The filing period for the 2026 Decatur County Primary Election officially came to a close at noon on Friday, February 6, 2026. With the deadline now passed, several contested races have been confirmed and will be decided by voters on Primary Election Day, May 5.
Candidates from both major political parties filed to run for a variety of county, township, state, and federal offices. Many of the most closely watched races will be determined on primary election night as voters narrow the fields.
While the filing period has ended, candidates still have an opportunity to withdraw from the ballot. The deadline to withdraw a candidacy is Friday, February 13, 2026, at noon.
Voters are also reminded of several important election-related dates:
- April 6, 2026 – Voter registration deadline
- April 7, 2026 – Early voting begins
- May 5, 2026 – Primary Election Day
Republican Primary Contested Races
Choose One Candidate
- State Representative, District 73
Edward K. Comstock II, Jacob J. Johnson, Jennifer Meltzer - Decatur County Council, District 2
Bryan Messer, Danny Peters - Decatur County Council, District 3
Andrew David Brunni, Deanna L. Burkart - Decatur County Council, District 4
Ashley Emsweller Hungate, Larry Hager - Clay Township Trustee
David R. Israel, Tasha Meece - Clinton Township Trustee
Shawn Fields, Rhonda Trenkamp
Choose Three Candidates
- Clinton Township Board Member
Ronnie Bruner, Gary R. Knecht, Jeffrey S. Steele, P.J. Swango
Democratic Primary Contested Races
Choose One Candidate
- U.S. Representative, Ninth Congressional District
James H. “Jim” Graham, Brad A. Meyer, Tim Peck, Keil L. Roark
With multiple contested races on the ballot, voter participation in the May primary will play a significant role in shaping the candidates who advance to the general election. Election officials encourage residents to confirm their voter registration status ahead of the April deadline and to take advantage of early voting opportunities beginning in early April.
WTRE would like to take a second and thank Patricia Louagie, First Deputy- Election Deputy for keeping our newsroom up to date on filings.
To see the complete listing of candidates who filed see the attachment below:
