(La Porte County, IN) - The first round of results from the 2026 General Election is in, and these numbers are not final.

 

As of the La Porte County Election Office's 10:06 p.m. report, 16,662 ballots have been counted, a 21.22% turnout among 78,526 registered voters. The tally includes results from 149 of the county's 175 voting machines. All 92 precincts are still listed as incomplete, and the report does not yet show any absentee ballots, either mail-in or early in-person. One more batch of results is expected tonight, and that update could change the outcome of close races.

 

Several races are within a few hundred votes. In the 1st Congressional District, Republican Barb Regnitz leads Democrat Frank J. Mrvan by just 11 votes in La Porte County. Democrat Jennifer (Jenny) Heath leads Republican John Pavolka by 46 votes for County Council District 2. In the County Assessor race, Democrat Mike Schultz is ahead of Republican Barbara Huston by 221 votes. The Secretary of State race is separated by fewer than 600 votes countywide.

 

Candidates in bold are leading in the current count. These are unofficial results and will be updated when the final batch is released.

 

PUBLIC QUESTIONS:

Public Question – Right to Bail (Yes or No)
     Yes  65.84%
     No  34.16%

 

Public Question – Judge Residence (Yes or No)
     Yes  65.60%
     No  34.40%

 

Public Question – Michigan City Area Schools (Yes or No)
     Yes  47.28%
     No  52.72%

 

STATE OFFICES:

Secretary of State (Vote for One)
     Max Engling (R)  49.23%
     Beau Bayh (D)  45.60%
     Lauri A. Shillings (L)  3.15%
     Greg Ballard (LIN)  1.98%
     Write-In  0.04%

 

State Comptroller (Auditor of State) (Vote for One)
     Elise Nieshalla (R)  51.68%
     Jessica Bailey (D)  43.78%
     John Schick (L)  4.54%

 

Treasurer of State (Vote for One)
     Daniel Elliott (R)  57.80%
     Coumba Kebe (D)  42.20%

 

CONGRESS:

U.S. Representative, District 1 (Vote for One)
     Barb Regnitz (R)  50.01%
     Frank J. Mrvan (D)  49.91%
     Write-In  0.09%

 

U.S. Representative, District 2 (Vote for One)
     Rudy Yakym (R)  59.93%
     Jamee Decio (D)  35.53%
     William Eric Henry (L)  4.54%
     Write-In  0.00%

 

STATE LEGISLATURE:

State Senator, District 4 (Vote for One)
     Nate Uldricks (R)  44.62%
     Rodney Pol (D)  55.38%

 

State Representative, District 7 (Vote for One)
     Jake Teshka (R)  66.58%
     Oliver Davis (D)  33.42%

 

State Representative, District 9 (Vote for One)
     Chris Cleveland (R)  45.21%
     Randy Novak (D)  54.79%

 

State Representative, District 20 (Vote for One)
     Jim Pressel (R)  58.95%
     Laura Liskey (D)  41.05%

 

COURTS & PROSECUTOR:

Judge of the Superior Court No. 1 (Vote for One)
     Jaime Oss (R)  53.79%
     Michael S. Bergerson (D)  46.21%

 

Judge of the Superior Court No. 2 (Vote for One)
     Richard R. Stalbrink (D)  100.00%

 

Judge of the Superior Court No. 3 (Vote for One)
     Kurt R. Earnst (R)  53.37%
     James M. (Jim) Macalka (D)  46.63%

 

Judge of the Superior Court No. 4 (Vote for One)
     John A. Link (R)  100.00%

 

Prosecuting Attorney, 32nd Judicial Circuit (Vote for One)
     Chuck Watterson, IV (R)  57.38%
     John Lake (D)  42.62%

 

Court of Appeals District 4 – Retain Judge DeBoer (Yes or No)
     Yes  65.91%
     No  34.09%

 

Court of Appeals District 5 – Retain Judge Felix (Yes or No)
     Yes  64.32%
     No  35.68%

 

Indiana Tax Court – Retain Judge McAdam (Yes or No)
     Yes  65.57%
     No  34.43%

 

COUNTY OFFICES:

County Sheriff (Vote for One)
     Ron Heeg (R)  100.00%

 

County Assessor (Vote for One)
     Barbara Huston (R)  49.32%
     Mike Schultz (D)  50.68%

 

