Archived Live Report: Election Central candidate filings (Jan. 7, 2026)
This is where live reports will be filed from Election Central, starting 8 a.m. on Jan. 7, 2026 to document the filing of declarations by candidates for elected office this year.
The following local offices are up for election in 2026:
- Judge of the Circuit Court Monroe, Division 1, Seat 9
Judge of the Circuit Court Monroe, Division 2, Seat 6- Judge of the Circuit Court Monroe, Division 8, Seat 5
- Monroe County Assessor
- Monroe County Clerk
- Monroe County Commissioner District 1
- Monroe County Council: District 1, District 2, District 3,District 4
- Monroe County Recorder
- Monroe County Sheriff
- Monroe County Prosecutor
- Township trustees
- Township board members
On the 2026 election calendar for the state of Indiana, Jan. 7, 2026 (Wednesday) is the first date when official paperwork can be filed declaring a candidacy for either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. The B Square’s current plan is to file live updates from Election Central through the day on Wednesday as candidates file their paperwork.
4:00 p.m. End of transmission.
3:35 p.m. The news release from Democrat Peter Iversen has now arrived via email announcing his re-election bid to county council District 1. He was here in person at 2:05 p.m.
3:28 p.m. Larry Shepherd has filed his paperwork to be a candidate for delegate to the Democratic Party's state convention.
3:18 p.m. A news release from Matt Pierce has arrived by email announcing his re-election bid for the District 61 state house seat.
3:13 p.m. Brad Meyer has arrived. He is running as a Democrat for 9th District U.S. Congress. But he was here to file paperwork to be a candidate for delegate to the Democratic Party's state convention.
2:13 p.m. Erika Oliphant, Democrat incumbent county prosecutor, is now here to provide copies of the paperwork she already filed in Indianapolis to declare her candidacy for re-election.
2:08 p.m. Iversen asks to have his name added to the list of email addresses that are sent the updates on candidate filings.
2:05 p.m. Democrat Peter Iversen has arrived to file the paperwork to declare his candidacy for re-election as the District 1 county councilor.
1:43 p.m. Barbara McKinney has dropped by to file her declaration of candidacy for the Bloomington Township board. She is one of three incumbent Democrats on that board.
1:41 p.m. Former state representative Jeff Ellington has dropped by to check on some past political paperwork. He is now chair of the Greene County Republican Party. He's running for state senate District 39 this year.
12:51 p.m. Scott Tibbs has arrived to file as delegate for the Republican Party's state convention.
12:36 p.m. Bloomington city councilmember Andy Ruff has dropped by to sort out some annual reporting requirements that elected officials have, even if they are not running for re-election. This year is completely off cycle for city elections.
12:02 p.m. Amy Swain, incumbent Democrat county recorder, is here to declare her candidacy for re-election.
11:56 a.m. Eric Petry (pronounced PEE-tree) is here to declare his candidacy for the Democratic Party's nomination for Perry Township trustee. Petry says he had already been planning to run for the position. (Dan Combs had indicated he would not be seeking another term.) Now, Petry will be standing as a candidate in the vacancy caucus.
11:33 a.m. Ellis and Conyer are talking about tonight's Ellettsville–Richland Township reorganization meeting.
11:29 a.m. William Ellis has arrived to declare his candidacy for delegate to the Republican Party's state convention.
11:26 a.m. Democrat Barbara Sturbaum has arrived to declare her candidacy for Perry Township board.
11:12 a.m. USPS mail carrier drops by.
11:06 a.m. Monroe County clerk Nicole Browne and chief deputy clerk Laura Wert have stopped by to check on things. Browne is term limited as clerk. So she is not filing a declaration today.
10:02 a.m. Noelle Conyer is here to file as delegate to the Republican Party's state convention. Conyer is the clerk-treasurer for the town of Ellettsville and the vice chair of the Monroe County Republican Party.
9:34 a.m. By email, Erika Oliphant's news release announcing her re-election bid has arrived. She is the incumbent Democrat.
9:22 a.m. Don Sattler is here to file for delegate to the Democratic Party's state convention. He has convinced Jeff Richardson to join him in declaring for state delegate right now—they had previously talked about filing, and the only question was when. Richardson was here at Election Central in support of Marté and had lingered.
9:03 a.m. Judy Sharp has arrived to file her declaration as a candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination as county assessor. She is the incumbent.
9:01 a.m. Marté has a bunch of supporters here to celebrate the declaration. Here's the list: Jeff Richardson, Kyle Gibbons, Matt Caldie, Rhonda White, Phil Parker, Allen Sowders, Ryan Still, and Josefa Madrigal
8:55 a.m. Marté is the incumbent, a Democrat. Everyone mentioned so far has been a Democrat.
8:48 a.m. Ruben Marté is here to file his declaration of candidacy for county sheriff. Matt Caldie is here in his capacity as Marté's campaign treasurer.
8:09 a.m. As he exits, Jack Davis tells The B Square he is confident that the Perry Township trustee's office will still be run well, in the wake of Dan Combs's death on Tuesday.
8:07 a.m. David Henry has arrived to declare his candidacy for Monroe County commissioner District 1.
8:05 a.m. Davis gets confirmation from Farris that the office is now fully staffed.
8:04 a.m. Davis retired as election division staff a few years ago.
8:01 a.m. Davis confirms that he is an incumbent on the Perry Township board—has served for 20 years.
8:00 a.m. Jack Davis is the first candidate to arrive, to declare his candidacy for the Perry Township board.
7:52 a.m. There are no candidates waiting in line to be the first person to file.
7:49 a.m. Election division staff, including county election supervisor Kylie Farris, have arrived at the office over the last 15 minutes. They are reviewing procedures for filing declarations of candidacy.
7:23 a.m. Hopscotch is open across the street from Election Central.
5:11 a.m. Good morning. It's still dark out.
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