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The Candidate Hub · 2026 General

18 candidates. 14 races.
One ballot.

The Ledger has filed every candidate on the November 3, 2026 primary ballot, with a deep profile each. Browse by race, or use the compare view to see how all candidates stack up on money, alignment, and local roots.

U.S. Representative — Indiana's 3rd District

Republican primary May 5, 2026 for Indiana's 3rd U.S. House district. IN-3 covers 12 northeast-Indiana counties including Blackford.

  • Marlin Stutzman Republican · Howe · Incumbent

    Fourth-term Freedom Caucus Republican from Howe; back in his old IN-3 seat after losing the 2016 Senate primary and sitting out 2017–2024.

  • Kelly Thompson Democrat · North Webster

    North Webster small-business owner and teen suicide-prevention nonprofit founder. Lifelong Republican until 2016. Lost 2020 Indiana House race 55–45 to four-term incumbent in a pandemic election; says GOP redistricting then moved her home out of the district.

Indiana State Senate, District 19

Republican primary May 5, 2026 for Indiana State Senate D-19, covering Adams, Blackford, Jay, Wells and part of Allen counties.

  • Blake Fiechter Republican · Bluffton

    Trump-endorsed first-term Bluffton councilman challenging the Senate's third-ranking Republican. Suspended his campaign in February citing organizational shortfalls; re-entered after a March Oval Office meeting with five other Trump-backed Indiana Senate primary challengers.

  • Timothy Murphy Democrat · Fort Wayne

    Progressive UCC pastor, author, and former Claremont School of Theology adjunct; sole Democrat on the May 5 ballot in IN-19. Will face the Holdman / Fiechter primary winner in November in a district Trump won by 39 points.

Indiana State House, District 33

Republican primary May 5, 2026 for Indiana State House District 33, covering all of Blackford and Randolph counties plus portions of Delaware, Henry, and Jay counties.

  • J.D. Prescott Republican · Union City · Incumbent

    Four-term Republican incumbent; Ways & Means committee member; lead House author on state-level immigration enforcement (HB 1531 / SB 76); on the record arguing for full elimination of Indiana's property tax. Uncontested in the May 5 primary, with zero contributions in 2026 cycle and $9,648 cash on hand.

  • John E. Bartlett Democrat · Hartford City

    Two-time prior Democratic nominee for IN-33 (2022, 2024) running for a third time against incumbent J.D. Prescott. Lifelong east-central Indiana resident; former six-year Blackford County Democratic Party Chair. Substantive rural-economy and data-center-skeptic platform.

Blackford County Commissioner, District 2

Three-way Republican primary May 5, 2026 for one of three seats on the Blackford County Board of Commissioners. No Democrat filed by the Feb 6 deadline, making the primary the de facto general election.

  • Shane "Squatch" Smith Republican · Hartford City

    First-run Republican primary challenger; co-owner of five Blackford County businesses; co-host of 'The Squatch and Ashley Show' weekly podcast; lead of the $723,980 fairgrounds building committee. Tax-abatement skeptic on the four wind and solar projects in negotiation with the county.

Blackford County Prosecuting Attorney

Two-way contested Republican primary May 5, 2026 for prosecuting attorney of the 71st Judicial Circuit (coterminous with Blackford County). No Democrat had filed by Feb 6 deadline; party may fill ballot line via caucus after primary.

  • Aaron M. Henderson Republican · Hartford City

    Lifelong Blackford County resident; current Chief Public Defender of Blackford County (since 2024). 36+ year criminal-justice career: DARE Officer Hartford City (1991-~1995), 20 years Blackford Probation Department ending as Chief, 11+ years private practice (Aaron M. Henderson Law Office, Hartford City), 9 years Jay County Public Defender. JD Cum Laude, Thomas M. Cooley 2014.

Blackford County Coroner

Two-way contested Republican primary May 5, 2026 for an open Blackford County Coroner seat — incumbent Zach Crouch is ineligible to run again. No Democrat had filed by Feb 6 deadline; primary is the de facto general election.

  • Adam Solga Republican · Hartford City

    Current Deputy Coroner under incumbent Zach Crouch (who is ineligible to run again). Blackford HS graduate; Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (2014); community-safety career since 2006 across Montpelier PD, Blackford and Wells County Sheriff's Offices, and the Coroner's Office. Also works as Production Shift Manager at Petoskey Plastics.

