Allen County Democrats Take Board Control After 50-Year Wait

Allen County, Indiana, saw a shift in local government power Tuesday night as Democrats secured two seats on the Board of Commissioners. This marked the first time in 50 years that a Democrat held a position on the county's most powerful governing board.

The county has long been a Republican stronghold. Allen County Democrats had not won a county election since Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker left the County Council in 2019. Before Tuesday, the party had not held a commissioner seat since the 1970s.

Jorge Fernandez and Kate Conner defeated Republican candidates Ozzie Mitson and Paul Moss. Their victories gave the Democratic Party a governing majority on the board. The two seats were open because incumbents Rich Beck and Therese Brown did not seek reelection this year. Commissioner Ron Turpin, currently in his third year, remains on the board. He is now the only Republican member.

Democrats also won other key county offices. They defeated incumbent Recorder Nicole Keesling and incumbent Auditor Jacquelynn Scheuman. In the County Council races, Democrats beat incumbent Mike Clendenen in the Second District and incumbent Don Wyss in the Fourth District.

State legislative races in Allen County also produced changes. Blaine Sefton defeated incumbent Republican State Sen. Tyler Johnson. Julie McGill won against incumbent Republican State Sen. Liz Brown. Timothy C. Murphy defeated incumbent Republican State Sen. Blake Fiechter.

In the state House, Democrat Wesley Haffenden beat Republican Christopher Judy for the District 83 seat. Misti Meehan, the former Allen County Democratic Party Chair, defeated Republican Bob Morris for the District 84 seat. Republicans held on to two state House seats. Martin Carbaugh defeated Sharon L. Wight, and Dave Heine defeated Mark Wehrle.

In the congressional race, incumbent Republican Marlin Stutzman won the overall vote against Democrat Kelly Thompson. However, Thompson outperformed Stutzman in Allen County, beating him by just under 11 points. Chad Wierzbinski, chair of the Allen County Democratic Party, said the results show what happens when people unite to improve their community. Steve Shine, the Allen County Republican Party Chair, was not available for comment immediately after the results.