: Spencer Deery, Republican
Republicans
Spencer Deery, a West Lafayette Republican, is former deputy chief of staff to then-Purdue President Mitch Daniels and was elected District 23 seat in 2022.
Motivation to run: In November, when Deery announced his re-election bid via a video while kayaking on the Wabash River, saying it was because Senate District 23 included the longest stretch of the river of any in the General Assembly and was something that bound communities of various types in the district – and because it was the scene of what he considered one of the successes of the past four years in stopping the LEAP pipeline from shipping water from western Tippecanoe County to developments in Boone County. “Four years ago, I ran for the first political office of my life. I promised to tell you the truth, to listen to your voice — not the voices from Indianapolis or D.C. — and to lead with integrity,” he said. “I make that same commitment today.”
Paula Copenhaver is a former Fountain County clerk and chair of the Republican Party in Fountain County. She finished third in four-candidate primary Deery won in 2022.
Motivation to run: Copenhaver announced her candidacy as debate swirled over a push from the Trump White House to redraw Indiana’s congressional district map in an attempt to win more Republican seats in the U.S. House. Deery voted against that plan. Copenhaver said in her campaign announcement: “For months, Hoosiers have watched weak leadership in the state senate fail to deliver the redistricting plan needed to keep America on a path that will deliver affordability to American families. District 23 deserves a senator who is unapologetically willing to take on the radical Democrats’ socialist agenda. I’ll be a fighter for Hoosiers and a defender of the Indiana and America First Agenda. … Our state senator should put people first, defend an Indiana and America First agenda, and stand up to the influence of the political insiders who bankroll Statehouse politics.”
Democrats
David Sanders is a Purdue biology professor and a West Lafayette City Council member now in his third term.
Motivation to run: Sanders told Based in Lafayette that he would lean into his calls over the past few years as a city council member and a leader in the nonprofit Stop the Water Steal organization to eliminate the Indiana Economic Development Corp., the quasi-public agency created to lead bring jobs and business to the state. “I’ve been concerned about their impact on the city of West Lafayette and then expanding that to Tippecanoe County and then to the state as a whole,” Sanders said. “The more I’ve learned about it, the more I’ve been concerned about that agency, and to say it has engaged in corrupt practices I don’t think that that’s too far to say. … I’ve called for the abolition of the IEDC, and I will continue to do that.” Sanders said he’d also campaign on issues of public education, free speech and affordability in health care and utility costs.
Indiana House, District 13
Current: Matt Commons, Republican
Republicans
Matt Commons is a Warren County Republican, high school teacher and combat veteran who won a first term in Indiana House District 13 in 2024.
Motivation to run: Commons announced his re-election plans in June 2025. “Over the past year, I have fought for commonsense, conservative policies,” Commons said in his announcement. “Rural Hoosiers deserve a voice, and I will always fight to make sure they are represented.”
Democrats
No Democratic candidate has filed.
Independents
Ben Davis, an IT technologist from Lafayette, announced in November his plans to run for the seat.
Motivation to run: “I’m tired of the Democratic Party telling us that there is no point in running in deep ‘red’ districts,” Davis told Based in Lafayette at the time. “When there are no viable candidates to represent working class voters and they aren’t playing to win, then democracy doesn’t stand a chance. We are either going to let MAGA run rampant or we are going to fight back. … From creating and allowing unaccountable entities that drain money from taxpayers like the (Indiana Economic Development Corp.) and charter schools, to creating laws that discriminate against minorities like gender-diverse kids, to generally not allowing bills from non-Republican legislators to be heard preventing proportional representation, this stranglehold on Indiana politics needs to end.”
Indiana House, District 26
Current: Chris Campbell, Democrat
Democrats
Chris Campbell is a West Lafayette Democrat and an audiologist now in her fourth term in the West Lafayette-based district.
Motivation to run: “It has been my honor to represent our community and look forward to serving our community another term as state representative for District 26, if the voters will have me. As a long-time resident in West Lafayette and Tippecanoe County and my continued participation in the community, I offer a perspective that often those who are presenting their bills have not taken into consideration. I’m able to make sure our voice is heard and policy doesn’t leave us behind and will continue to work hard to assure our voices are heard in Indiana.”
Republicans
No candidate has filed.
Indiana House, District 27
Current: Sheila Klinker, Democrat
Sheila Klinker is a retired school teacher and a Lafayette Democrat first elected to the Indiana House in 1982. She is the longest-serving representative in the Indiana House.
