INDIANAPOLIS – Candidate filing for the 2026 May Indiana Primary Election closed on Friday, and Indiana Democrats are running in a record number of State House and State Senate districts this year.
At least one Democratic candidate is running in all 25 State Senate seats on the ballot this year and in 91 out of 100 State House districts. This is also the first time since 1974 that Democrats have contested all 25 State Senate races up during a single election cycle, and the largest number of contested House races since at least 1992 when multi-member districts were eliminated by the Indiana General Assembly.
Indiana Democratic Chair Karen Tallian released the following statement in response to the record candidate filings.
“After 21-plus years of one-party Republican rule, our state is ready for change. Hoosiers are sick of skyrocketing utility bills, stagnant wages and corruption. Indiana Democrats are offering a real choice. This year, we have candidates on the ballot at every level, and we are preparing for a once-in-a-generation wave of change.” Tallian said.
Indiana House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (Fort Wayne) released the following statement in response to the news.
“Democrats are the pragmatic problem solvers at the Statehouse, offering solutions that would lower electric bills, raise wages, increase transparency, and expand affordable access to childcare and healthcare. Our caucus is excited to have so many outstanding candidates across the state who are ready to begin working for Hoosiers on day one in the legislature. I’m ready to join them on the campaign trail to show how electing more Democrats to the Statehouse protects our schools and communities, lowers utility bills, and increases transparency of state government. Hoosiers deserve nothing less than a government that puts them first, and the Braun supermajority has failed the test every time,” GiaQuinta said.
Indiana Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder (Bloomington) also addressed the record filings.
“Hoosiers are fired up and fed up with the endless partisanship and self-serving priorities of the Republican Braun supermajority at the Statehouse. Families are doing everything right, yet the cost of living keeps climbing—and too often this supermajority chooses headlines over help. That’s why a record number of Democratic candidates are stepping forward to serve their communities at this truly critical time for our state and country. They’re ready to get to work to make Indiana more affordable: lowering childcare costs, protecting working families’ budgets, and investing in the future of our communities so people can not just get by, but get ahead,” Yoder said.
