Sheila Klinker: Running ‘one more time … I mean it, though, this time’
And other takeaways from the opening days of candidate filings ahead of the 2026 primaries. Plus, introducing a running list: Who’s running and why.
A monthlong candidate filing period started Wednesday ahead of the May 5 primary. The first few days showed there will be plenty happening on both sides of Tippecanoe County ballots.
Here are a few takeaways from the first days of filing – with plenty to go before the Feb. 6 cutoff for major party candidates aiming to get on the primary ballot.
SHEILA KLINKER SAYS, ‘ONE MORE TIME:’ State Rep. Sheila Klinker, a Lafayette Democrat first elected in 1982 and currently the longest-serving member of the Indiana General Assembly, hasn’t filed, yet. That, she said, will come next week. (“It’s been a busy week down in Indianapolis,” Klinker said Friday, as the legislature’s 2026 session picked up last week.)
But Klinker told Based in Lafayette that she plans to run “one more time,” making it her 23rd campaign.
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.”
No Republican has filed or announced intentions to do so in House District 27, which is centered in Lafayette.
Klinker, 87, said she’s not ready to back away from a schedule around the district that is the stuff of actual ballads written about her everywhere-at-once presence in Lafayette.
“As you know, I try to be at everything,” Klinker said.
As for the work at the Statehouse and looking for one more term?
“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,” Klinker said. “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 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.”
SOME OF THE CONTESTED PRIMARIES, SO FAR: Some primaries have been lining up for a while. Consider …
The two Indiana Senate seats that include Tippecanoe County. State Sen. Ron Alting, a Lafayette Republican and longest-serving member of the Indiana Senate, faces a primary challenge in Senate District 22 from Richard Bagsby, a Realtor and minister. Waiting for the winner of that one will be the winner of a Democratic primary that features Natasha Baker, a teacher who lives near Battle Ground, and Marlena Edmonson, is a student service coordinator with Tippecanoe School Corp.
State Sen. Spencer Deery, a West Lafayette Republican, will face Paula Copenhaver, a former Fountain County clerk and a staff member of Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, in what has been promised to be a campaign in Indiana Senate District 23 spilling over from the failed redistricting push in late 2025. David Sanders, a West Lafayette City Council member, plans to run on the Democratic side.
For the 4th District congressional seat: And the field continued to line up in U.S. House 4th District, where Rep. Jim Baird faces at least two challengers – state Rep. Craig Haggard and a repeat bid by John Piper – in the GOP primary. At least for Democrats – Drew Cox, Thomas Hall, Joe Mackey and John Whetstone – have signaled they plan to file.
But the first week of filing revealed down-ballot primaries brewing, too.
For county clerk: Carrie Sanders and Abby Myers, Republicans who each with experience in the office, followed up on intentions announced in the fall to run to replace Julie Roush, a Republican who will finish her second and final term as clerk in 2026. The winner will likely face Karan Benner, a Lafayette Democrat and former owner of the Skylight Coffeehouse who has worked in the county’s election and assessor’s offices.
For county commissioner: One of the three Tippecanoe County commissioner seats will be on the ballot. Tracy Brown, a Lafayette Republican first elected to the seat in 2014, is expected to file for re-election. Two Democrats filed this week for the primary. Andrea Burniske, who has experience in international development programs, including those at Purdue, and AR Lane, an Army veteran, business owner and nonprofit director. After a rally Saturday at Mama Ines Bakery to introduce a slate of Democrats running for county seats, Ken Jones, Tippecanoe County Democratic Party chair, said the field in the primary for county commissioner could grow, too.
WHO’S RUNNING AND WHY: A RUNNING LIST: During the filing period, BiL will update a list of candidates along with short bios and their motivation to run. For subscribers, the file is too big to email. But it will be available at basedinlafayette.com. Here’s where things stood, as of Friday, Jan. 9, filings at the county elections office and the Indiana Secretary of State.
MORE INFO:
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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Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.
Thanks again, Dave. Curious as to why was Sanders' name left out of the summary for Senate District 23's race? He's not primarying Deery, but he is in the Democratic primary. His article is linked, but no text in the main article.
"State Sen. Spencer Deery, a West Lafayette Republican, will face Paula Copenhaver, a former Fountain County clerk and a staff member of Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, in what has been promised to be a campaign in Indiana Senate District 23 spilling over from the failed redistricting push in late 2025."
So much to comment on here. Thanks, Dave.
Regarding Sheila Klinker running again: What arguments has Sheila made, along others, to support the claim that she is the best Democratic candidate for 2026?
Competitive races are important for all elections, including party primaries. I hope we see several options on the ballot each cycle this year.