If you are wondering how to run for public office in Beech Grove, Indiana, the Indiana Commons has put together a candidate guide. This updating guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of getting on the ballot in 2026 or 2027, including key deadlines, forms and provide information about local and state representatives (Photo Credit: Next Stop Beech Grove).
What Offices Represent Beech Grove?
Indiana General Assembly
- Indiana House District 89 – Rep. Mitch Gore (D)
Up for re-election in 2026 - Indiana House District 93 – Rep. Julie McGuire (R)
- Up for re-election in 2026
- Indiana Senate District 32 – Sen. Aaron Freeman (R)
Up for re-election in 2028
City of Beech Grove
All local offices were elected in 2023 and serve through December 2027. Next municipal elections: November 2027.
- Mayor: James Coffman (D)
- City Judge: Andrew Wells (R)
- Clerk-Treasurer: Samantha Stratton (D)
- City Council:
- Elizabeth Lamping (D) – District 1
- Ryan Matkins (R) – District 2
- Michael Hemmelgarn (R) – District 3
- Avis Frieson (D) – District 4
- Michael Earnest (R) – District 5
- ************@********ve.com“>Dan McMillan (R) – At-Large
- Chris Duffer (R) – At-Large
Regular meetings of the Common Council are held at 7:00 p.m. on the first Monday of each month.
Marion County
Indianapolis utilizes a consolidated city-county government known as Unigov. The current officeholders include:
- Mayor: Joe Hogsett (D), re-elected in 2023 for a third term, serving through 2027.
- City-County Council: Consists of 25 members. In the 2023 elections, Democrats maintained a supermajority with a 19–6 advantage over Republicans.
- Frank Mascari (D-19), owner of Spalding Jewelry, represents much of Beech Grove on the Indianapolis City-County Council, along with Michael Paul-Hart (R-20), Minority Leader of the City-County Council.
- All council seats will be up for re-election in 2027.
- Council President Vop Osili: District 12
- Council Majority Leader Maggie A. Lewis: District 5
- Council Minority Leader Michael-Paul Hart: District 20
- Councilor Leroy Robinson: District 1
- Councilor Brienne Delaney: District 2
- Councilor Dan Boots: District 3
- Councilor Nick Roberts: District 4
- Councilor Carlos Perkins: District 6
- Councilor John Barth: District 7
- Councilor Ron Gibson: District 8
- Councilor Keith L. Graves: District 9
- Councilor Alison “Ali” Brown: District 10
- Councilor Crista Carlino: District 11
- Councilor Jesse Brown: District 13
- Councilor Andy Nielsen: District 14
- Councilor Rena Allen: District 15
- Councilor Jessica McCormick: District 16
- Councilor Jared Evans: District 17
- Councilor Kristin Jones: District 18
- Councilor Frank Mascari: District 19
- Councilor Joshua Bain: District 21
- Councilor Paul Annee: District 22
- Councilor Derek Cahill: District 23
- Councilor Michael Dilk: District 24
- Councilor Brian Mowery: District 25
How to Run for Office in Indiana
1. Eligibility
- U.S. citizen and registered Indiana voter
- Resident of your district for at least 1 year
- No felony convictions
Age Requirements:
- Indiana House: 21+
- Indiana Senate: 25+
- Local Office: 18+ (generally)
2. Choose Your Path to the Ballot
- Major party: File for the primary election
- Independent/minor party: Collect voter signatures
- Write-in candidate: File by summer deadline
3. File Required Forms
- CAN-2: Declaration of Candidacy (primary)
- CAN-12: Statement of Economic Interests
- CFA-1: Set up your campaign finance committee
- CFA-4: For periodic campaign finance reports.
All forms and deadlines are detailed in the Indiana 2024 Candidate Guide (PDF)
4. Collect Signatures (if required)
- Independent/minor party candidates need 2% of the vote for Secretary of State in their district from the last general election utilizing a petition form (CAN-44) with valid voter signatures.
- Due: typically mid-July of the election year.
5. Campaign Finance Requirements
- File CFA-1 to register
- Submit CFA-4 finance reports
- Appoint a treasurer
6. Election Dates for 2026 (tentative)
- Primary: May 5, 2026
- General: November 3, 2026
- Filing Opens: January 2026
- Filing Deadline: Early February 2026
Where to File
| Office Level | File With |
|---|---|
| Local Office | Marion County Election Board |
| State Office | Indiana Election Division |
Final Thoughts
Running for office in Beech Grove or statewide isn’t just about paperwork — it takes effort and involvement in the local community. Start attending city council meetings, talking with voters, and building your platform now to prepare for the upcoming election cycle.
[RELATED: Who is running for IU Board of Trustees?]
Need help? Contact the Beech Grove Clerk-Treasurer’s Office or the Indiana Election Division for more info.
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