Voter guide: Ballots, candidate Q&As, where to vote in May 7 primary
A primer on the primary election, including where to vote, who will be on ballots, candidate Q&As and what’s at stake in contested races.
Thanks to Stuart & Branigin for continued support of the Based in Lafayette reporting project.
VOTER GUIDE: BALLOTS, CANDIDATE Q&AS, WHERE TO VOTE AND MORE IN THE MAY 7 PRIMARY
Early voting ends at noon Monday ahead of the Tuesday, May 7, primary.
If you’re just getting up to speed on this year’s election, here’s a quick voter guide on where to vote, who will be on ballots, candidate Q&As and what’s at stake in contested races.
THE CANDIDATES AND THE RACES
Here are candidates who have filed or have indicated they plan to file in Tippecanoe County races ahead of the May 7 primary.
Tippecanoe County
Commissioner, District 2: David Byers* and Jeff Findley, R; Steven Mayoras, Libertarian
Commissioner, District 3: Tom Murtaugh*, R; Jaime Ortiz, Libertarian
County Council, at-large (3): Republicans: John Basham*, Paige Britton, Dan Dunten, Barry Richard* and Kevin Underwood*. Democrats: Katy Bunder, Ben Carson, Amanda Eldridge, Joe Mackey and Wendy Starr.
Coroner: Carrie Costello*, R
Treasurer: Yadira Salazar*, R
Surveyor: Zach Beasley*, R
Judge, Circuit Court: Sean Persin*, R
Judge, Superior Court 6: Michael Morrissey*, R
Statehouse races
House District 13: Matthew Commons and Sharon Negele*, R; Ed Moyer Jr., D
House District 26: Chris Campbell*, D; Jim Schenke, R
House District 27: Sheila Klinker*, D; Oscar Alvarez, R
House District 38: Heath VanNatter* and Jason Gossard, R
House District 41: Mark Genda* and Joe Sturm, R; Dan Sikes, D
Statewide
Governor: Republican: Mike Braun, Brad Chambers, Suzanne Crouch, Eric Doden, Curtis Hill and Jamie Reitenour. Democratic: Jennifer McCormick. Libertarian: Donald Rainwater
Federal
U.S. House, District 4: Jim Baird*, Charles Bookwalter and John Piper, R; Rimpi Girn and Derrick Holder, D
U.S. Senate: Jim Banks, R; Valerie McCray and Marc Carmichael, D
Townships
Shadeland Township Board: Michael Kuipers, Pamela Luenz, Robert Morrison Jr. and Josh Shives, R.
Shadeland Clerk-Treasurer: Charlene Brown, R
For a look at all the candidates who will be on Republican and Democratic ballots in the May 7 primary in Tippecanoe County, check here.
CANDIDATE Q&AS
Based in Lafayette asked a series of questions and gathered bios of candidates in contested races that will be on Tippecanoe County ballots.
U.S. House, 4th District
Republicans: U.S. Rep. Jim Baird, a Republican from Greencastle, faces two primary opponents May 7. It’s a race delayed, actually, after challenger Charles Bookwalter was booted from the ballot in 2022 after Republicans in the 4th District showed that the Thorntown business owner did meet the state’s law that says a candidate must have voted in two party primaries to qualify for the ballot. Bookwalter has been campaigning that Baird isn’t conservative enough for a district that includes Tippecanoe County, the surrounding seven counties, along with much of west-central Indiana. Republican John Piper also is running.
Democratic: Rimpi Girn, an insurance broker from Hamilton County, and Derrick Holder, paralegal from Martinsville, are looking for a nomination for the November ballot.
The Q&A: Rimpi Girn and Derrick Holder
For more from the 4th District: Three of the five candidates participated in a forum held in April in West Lafayette, sponsored by the local group Stop the Water Steal. Baird was not there, saying he was in Washington, D.C., while Congress was in. Here’s a look at some of the takeaways from that conversation: “Minus Rep. Jim Baird, candidates debate in 4th District.”
General Assembly seats
Indiana House District 13: State Rep. Sharon Negele, a Republican from Attica first elected to the General Assembly in 2012, faces a primary challenge from Matt Commons, a high school teacher and a Warren County Council member, in Indiana House District 13. The race is among first serious challenges for Negele, owner of Wolf’s Fine Handmade Chocolates, in any of her re-election campaigns. In the past week, campaign finance reports show that House Republican Campaign Committee and the Indiana Republican Party put a combined $47,000 toward Negele’s campaign, and Common racked up a series of high-profile local endorsements in a campaign that tried to build steam around concerns about the LEAP pipeline, among others. (From State Affairs columnist Brian Howey: “If you want to know where the primary hot-spot races are, follow the House Republican Campaign Committee and the Indiana Republican Party. By that measure, state Reps. Sharon Negele … (is) battling for (her) career.”) The district includes a large part of southern and northern Tippecanoe County, along with all of Benton and Warren counties, and portions of Fountain, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton and White counties. The winner on May 7 will face Edward Moyer Jr., a Democrat from Hillsboro, on the November ballot.