Blackford County Council, District 2

Republican Heather Scaggs is running completely unopposed for the open Blackford County Council District 2 seat. Incumbent Dan Borgenheimer (elected 2022) now serves as Vice President of the Board of Commissioners, leaving the council seat open. Scaggs is seeking the seat for the first time. No Republican primary challenger and no Democrat or independent filed for the November general.

  • Heather Scaggs Republican · Hartford City

    Hartford City resident and registered nurse. Running completely unopposed for County Council District 2 — no R primary challenger, no D, no independent.

Blackford County Surveyor

Two-way contested Republican primary May 5, 2026 for an open Blackford County Surveyor seat — incumbent Paul Schriver is not seeking re-election. No Democrat had filed by Feb 6 deadline; primary is the de facto general election.

  • Chris Green Republican · Blackford County

    Lifelong Blackford County resident seeking the open Blackford County Surveyor seat. Incumbent Paul Schriver is not running. Limited public information is available about Green's professional background or campaign platform.

Blackford County Council, District 1

Two-way Republican primary May 5, 2026 for an open seat (incumbent Fred Tobey not seeking re-election). Democrat Ashlee Beeman has also filed, meaning a contested November general election follows the primary — one of the few Blackford County races in 2026 with a general-election Democrat.

  • Jeff Whetzel Republican · Hartford City

    Roll native and Hartford City resident. Blackford HS graduate. Married to Dr. Laura K. Windsor, O.D. (The Eye Associates Group / Low Vision Centers of Indiana). Reported as uncontested in R primary as of April 7, 2026; will face Democrat Ashlee Beeman in November general.

  • Ashlee D. Beeman Democrat · Hartford City

    The only Democrat running for any Blackford County local office in 2026. Hartford City resident and former small-business owner (The Veridian Salon and Spa, sold November 2024). Running uncontested in the D primary; will face the R nominee in the November general.

Blackford County Council, District 4

Two-term Republican incumbent Kyle Lechien is running completely unopposed for a third term. He first won in 2018 by a 70%-30% margin over Democrat Brian Ross, then ran uncontested in 2022 and again in 2026. No Republican primary challenger and no Democrat or independent filed for the November general.

  • Kyle Lechien Republican · Hartford City · Incumbent

    Two-term incumbent seeking a third term on county council. First elected 2018 (70%-30% over Democrat Brian Ross); uncontested in 2022 and 2026. Running completely unopposed.

Blackford County Council, District 3

Two-way contested Republican primary May 5, 2026 between two-term incumbent Patrick Cale and challenger Deb Grider. No Democrat had filed by the Feb 6 deadline; primary is the de facto general.

  • Deb Grider Republican · Blackford County

    Rural Blackford County resident; Jay County HS and ITT Tech graduate; 30+ year insurance agent. First run for public office. Challenging two-term incumbent Patrick Cale (who switched from D to R between terms). Participated in News-Times Q&A that Cale declined.

Blackford County Sheriff

Incumbent Sheriff Jim Heflin (R) is running completely unopposed in 2026 — no Republican primary challenger and no Democrat or independent filed for the November general. The 2022 race was contested (Heflin beat John Lancaster 52%-48% in the R primary, then defeated two independents in the general).

  • Jim Heflin Republican · Hartford City · Incumbent

    First-term incumbent sheriff running completely unopposed in 2026. Career law enforcement officer; served as Chief Deputy and E.R.T. Co-Commander before winning a contested 2022 primary (52%-48% over John Lancaster) and general election.

Blackford County Assessor

Incumbent Assessor Sheila Hyer (R) is running completely unopposed in 2026 — no Republican primary challenger and no Democrat or independent filed for the November general. She was also uncontested in 2022. The county assessor determines the assessed value of all real and personal property in Blackford County for tax purposes.

  • Sheila Hyer Republican · Blackford County · Incumbent

    First-term incumbent Assessor running completely unopposed. Previously served as Deputy Assessor. Determines assessed value of all property in the county for tax purposes.

Blackford County Auditor

Incumbent Auditor Lisa Flint Simmons (R) is running completely unopposed in 2026 — no Republican primary challenger and no Democrat or independent filed for the November general. The auditor serves as the county's chief fiscal officer and Secretary to the seven-member County Council.

  • Lisa Flint Simmons Republican · Blackford County · Incumbent

    Incumbent Blackford County Auditor and Secretary to the County Council. Running completely unopposed in 2026 — no R primary challenger, no D, no independent.