Keri Yousif January, 27th 2026
January 7, 2026 marked the first day candidates could file for office in Indiana. The Indiana primary is May 5, 2026, with the mid-term election following on November 3. Early filings, as reported by the Vigo County Clerk’s office, dated January 21, 2026, show several contested races for the upcoming primary (see link below to the full list of filings).
County Council: The Vigo County Council consists of four district representatives and three at-large representatives. All four district representative seats are up in the 2026 election. Currently Districts 3 and 4 are contested primaries. Two Democratic candidates have filed for District 3: Trevor Dreher and Vicki Weger; Weger is the current Vigo County Council representative for District 3.
Three Republican candidates: Jim Donohue, Justin T. Kunz, and Chase C. Nattkemper, and two Democratic candidates: D. Mark Minnick and Larry (L.T.) Thompson have all filed for District 4. Given the contentious meetings and county council disputes of last year, these will be races to follow.
County Sheriff: Two Democratic candidates have filed for county sheriff: current Vigo County Sheriff Derek Fell and David C. Ewing. After the July 2024 death of Sheriff John Plasse during his second term, Fell was appointed as Sheriff Plasse’s successor by a caucus of the Vigo County Democratic precinct committeepersons. The May 2026 primary will be Fell’s first race.
State Senator, District 38: The state senate race is also a contested primary with Greg Goode being challenged by Republican Brenda K. Wilson. Wilson is currently serving a four-year term as an at-large member of the Vigo County Council (2024-2028). Goode faced national and state pressure, threats of violence, and a swatting incident, to ultimately vote no on redistricting, a vote that garnered support from voters across the aisle.
State Representative, District 46: Two Republican candidates have filed for State Representative, District 46: Thomas L. (Tom) Arthur and current representative Bob Heaton. District 46 includes areas south of I-70. Heaton has been the state representative for District 46 since 2010. He is currently serving as the Majority Whip for the Republican party in the Indiana House of Representatives.
State Representative, District 45: State Representative Bruce Borders is also facing a primary challenge from fellow Republican Kellie E. Streeter. District 45 includes Prairie Creek and areas in the south-west part of Vigo County. Borders served as the state representative for District 45 from 2004 to 2012 and was then re-elected in 2014 and has held the position ever since.
U.S. Representative, 8th District Finally, two Democratic candidates have filed to run against current U.S. Representative, 8th District, Mark Messmer: Mary Allen and Christopher Rector. Messmer served in the Indiana State Senate from 2014 to 2024, when he was elected to Congress. This is his first bid for re-election as U.S. Representative.
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