Here’s the Q&A: Indiana House District 13: Rep. Sharon Negele and Matt Commons
Indiana House District 41: First-term Republican Mark Genda, a funeral home director from Frankfort, faces Joe Sturm, retired and a member of the Lauramie Township Board in Tippecanoe County, on the Republican ballot in Indiana House District 41. The district includes a large part of southeastern Tippecanoe County, along with parts of Clinton and Boone counties. The winner will face Democrat Dan Sikes, an office manager for a local exterminator, in November.
The Q&A: Rep. Mark Genda and Joe Sturm; plus Democratic candidate Dan Sikes
Tippecanoe County
County Commissioner, District 2: Republican David Byers, a dairy farmer and county commissioner for the past four term, faces a challenge from Jeff Findlay, retired owner of Findlay Drilling Co. Findlay’s campaign rose out of the pushback in the community about the Indiana Economic Development Corp.’s plans to tap water from the aquifer near the Wabash River in western Tippecanoe County. Both candidates opposed the pipeline concept, which remains a driver in the primary. Libertarian Steven Mayoras has announced he will run for the seat on the November ballot. No Democratic candidate has surfaced for the District 2 seat on the three-member board of commissioners. The district includes much of the western part of Tippecanoe County, though everyone in the county votes for the position.
The Q&A: David Byers and Jeff Findlay; plus Libertarian Steven Mayoras
Tippecanoe County Council: The three at-large seats on the Tippecanoe County Council, the fiscal, budget-making body for county government, drew 10 candidates challenging incumbent Republicans John Basham, Barry Richard and Kevin Underwood. The field includes five Republicans and five Democrats. Three from each party will advance to the November ballot. Here are the Q&As and bios:
Q&A: County Council, at-large, Republican: Five candidates for three seats – John Basham, Paige Britton, Dan Dunten, Barry Richard and Kevin Underwood
Q&A: County Council, at-large, Democratic: Five candidates for three seats – Katy Bunder, Ben Carson, Amanda Eldridge, Joe Mackey and Wendy Starr
OTHER RACES, OTHER READS …
In Tippecanoe County and in Indiana: The League of Women Voters in Greater Lafayette have a series of candidate Q&As in local and state races, available here: https://www.vote411.org/plan-your-vote
Race for governor: The Indiana Capital Chronicle had a series of profiles on the six Republicans running for Indiana governor, looking at their backgrounds and their platforms. Here’s a look at the Republican field, lining up to face Democratic candidate Jennifer McCormick, former state superintendent for public instruction, and Libertarian Donald Rainwater:
Mike Braun, U.S. senator: “Health background, Congressional record bolsters Braun gubernatorial campaign.”
Brad Chambers, former head of the Indiana Economic Development Corp.: “Entrepreneurship drives Chambers campaign for governor.”
Suzanne Crouch, Indiana lieutenant governor: “Suzanne Crouch seeks governorship for the voiceless.”
Eric Doden, Fort Wayne businessman and former head of the Indiana Economic Development Corp.: “Gubernatorial candidate Eric Doden sees small towns as key for Indiana’s future.”
Curtis Hill, former Indiana attorney general: “Conservatism — social and fiscal — underpins Curtis Hill gubernatorial campaign.”
Jamie Reitenour, conservative activist: “An unconventional take on the governor’s seat.”
The Indiana Capital Chronicle also had Q&As with the candidates for governor on a number of key issues. Those included:
Q&A: Indiana’s GOP candidates for governor give their stances on education
Q+A: Indiana’s GOP candidates for governor address environmental issues
WHERE TO VOTE
In Tippecanoe County, registered voters may cast ballots at any available vote center. Voters in the primary will be asked to choose a Democratic or Republican ballot, which will have candidates from that party only.
Early voting: The final times of early voting in Tippecanoe County will be 8 a.m.-noon Monday, May 6, at the Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette.
Election Day vote centers: Voting on Tuesday, May 7, will be 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Registered voters in Tippecanoe County may choose any of these sites.
Lafayette
Evangelical Covenant Church, 3600 S. Ninth St.
Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road
Northend Community Center, 2000 Elmwood Ave.
Lafayette Community Church of the Nazarene, 3801 Union St.
Eastside Assembly of God, 6121 E. County Road 50 South
Tippecanoe County Historical Association History Center, 522 Columbia St.
Wea Ridge Baptist Church, 1051 E. County Road 430 South
West Lafayette
John Dennis Wellness Center, 1101 Kalberer Road
Faith West Community Center, 1920 Northwestern Ave.
West Lafayette City Hall, 222 N. Chauncey Ave.
Outside the two cities
Wabash Township Fire Station No. 1, 2899 Klondike Road
Tippecanoe Township Fire Station No. 2, 448 W. County Road 650 North
Battle Ground Fire Station, 112 North St., Battle Ground
Dayton Gathering Point Church, 7201 Wesleyan Drive, Dayton
Shadeland Town Hall, 2584 Indiana 25 West
YOUR BALLOT AND VOTER REGISTRATION CHECK
To check your voter registration and to see candidates who will be on your specific Republican or Democratic ballot, go to the Secretary of State’s portal at www.indianavoters.com.
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