Motivation to run: Klinker told Based in Lafayette that she plans to run “one more time.” Doesn’t she say that each two-year election cycle? “I mean it, though, this time,” Klinker said. “I’ve had people say, ‘Sheila, you want to run one more time?’ And then I have other folks saying, ‘Please don’t quit,’ which makes me feel really positive. And that comes from a lot of people that are younger than I am, that I thought maybe would want to run for this job.” Klinker said: “I’m enjoying it very much, and what really clinched it was the fact that the Republicans had the stamina and the guts to turn down that horrible redistricting map. … I’m concerned about education funding. I really think we have an opportunity to make a difference in the upcoming session, and I think that that the Republicans are looking at this funding and saying, Hey, we got to change this, we’ve got to do something about this. And they’re willing to step out in front. It gives me hope, and I want to be there for that.”
Republicans
No candidates have filed.
Indiana House, District 38
Current: Heath VanNatter, Republican
Republicans
Heath VanNatter, a Kokomo Republican, has filed to run for re-election in a district that includes a northeastern corner of Tippecanoe County
Democrats
Nate Stout, a Tipton Democrat, has filed to run.
Indiana House, District 41
Current: Mark Genda, Republican
Republicans
Mark Genda is a funeral home director from Frankfort. He is in his second term in a district that includes parts of eastern and southern Tippecanoe County
Democrats
No candidate has filed.
Tippecanoe County offices
County Commissioner, District 1
Current: Tracy Brown, Republican
Republicans
Tracy Brown, a Lafayette Republican first elected in 2014, is expected to file for re-election.
Democrats
Andrea Burniske, a Lafayette Democrat, introduced herself this way: “I first engaged in the world of politics as a legislative intern at Oregon’s House Democratic Office. Now I am a seasoned partnership-builder, project manager, and grant writer, with decades of experience leading programs overseas as well as at Purdue Agriculture and Global Engineering. As the parent of a child with special needs, I have been engaged locally with this community, as well as having taught special needs students for three years while earning a second master’s degree in education.”
Motivation to run: “My goal is to leave the commissioner’s office more engaging and visible than I find it now. I believe that community growth needs safeguards. And these are enacted when local voices are empowered in major decisions.”
AR Lane is a Lafayette Democrat, Army veteran, business owner and nonprofit director. After nine years with the Army National Guard, he managed large-scale supply chain operations for Fortune 100 companies as a strategic account manager at UBER Freight and served as the director of racial and social justice for a local nonprofit.
Motivation to run: “Being elected commissioner would allow me to continue sharing my unique perspective, adding to data-driven working knowledge of the community, its strengths and areas of opportunity, and leveraging the talents of local experts and leaders to best engage the community and to codesign sustainable programs and solutions to address the concerns of constituents and ensure economic prosperity and stability for both current and future community members.”
Tippecanoe County Council
Current: District 1, Ben Murray; District 2, Jody Hamilton; District 3, Kathy Vernon; District 4, Lisa Dullum.
District 1
Republicans
No candidate has filed.
Democrats
Ben Murray is in his second term on the county council. He’s a lifetime resident of Lafayette, a DePauw University graduate and has worked as math teacher, coach and administrator with the Lafayette School Corp. for the past 20 years. He and his wife, Kim, have two school-age boys. He’s been involved in coaching youth baseball and soccer, Greater Lafayette Police Foundation Board, Cary Home Advisory Board, CityBus Board of Directors, Tippecanoe County Community Corrections Advisory Board, Jefferson High School Hall of Fame Committee and the Eagle Scout Review Committee.
Motivation to run: “I’m deeply committed to working collaboratively with our community with all stakeholders, including both city of Lafayette and West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County and other elected officials — bringing passion, dedication and fresh ideas to thoughtfully guide our growth and make Tippecanoe County an even better place for everyone to live, work and play. I promise responsible stewardship of every dollar, strong support for our community and thoughtful, sustainable growth — led with transparency and accountability every step of the way.”
District 2
Republicans
Jody Hamilton, current president of the county council, has filed for re-election.
Democrats
No candidate has filed.
District 3
Republicans
Lynn Beck has been Lauramie Township trustee for the past 11 years, serving his last year in 2026. He is retired from IBM and serves as a director of Tipmont REMC.
Motivation to run: “I am seeking the office of county council in District 3 to continue to serve the residents in the southeast part of the county. I want to continue to share my fiscal knowledge of county government and believe I would be of value to our community.”
Democrats
No candidate has filed.
