With nary a Democrat in sight, Porter County Republicans dominated the first hour of candidate filing for the 2026 primary elections Wednesday morning at the Porter County Election & Registration Office.
Filing opened with office hours at 8:30 a.m. and will continue until noon on Feb. 6. Porter County Recorder Chuck Harris was first in line to file for a run to become the next Center Township Trustee. He’s termed out as recorder in his second consecutive term and also served as coroner for two terms from 2010 to 2018.
“I’ve been first in line every time I’ve run,” he said. “It’s just tradition for me. I want people to know I’m in it to win it.”
His dad Stephen Harris, of Chesterton, accompanied him and the two were hitting the road after the papers were completed. “We’re going on a little trip after today to spend some time together,” Chuck Harris said.
Behind him in line was Chief Deputy Porter County Recorder Jon Miller, who is running to replace Harris as recorder. Miller served two prior terms in that office at the same time Harris was coroner. State law allows a person to serve eight years in a 12-year period.
Porter County Treasurer Jimmy Albarran was next in line. “I only filed for a delegate today and I knew these guys would be here, and I wanted to be here for support,” he said.
Porter County Director of Elections & Registration Sundae Schoon, right, assists Porter County Recorder Chuck Harris, center, in filing paperwork for his candidacy for Center Township Trustee as Chief Deputy Recorder Jon Miller waits his turn to file to replace Harris Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (Shelley Jones/for Post-Tribune)
Porter County Council Vice President Red Stone, R-1st, said his wife couldn’t believe he was up for reelection again; the past three years went by so quickly. He said he’ll approach his reelection campaign with a light hand like last time. “I just went out there and talked to people,” he recalled. “People are sick of politicians in general. I try not to go out there and push people.”
In her second attempt at a seat on the county council, Dawn Miller, who filed to run for the District 3 seat currently held by Democrat Greg Simms, is planning to try harder this time. She ran unsuccessfully for an at-large seat in 2024. “It’s more my area,” she said of District 3, which encompasses the city of Valparaiso. “Instead of at-large, it’s where I live, where I’m already a precinct committeeman.
“I’ve decided to get more people on board, more on the committee,” Miller added.
“That’s why she has me here,” said Steve Bensig, president of the Duneland Photography Club, who was on hand to photograph Miller. Bensig also applied to run for state delegate Wednesday morning.
Jackie Haney, Porter County Chief Finance Deputy in the Clerk’s Office, was on hand to run for the seat held by County Clerk Jessica Bailey, who will term out at the end of her second term this year. Haney’s husband Stephen joined her as she completed her filing.
“Midterms, that’s when you see the swings happen,” said Tara Graf, Porter County’s assistant director of elections & registration.
Elections & Registration Director Sundae Schoon reminded candidates and office holders that annual finance reports are due Jan. 21 from all candidates with an open committee, including exploratory committees.
“A lot of them, they’ll close their bank account and think that closes their committee. It does not. You still have to come here,” she said.
County offices up for election are the clerk, auditor, recorder, sheriff, prosecutor, coroner, assessor, District 2 Commissioner, and County Council Districts 1 through 4. All 12 townships are also holding trustee and board elections. The town of Kouts is holding elections for District 2 and 4 seats on the Town Council, and Ogden Dunes is holding elections for town clerk and Council Districts 1 and 5.
School board elections aren’t until the general election in November.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