County Commissioner, District 1 (Vote for One)
     Jody Slabaugh (R)  53.82%
     Angela Henzman (D)  46.18%

 

County Council, District 1 (Vote for One)
     Julian (John) Watson (R)  60.74%
     Olga Pothorski (D)  39.26%

 

County Council, District 2 (Vote for One)
     John Pavolka (R)  49.44%
     Jennifer (Jenny) Heath (D)  50.56%

 

County Council, District 3 (Vote for One)
     James Baker (R)  43.32%
     Mark S. Yagelski (D)  56.68%

 

County Council, District 4 (Vote for One)
     Timothy J. Stabosz (R)  54.80%
     Tyler R. Brownlee (D)  45.20%

 

TOWNSHIPS:

Cass Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Dara Guse (R)  100.00%

 

Cass Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Rodney Peters (R)  56.03%
     Allen L. Stevens (R)  43.97%

 

Center Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Lisa M. Pierzakowski (R)  62.83%
     Lori Larson Foglesong (D)  37.17%

 

Center Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Elizabeth (Liz) Bergeron (R)  25.66%
     Duane Miller (R)  22.10%
     Robert (Bob) Wellinski (R)  29.16%
     Crystal R. Whatley (D)  23.08%

 

Clinton Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Courtni Meyers (R)  100.00%

 

Clinton Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Mike Goodwin (R)  36.88%
     Scott P. Klemz (R)  31.91%
     Edwin Kresel (R)  31.21%

 

Coolspring Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Lois A. Sosinski (D)  100.00%

 

Coolspring Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Kenneth (Ken) Havlin (R)  28.31%
     R. Craig Hinchman (R)  20.89%
     Devin Walton (R)  21.80%
     Monica Prosser (D)  28.99%

 

Dewey Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Dick (Uncle Nippy) Bucher (R)  100.00%

 

Dewey Township Board (Vote for Three)
     (Mail Man) Paul Malecki (R)  36.68%
     Dale Meiss (R)  32.95%
     Amber Rust (R)  30.37%

 

Galena Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Edward S. Hynek (D)  100.00%

 

Galena Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Richard Gramarossa (R)  22.52%
     Donald L. Jozwiak (R)  25.35%
     Claudia M. Winter (R)  27.20%
     Charles Kim Sauers (D)  24.93%

 

Hanna Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Tony Wallace (R)  100.00%

 

Hanna Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Michael Magley (R)  32.69%
     Tammy Rosebaum (R)  33.65%
     Adam Sweet (R)  33.65%

 

Hudson Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Austin Kosinski (R)  100.00%

 

Hudson Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Rick Kosinski (R)  31.67%
     Roger Teska (R)  37.30%
     David Paul Wilson (R)  31.03%

 

Johnson Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Jon E. Smith (D)  100.00%

 

Johnson Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Stephen Daube (R)  32.53%
     Sandra Thomas (R)  37.35%
     Gregory James Williams (D)  30.12%

 

Kankakee Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Steve R. Lestinsky, Jr. (R)  100.00%

 

Kankakee Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Donald Stoner (R)  35.21%
     Kevin Wheatbrook (R)  33.11%
     Tom Wheatbrook (R)  31.68%

 

Lincoln Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Nancy Morgan (R)  60.00%
     William (Bill) Duttlinger (D)  40.00%

 

Lincoln Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Brent Friend (R)  34.30%
     Michael Lazzaro (R)  33.11%
     Dallas Smythe (R)  32.60%

 

Michigan Township Assessor (Vote for One)
     Brent Banic (D)  100.00%

 

Michigan Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Johnny Stimley (D)  100.00%

 

Michigan Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Thomas Giglio (R)  16.72%
     Kyle W. Ratliff (R)  17.18%
     Melody Farmer (D)  24.39%
     Agnes Meer (D)  19.65%
     Susan H. Webster (D)  22.07%

 

New Durham Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Tracy Williams (R)  100.00%

 

New Durham Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Jacob Buchanan (R)  35.88%
     James A. Ingram (R)  32.49%
     Ryan J. Rotzien (R)  31.63%

 

Noble Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Tom Frain (R)  66.58%
     Edward (Skee) Kammrath (D)  33.42%

 

Noble Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Brad Hardin (R)  36.30%
     James Lindborg (R)  31.26%
     Glenn A. Schlundt (R)  32.44%

 

Pleasant Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Joy Zigler (R)  100.00%