District 4
Democrats
Lisa Dullum was first elected to the county council in 2018. She is retired marketing/engineering professional with over 20 years of experience at Hewlett Packard and Cummins Engine. She earned an MBA from UCLA and a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. She is active Daybreak Rotary, Adult Learners, Inc (Treasurer), Greater Lafayette Indivisible, League of Women Voters, and Racial Reconciliation of Greater Lafayette.
Motivation to run: “The county council is the fiscal agent of county government and responsible for the annual budget. My experience as county councilor and in the private sector will be valuable as the council manages the budget impact of Gov. (Mike) Braun’s upcoming tax cuts for businesses and wealthy individuals (SEA 1). I will also advocate for improved access to early voting, improved customer service at the Board of Elections, and improved transparency and accountability in county government.”
Republicans
No candidate has filed.
Prosecutor
Current: Pat Harrington
Republicans
Pat Harrington said he plans to file for re-election.
Democrats
No candidates has filed.
County Clerk
Current: Julie Roush, a Republican who will finish her second and final term as clerk in 2026.
Republicans
Abby Myers has worked in the Tippecanoe County Clerk’s Office since 2019. “(I) currently serve as the High Volume Court Clerk Supervisor, where I train and oversee staff. Through this role, I’ve gained firsthand experience with court operations, elections, and voter registration. I have 14 years of public service experience, including more than nine years working in clerk’s offices.”
Motivation to run: “I’m running this year because I care deeply about this community and want to continue serving its residents by ensuring the Clerk’s Office operates with integrity, accuracy and transparency while meeting the public’s needs.”
Carrie Sanders, a lifelong Tippecanoe County resident, has “spent more than 20 years working inside our local court and election system, starting as a clerk and clerk supervisor, then serving as a paralegal, court reporter and working with the Board of Elections/Voter Registration.” She’s married, with 3 children, “and outside of the courthouse I am a certified nutrition coach and lifelong fitness and strength-training athlete, which reflects the discipline and consistency I bring to my work.”
Motivation to run: “I am running because the Clerk’s office is complex, demanding and essential to public trust, and it requires leadership that understands the job on day one. I was encouraged to run by elected officials and courthouse staff who know the work firsthand and believed my experience and approach would serve the county well, and I am ready to take on that responsibility.
Democrats
Karan Benner is a Purdue graduate and former owner of the Skylight Coffeehouse in downtown Lafayette, mentoring youth in Scouting and Odyssey of the Mind and serving in the Voter Registration and County Assessor’s offices.
Motivation to run: After retiring in 2023, she said she felt compelled to return to public service “to ensure that local government remains responsive to the people it serves.” She says her campaign “is built on the belief that ‘choice’ and ‘transparency’ are not just buzzwords, but essential tools for a functioning democracy.” She said her priorities include expanding early voting, upgrading office technology and utilizing a “background in business and government to find efficient, long-term solutions that work for everyone, regardless of their background.”
Auditor
Current: Jennifer Weston, Republican
Republicans
No candidate has filed.
Democrats
Eric Grossman is the county’s current assessor. From Grossman: “I worked in the county assessor office from 2008-2012 performing key duties in both the (Samantha) Steele and (Linda) Phillips administrations. I am a local business owner and real estate investor. I owned and managed a construction company that specialized in historic commercial renovation prior to being elected county assessor in 2015. My wife and I reside in West Lafayette (unincorporated) raising two daughters and chasing after two dogs.”
Motivation to run: “In 2014, I campaigned on the promise that your assessment would be transparent and tech-savvy. We have turned that vision into reality with award-winning digital records, data and forms online and a staff culture dedicated to competence in valuation and equity above all. I have a track record of respecting taxpayers, cutting excess government spending, and improving transparency in the assessor’s office. I have these same goals in mind for the auditor’s office. The auditor’s website should utilize online digital forms for deductions and make it easy for taxpayers to file with clear instructions. I will streamline online deduction filings and ensure every meeting minute and financial report is easily searchable online. Most importantly, I will use my experience in county government to audit, report and reduce wasteful, duplicative tech spending and ineffective contracting.”
Recorder
Current: Kristy Martin, Republican
Republicans
No candidate has filed.
Democrats
Monica Casanova is the Fairfield Township trustee. From Casanova: “I have dedicated my professional life to public service as a public librarian, case manager for a mental health community center, assistant director for the LUM Immigration Clinic, and most currently as an elected official.”
