Your 2026 Primary Election Voter Guide: Every Race on the Blackford County Ballot
The May 5 primary election is less than two weeks away. Here is what Blackford County voters need to know about the races on the ballot — from local county offices to Congress.
Indiana is an open-primary state. Voters choose which party's ballot they want at the polls, but may only vote in one party's primary. A government-issued photo ID is required to vote.
Early voting is underway at the Blackford County Clerk's Office, 110 W. Washington St., Hartford City. Check your registration at indianavoters.in.gov.
Nearly every contested race this year is in the Republican primary. In most county races, no Democrats filed, meaning the Republican primary winner might take office with no November opponent.
U.S. Representative — Indiana's 3rd Congressional District (Contested Republican Primary)
Incumbent Marlin Stutzman faces challenger Jon Kenworthy in the Republican primary.
Stutzman, a businessman and farmer from Howe, previously served in Congress from 2010 to 2016, lost a 2016 Senate bid, then won this seat back in 2024 with 65% of the general election vote. He succeeded Jim Banks, who won a U.S. Senate seat. Stutzman sits on the House Committee on Financial Services and lists inflation, the economy, and fighting what he calls "corruption in federal bureaucracies" among his priorities.
Kenworthy, a military analyst from Fort Wayne, ran against Stutzman in the 2024 Republican primary and received about 4% of the vote in a seven-candidate field. His campaign focuses on campaign finance reform, transparency, and full release of Epstein case records.
On the Democratic side, Kelly Thompson is running uncontested. Thompson, a business owner, has been campaigning for nearly a year on protecting farmland, lowering healthcare costs, affordable housing, and cannabis legalization.
The 3rd District covers all of Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells, and Whitley counties, plus parts of Jay and Kosciusko counties.
Sources: WFYI (April 17, 2026); Fox59; Ballotpedia
State Senate — District 19 (Contested Republican Primary)
Incumbent Travis Holdman of Markle has held the Senate District 19 seat since 2008. He serves as Senate Majority Caucus Chair and chairs the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee. An attorney and former bank president, Holdman, 75, carries endorsements from the Indiana Farm Bureau, the state Chamber of Commerce, and all five county sheriffs in the district.
Fiechter, 36, a real estate broker and first-term Bluffton city council member, received a Trump endorsement via social media on Jan. 22, before he had formally decided to run. He filed, then announced in February he was ending his campaign, citing a lack of organizational support. He later reappeared after visiting the White House with other Trump-endorsed candidates.
The race is tied to a broader political fight. Holdman was among 21 Senate Republicans who voted against redrawing Indiana's congressional maps in December 2025. Trump endorsed challengers against several of those senators. Despite Fiechter's withdrawal, anti-Holdman advertising from outside groups continues to reach district voters.
Timothy Murphy is running uncontested in the Democratic primary.
Senate District 19 covers Blackford, Adams, Jay, and Wells counties plus parts of Allen County.
Sources: Indiana Capital Chronicle/Yahoo News (April 2026); Ballotpedia; Hartford City News-Times
State Representative — District 33 (Uncontested)
Incumbent J.D. Prescott is running uncontested in the Republican primary. John E. Bartlett is uncontested on the Democratic side. The two faced each other in 2022 as well.
Source: Indiana Secretary of State 2026 Primary Candidate List via Indiana Citizen
Blackford County Commissioner — District 2 (Contested Republican Primary — 3 Candidates)
Three Republicans are competing for this seat — one of at least three contested county races drawing attention this primary: incumbent Laura Pierce Coons and challengers Shane Smith and Eddie E. Cansler.
Coons has held the District 2 seat since winning in 2022. Cansler was the last to file, joining the race on Jan. 27.
With three candidates splitting the vote, the winner could prevail with as little as 34% support. No Democrats filed, so the primary winner takes office.
Sources: Hartford City News-Times (Feb. 4, 2026); Ballotpedia; Indiana SOS candidate filing list
Blackford County Prosecuting Attorney — 71st Judicial Circuit (Contested Republican Primary)
Incumbent Joelle Freiburger is seeking her second term as prosecutor. She faces Aaron M. Henderson, who currently serves as Blackford County's chief public defender.
The matchup creates an unusual dynamic: the challenger works on the opposite side of the courtroom from the incumbent. Henderson knows the county's criminal justice system from the defense side. He previously ran for prosecutor as a Democrat in 2018.
No Democrats filed. The primary winner becomes the next prosecutor.
Sources: Hartford City News-Times (April 2026); Ballotpedia
Blackford County Coroner (Contested Republican Primary)
Adam Solga and Tarick Townsend Strine are competing for coroner. The current coroner, Zach Crouch, was elected in 2022. It is unclear whether Crouch chose not to seek re-election.
No Democrats filed. The primary winner will be the next coroner.
Source: Hartford City News-Times (April 2026); Ballotpedia
Blackford County Surveyor (Contested Republican Primary)
Clint Abney and Chris Green are running for surveyor. The current surveyor, Paul Schriver, was elected in 2022. It is unclear whether Schriver is seeking re-election.
No Democrats filed. The primary winner will be the next surveyor.
Source: Hartford City News-Times (Feb. 4, 2026); Ballotpedia
Blackford County Council — District 1 (Contested Republican Primary + November Race)
Derek Bonewit and Jeff Whetzel are competing in the Republican primary. Both filed during the last week of the filing period.
The District 1 seat is currently held by Fred Tobey, who does not appear to have filed for re-election.
This is one of the few county races that will also be contested in November. The Republican winner will face Democrat Ashlee Beeman in the general election.
Sources: Hartford City News-Times (Feb. 4, 2026); Ballotpedia
Blackford County Council — District 3 (Contested Republican Primary)
Patrick Cale and Deb Grider are running in the Republican primary. No Democrats filed. The primary winner takes office.
Source: Ballotpedia
Uncontested County Races
The following candidates are running without primary opposition:
Sheriff: Jim Heflin (R)
Auditor: Lisa Flint Simmons (R, incumbent)
Assessor: Sheila Hyer (R)
County Council, District 2: Heather Scaggs (R)
County Council, District 4: Kyle Lechien (R, incumbent)
Source: Hartford City News-Times; Indiana SOS filing list
How to Vote
Early Voting Began April 7, 2026
Early Voting Location Blackford County Clerk's Office, 110 W. Washington St., Hartford City
Primary Election Day Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Photo ID Required Yes — government-issued photo ID
Check Your Registration indianavoters.in.gov
Sources: Hartford City News-Times; Indiana Secretary of State; Ballotpedia; WFYI; Indiana Capital Chronicle/Yahoo News; Fox59; Indiana Citizen