There is one week left for candidate filing for the Indiana 2024 primary election in May.
Candidates wishing to be on the Democrat or Republican primary ballot must file declaration of candidacy paperwork by noon Feb. 9.
Minor party, independent, school board and write-in candidates will file declarations of candidacy for the November general election later in the year after the May primary election is held.
“It’s been great welcoming candidates into the Secretary of State’s Office as they officially file their candidacy,” Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales said in a news release. “In the final week of filing, it’s important to make candidates aware of the approaching deadline. The 2024 election season is starting off strong as we are anticipating a massive turnout.”
Filing started Jan. 10. Candidates for federal, statewide, state legislative and judicial offices, including county prosecuting attorneys, file declaration of candidacy with the Indiana secretary of state or the Indiana Election Division. Candidates for nonjudicial county offices, township offices, town offices, school board offices, precinct committee members or state convention delegate file their declaration of candidacy at the office of the county clerk in which they reside.
Under Indiana law, election officials are prohibited from accepting filings after the deadline of noon Feb. 9.
Three months out, five candidates are vying for the GOP gubernatorial nomination: U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, former Attorney General Curtis Hill, Brad Chambers and Eric Doden. Two-term Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Republican, cannot run again because of term limits.
The newest filings include Indiana Ninth District Congresswoman Erin Houchin for re-election on the Republican ballot and Tim Peck on the Democratic ballot. Incumbent Jackson County Coroner Paul Foster also recently filed, and Seymour Democrat Trish Whitcomb will officially file the paperwork to run for Indiana House District 69 on Monday.
Previous filings include at-large Jackson County Councilmen John L. Nolting of Brownstown and R. Brett Turner of Crothersville; Surveyor Dan Blann of Brownstown; Drew Markel of Brownstown, District 1 county commissioner; incumbent Treasurer Kathy Hohenstreiter of Seymour; and Jackson Circuit Court Judge Richard W. Poynter. No candidates have filed for selection of county auditor.
The filings by Nolting and Turner set up a four-way race for the three at-large council seats because incumbent at-large Councilwoman Amanda Cunningham Lowery of Vallonia and Roger Hurt of Brownstown both filed for declarations on Jan. 10.
Seymour Republicans Bret Cunningham, Michael Bobb and Drew Storey are all seeking the District 2 county commissioner seat. That position is presently held by Republican Bob Gillaspy, who has decided not to seek a third term.
At the state level, incumbent House District 69 Rep. Jim Lucas, a Seymour Republican, faces a challenge from Brian Savilla of Brownstown. District 69 includes portions of Jackson, Bartholomew, Scott and Washington counties.
House District 62 Rep. Dave Hall, R-Norman, and House District 65 Rep. Chris D. May, R-Bedford, also will be on the ballot. Both are incumbents.
Democrat Thomas Horrocks is seeking the Democratic Party’s nod for the District 62 nomination.
District 62 includes Owen, Pershing and Salt Creek townships in northwestern Jackson County, all of Brown County and part of southern Monroe County, while District 65 includes Carr Township in Jackson County.
Bedford Republican Eric Koch also is seeking a third four-year term as the District 44 state senator. District 44 includes Brown, Jackson, Lawrence and Orange counties and portions of Monroe County.
Previous GOP convention filings include Ronald J. Rieckers, Rick Meyer, Piper Acton-Shoemaker, Melissa Zabel Acton, Conner Barnette, Jim Lucas, Dave Hall, Amanda Cunningham Lowery, Drew Markel and Dustin Steward.
Previous Republican precinct committee filings were Ed Koerner, Vernon-Crothersville; Katie Kaufman, Reddington East; Roger Lee Tiepen, Vernon South; Markel, Brownstown 4; Cunningham Lowery, Driftwood Township; Lucas, Jackson 1 East; Zabel Acton, Jackson 7; Hall, Owen Township; and Steward, Washington Township.
Those wishing to file a declaration of candidacy may visit the county clerk’s office in the Jackson County Judicial Center, 109 S. Sugar St., Brownstown.