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Filing Season Has Arrived and HamCo Dems Are Showing Up!
- Meredith Fox
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
Can you feel it?
This filing season is a first for the HamCo Dems record books. Not only do we have incredible candidates filing for office across the county, we’re seeing multiple Democratic candidates in several races.
Whoa.
No really—whoa.
That means something we haven’t always had: contested Democratic primaries. And honestly? I couldn’t be more excited.
Let me break this down for anyone who thinks HamCo Dems don’t want (or don’t like) primaries.
Pull a DEM ballot on May 5th.
Indiana does not register voters by party. The only official way to indicate party affiliation is by selecting either a Democratic or a Republican ballot in the spring primary.
By state law, the ballot you choose can impact your future eligibility to run for office or serve in party roles, including:
Precinct Committeeperson
Party leadership positions
State convention delegate
For many Hoosiers, this choice hasn’t always felt easy, especially in years when the Democratic primary lacked contested races while the Republican ballot offered… let’s say, a plethora of meh, terrible, and awful options that we were tempted to weigh in on.
But that’s changing.
The Democratic Party does not endorse in the primary.
Historically, Hamilton County Democrats had limited influence over certain races, including Indiana’s 5th Congressional District. A pre-primary process known as slating often determined candidates before voters ever had a chance to engage.
That process is gone.
Today, the voters decide.
As Vice Chair of HamCo Dems, and as a longtime volunteer, I’ve experienced my share of heartbreak when my preferred candidate didn’t win. It happens. You win some; you lose some.
But here’s the truth: I, like many of our HamCo Dem volunteers, work my tail off for Democrats. And that is, whether they’re my first choice or not.
As party leadership, we do not endorse in primaries. Our goal is simple:
Support Democratic participation, build the bench, and help every Democrat succeed.
Yes, we love our incumbents!
I know. Some of you are rolling your eyes right now.
Yes, I was the one who handed State Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn that big campaign contribution check last November.
Winning in Hamilton County is hard. And in recent years, we’ve achieved real breakthroughs. Supporting our incumbents as they launch re-election campaigns matters. They are fighting every day for Hoosiers, and we're going to have their backs.
Thanks to incredible grassroots growth, HamCo Dems donor-matched $2,500 to help kick off Rep. Wilburn’s re-election campaign. And we fully plan to do that again next year, when our two Democratic city council members, relaunch their campaigns for the 2027 municipal elections. Talk about growth!
Have you looked at our amazing list of candidates so far?!
Recent announcements have reshaped the political landscape in Hamilton County.
Senator Kyle Walker (R) announced he will not seek re-election for Senate District 31.
Senate District 31 now has three Democratic candidates.
Senator J.D. Ford (D) announced he will not seek re-election for Senate District 29.
Senate District 29 currently has four Democratic candidates.
That’s not chaos—that’s opportunity.
More than ever, it’s important to:
Visit candidate websites
Follow campaigns on social media
Meet the people asking for your vote
Attend events and forums
Ask questions
Once filing closes, we’ll update our website with a full list of candidates who have officially filed in Hamilton County.
Maybe you should run!
Yeah, I’m talking to you.
While some races are packed with candidates, we still need strong Democrats down the ballot. If you’ve ever thought, “Someone should run for that,” maybe that someone is you.
We’re still seeking candidates for:
Local offices matter. And they’re where leadership begins.
This filing season shows exactly what we’ve been building toward: a deeper bench, real choices for voters, and a Democratic Party ready to compete everywhere.
If you are interested in running for office, fill out the form at https://www.hamcodemsin.org/run-for.
Let’s keep going.
Meredith Fox is the volunteer Hamilton County Democratic Party Vice Chair. She has served as a Precinct Committeeperson in Hamilton County since 2018 and a variety of volunteer roles on the Communications Team since 2021. If you'd like to plug-in with the Communications Team, let us know!