Our Guide to the 2026 Midterms
1.24.2026 / Announcement / Daisy Dale
Edits will be ongoing throughout the year
Look, elections aren’t the end all be all. And should be far from it. None of us are enthusiastic about what we’re getting in return for doing the bare minimum, and we’re either reluctantly doing that civic duty thing called “voting,” or we even want to be engaged in what’s happening yet are pushed out of the political process altogether. And all the while, we live in a red state where it just doesn’t feel like it matters! But if you live here in town and want to do the darndest you can to save the country from:
- The other 50% of Project 2025 getting passed
- More concentration camps
- Mike Johnson projecting his insecurities onto your sex life
- Already crumbling Social Security programs being destroyed once and for all
The most pleasing news about all of this is that the GOP is absolutely TERRIFIED of Muncie. Late last year when the final redistricting map was proposed, Muncie had to be painstakingly cut out of Delaware County and put into another district (SEE HERE) which is to say they’re a little less confident in how Muncie will perform.
IN District 5 Congressional Seat
Jackson Franklin. Straight up. Dead ass.
When it comes to the idea of a candidate flipping the seat, it’s not a question only of would I VOTE for that person but would I DO anything for that person. The youth vote is clearly all in for Franklin, enthusiastic about what his campaign means for them, and will dedicate themselves to canvassing. The seat hasn’t gone to a Democrat since Jim Jontz in the 1990 election (though boundaries have changed drastically), and it’s absolutely worth trying something different.
The Post-Democrat endorses Franklin, and quite frankly, if you want a candidate who will draw the volunteers and grassroots attention needed to flip a seat, he’s your guy. I’ve gone back and forth with so many people since the start of last year, and just picture for a moment whether there could be some actual enthusiasm from the base to knock doors for anyone else.
JacksonFranklinForCongress.com includes volunteering opportunities and where to donate.
Other candidates: J.D Ford, Deborah Pickett, Samuel Cooper, Phil Goss, Dylan McKenna, and Steven Avitabile Avit, and Tara Nelson.
Indiana Senate District 26
Democratic candidate Andrew Dale, who the Post-Democrat has never even met before, currently runs unopposed in his primary. In his announcement, Dale stated his platform includes tackling a lack of affordability from housing, utilities, childcare, groceries, and healthcare, courting for less data center development, and also cites a number of hardships placed on the district by Scott Alexander’s voting record. Along with being party chairman, Dale serves on Whitely Community Council and has served as Muncie Community Development Director under former mayors David Dominick and Dan Canan. Dale recently answered a series of questions from Hoosier Politics Now (and of course we endorse him).
Left-wing Independent Tanya Pearson, a professor at Ball State and author, announced her candidacy on December 19. Her platform states that she’s a believer in universal free education, free childcare, raising the minimum wage, and decriminalizing addiction and homelessness. Working with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Pearson hopes to get Hoosiers from voting red to votin’ red! We’ll be covering Pearson’s campaign throughout the year.
The seat, currently held by Scott Alexander, has been Republican since 2010. Alexander recently joined 18 other senators to vote in favor of GOP redistricting efforts, and admitted on radio “whether that’s [redistricting] fair or not, it’s politics.”
Indiana House District 34
Sue Errington, who was first elected to the position in 2012, announced on December 31 that she won’t be seeking reelection and is instead passing the torch to Sara Gullion. Gullion, currently serving on Muncie City Council, announced her intention to run on the same day. When council decided to use Opioid Settlement funds for police pay raises, by a 5-4 vote, Gullion voted against it and sponsored Resolution 11-25 to establish the Opioid Fund Advisory Committee. We wish her luck!
Less than a week after the filing deadline, two people in the Republican primary withdrew from the race (Party Chairman Tim Overton and Muncie Central Principal Chris Walker). Former Deputy Mayor Richard Ivy, also a former Republican candidate for council in 2019, is running in the district. Ivy’s also known for laughing at libs during council meetings, and watching the livestream on his phone while the meetings are happening right in front of him. Randall McCallister is a thinker and a candidate running on getting those RINO cucks out of the Republican party once and for all. A “working-class conservative” according to his campaign website, the page also includes a photo of him in what appears to be a MAGA chud mansion.
Indiana House District 33
John Bartlett is the only Democratic nominee.
Indiana House District 35
Phil Gift is the only Democratic nominee.
Delaware County
Filing deadline was February 6 at noon.
Circuit County Clerk: Cameron Grubbs
County Sheriff: Dave Williams
County Commissioner District 3: Ken Mace
County Coroner: Scott Hahn
County Council District 1: Cody York
County Council District 3: Ashley Wright
County Council District 4: Michael Durall
Judge, Circuit Court: Maricel E. Driscoll, Amanda Dunnuck
Center Township Trustee: Marilyn Kay Walker
Salem Township Trustee: Jesse Landess
Center Township Board Member: Kathy Carey, Jama L McIntosh, Mike Miller
Monroe Township Board Member: Todd Merickel
Niles Township Board Member: James Clevenger
Union Township Board Member: Monty Jay Lechien, Randy Blair
Precinct C0mmittee/State Convention Delegate
Republicans have not providing lists of people running for precinct committee, while the list for the Democratic primary ballot has continually been updated before the filing deadline. (Delaware County website includes “2026 Primary Election Current Filings.”) Cameron Grubbs was helpful in continually posting updates, as well as infographics to Facebook before the filing deadline.