Motivation to run: “My motivation to run for the office of county recorder is the opportunity to offer my skills and experience as an effective and collaborative community leader to improve the efficiency and accessibility of the recorder’s office.”
Sheriff
Current: Bob Goldsmith, elected as a Democrat, is finishing his second and final term as sheriff in 2026.
Republicans
Tom Lehman is captain of patrol for the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office. During a 29-year career with the office, he also has overseen the jail division and worked in both patrol and detective divisions and advanced through the ranks. Married with two children, he is a lifelong resident of Battle Ground and is a Harrison and Purdue graduate.
Motivation to run: “It has been an honor to serve our community for 29 years. Throughout this time, I have protected with integrity, served with compassion and led with accountability. As sheriff, I want to ensure the office maintains these values, which will assist in the development of a stronger and safer community.”
Assessor
Current: Eric Grossman, Democrat
Democrats
Kaitlyn Butler, a lifelong Tippecanoe County resident, has worked in the assessor’s office since 2014. From Butler: “Since that time, I have gained hands-on experience with every part of the assessment process, leading to my appointment as chief deputy assessor in 2021.”
Motivation to run: “The current assessor team has decades of experience, and together we have built a foundation of accuracy and accessibility. I am running to ensure taxpayers continue to receive the same level of expertise, transparency and the respectful service they deserve.”
Republicans
No candidate has filed.
Tippecanoe County judicial offices
Superior Court 1
Current: Randy Williams, a Republican who announced in 2025 he would retire from the bench in January 2026.
Republicans
Kevin McDaniel
Democrats
No candidate filed
Superior Court 2
Current: Steve Meyer, a Democrat who is not running for re-election.
Republicans
Sarah Wyatt, a Tippecanoe County magistrate, has filed to run.
Democrats
No candidate has filed.
Superior Court 4
Current: Matt Sandy, Republican
Republicans
Matt Sandy has filed for a second term.
Democrats
No candidate has filed
Superior Court 5
Current: Kristen McVey, Republican
No candidates have filed.
Superior Court 7
Current: Dan Moore, Republican
No candidates have filed.
Township offices
Tippecanoe County has 13 townships, each with a trustee and three-member township board.
Fairfield Township
Trustee
Democrats
Ted Hardesty is a former West Lafayette City Council member.
Rocky Hession is a former Fairfield Township Board member.
Republicans: No candidate has filed
Fairfield Township Board
Democrats: Susan Schechter.
Republicans: No candidate has filed.
Wabash Township
Trustee
Democrats
Angel Valentin has been Wabash Township trustee since 2022. He and his wife, Apoorva Bademi, live in West Lafayette. He graduated from Purdue in mechanical engineering and has worked in various local nonprofits over the last few years.
Motivation to run: “I’m running for re-election because there is a lot of work to carry out at the township still. We’ve invested strongly in both our fire protection and our emergency medical services over the last four years, but much work remains to ensure that we can meet our growing community’s need. We need to invest in a second staffed fire station in our areas of growth in northern Wabash Township, and we need to continue to grow our firefighting and EMS staff to support our growing run volume. I’m also focused on making sure that we can expand our assistance programs at Wabash Township, including by adding a food pantry at our offices.”
Sheffield Township
Trustee
Republicans
Pam Crum is a longtime trustee in Sheffield Township. She and her husband, Todd Crum, have eight children. “I have lived in Tippecanoe County all my life except for three years. Those three years I lived in North Carolina where Todd was stationed at Fort Bragg.”
Motivation to run: “I’m running for Sheffield Township trustee because I enjoy serving my community. I have 31 years of experience as trustee. Prior to being elected trustee I was a member of the Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department and director of daycare at Dayton United Methodist Church.”
Democrats: No candidate has filed.
Sheffield Township Board
Republicans: Jerry Arvin, Terry Thayer
Perry Township
Perry Township Board
Republicans: Joseph Daubenmier
Randolph Township
Randolph Township Board
Republicans: Fred Inskeep
Shadeland Town Council
Republicans: David Downey
Union Township
Trustee
Republicans: Jo Ritchie
Union Township Board
Republicans: Steven Plantenga, Mary Grace Gish.
Washington Township
Trustee
Republicans: Karen Cadle
Wayne Township
Trustee
Republicans: Norman Hayman
Wea Township
Trustee
Republicans: Jim Slaven
General Election only
School boards: Lafayette School Corp. board, four seats; Tippecanoe School Corp. board, three seats; and West Lafayette Community School Corp. board, three seats.
State offices: Secretary of State, state auditor and state treasurer
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