 

Pleasant Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Joshua England (R)  25.96%
     Tammy Newland (R)  27.10%
     Robert Ulrich II (R)  25.88%
     Beth West (D)  21.06%

 

Prairie Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Sydney Watson (R)  100.00%

 

Prairie Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Kyle Cromey (R)  41.67%
     Shawnda Nelson (R)  26.67%
     John Watson (R)  31.67%

 

Scipio Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Kaelynn D. Ludlow Deckard (R)  100.00%

 

Scipio Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Walter E. Conlin, Jr. (R)  35.85%
     Carl R. Harvey (Harv) (R)  29.56%
     Paul D. Lindeman (R)  34.59%

 

Springfield Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Howard Conley (R)  62.84%
     L. Benee Dumas (D)  37.16%

 

Springfield Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Bethany Moon Lawson (R)  27.43%
     Phil Sherlock (R)  26.27%
     Ilene K. Moon Zona (R)  24.31%
     Jerry P. Cooley (D)  21.99%

 

Union Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Kristin Watkins (R)  100.00%

 

Union Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Rita Beaty (R)  38.26%
     Coral L. Laun (R)  28.29%
     Cassie Lipscomb (R)  33.45%

 

Washington Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     No Candidate Filed  0.00%

 

Washington Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Scott A. Aftowski (R)  58.30%
     Aaron T. Banic (D)  41.70%

 

Wills Township Trustee (Vote for One)
     Kristy Hahn (R)  70.07%
     Maggie Cuson (D)  29.93%

 

Wills Township Board (Vote for Three)
     Kristy Chambers (R)  32.55%
     Robert (Steve) Fisher (R)  28.30%
     Tanya Juhl (R)  19.79%
     Candice Scott (D)  19.35%

 

TOWNS:

Long Beach Town Council At Large (Vote for Three)
     Jennifer Graham (I)  4.10%
     J.D. Haley (I)  18.47%
     Tom King (I)  29.14%
     Colleen Lane (I)  3.56%
     Anita Remijas (I)  18.33%
     Cory Soller (I)  26.40%

 

Pottawattomie Park Town Council At Large (Vote for Two)
     No Candidate Filed  0.00%

 

SCHOOL BOARDS:

John Glenn School Board – Liberty Township (Vote for One)
     Christine L. Carson  100.00%

 

John Glenn School Board – Lincoln Township (Vote for One)
     Dennis Leon Metz, Jr.  46.88%
     Carissa Smith  53.13%

 

John Glenn School Board – Polk Township (Vote for One)
     Todd A. McGaughey  100.00%

 

La Porte Community School Board At Large (Vote for Four)
     Jennifer (Farlie) Farlie  17.85%
     Amy Jackson  21.51%
     Nathan (Nate) Loucks  22.22%
     Wendy (Swanson) Noren  16.68%
     Ryan Seaburg  21.74%

 

Metropolitan School Board of New Durham (Vote for Three)
     Mark D. Parkman (NP)  64.07%
     Wayne R. Hodge  35.93%

 

Michigan City Area School Board At Large (Vote for One)
     Michelle Lynn Duck (I)  65.09%
     Vera N. Gaston  34.91%

 

Michigan City Area School Board – Civil City (Vote for Three)
     Michael J. Gresham (D)  42.24%
     Kurtess R. (Kurt) Gillespie (I)  33.26%
     Jenilee Haynes Peterson (NP)  24.50%

 

South Central School Board At Large (Vote for One)
     Deborah Allen  100.00%

 

South Central School Board – Clinton Township (Vote for One)
     Brian Lautenbach (I)  100.00%

 

New Prairie United School Corp. At Large (Vote for One)
     Eric J. Beebe (D)  36.20%
     Jason Demeyer  63.80%

 

New Prairie United School Corp. District 2 (Vote for One)
     Richard Gadacz  100.00%

 

Tri-Township School Board District 1 – Cass Township (Vote for One)
     Timothy Guse (R)  100.00%

 

Tri-Township School Board District 2 – Dewey Township (Vote for One)
     Nicholas R. Poort (I)  100.00%

 

Tri-Township School Board District 3 – Prairie Township (Vote for One)
     Melanie Mills  100.00%

 

This story will be updated when the final batch of results is released. Listen to 96.7 The Eagle on Wednesday morning for full coverage of the election results from Hometown News Now.