CROWN POINT, Ind. — For the first time, Northwest Indiana voters opening November school board ballots will see political party labels next to many candidates’ names, after Lake and Porter county filers used a new state law that ended Indiana’s long nonpartisan tradition for local education races.
Key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lake County | 45 candidates / 16 districts — 13 D, 5 R, 27 nonpartisan or blank |
| Porter County | 10 candidates / 6 districts — 3 R (all East Porter), 7 nonpartisan; no D filings |
| Vacancies | Boone Twp and Porter Twp — no candidates for three seats each; Union Twp — one for three |
| Ballot order | Lake — Democrats first; Porter — Republicans first (prior SOS results) |
| Filing deadline | Noon June 18 (Times) |
Carole Carlson, writing for the Post-Tribune, reported June 21 that 18 of 45 Lake County school board candidates took a party designation on the Nov. 3 general-election ballot. Thirteen listed themselves as Democrats and five as Republicans. The remaining 27 either chose a nonpartisan label or left the affiliation line blank. The Times of Northwest Indiana reported candidates had until noon June 18 to file under the new rules.
Previously, school board candidates ran without party labels. The Post-Tribune said the new law drew bipartisan criticism but passed the GOP-dominated legislature in April and made Indiana the 10th state to allow partisan affiliations in school board races. IndyStar’s May 19 explainer tied the change to Senate Bill 287, signed in May 2025, that lets candidates identify as Republican, Democrat, independent, or decline to disclose. The law did not create school board primaries, IndyStar noted, so multiple candidates from the same party can appear on the same November ballot for one seat.
Ballot order follows the previous county vote in the Secretary of State election. In Lake County, Democrats appear first; in Porter County, Republicans get the top spot. IndyStar added that candidates who elect not to disclose affiliation generally appear last, and that Republican candidates would appear first in 87 of Indiana’s 92 counties based on the 2022 secretary of state results — Lake’s Democratic lead being a notable regional exception.
Porter County’s slate is thinner and largely uncontested. Carlson reported just 10 candidates in six districts and no contested races. Three Republicans filed, all in the East Porter district: Richard McSparin (Morgan Township District 1), Judith Nuest (Pleasant Township District 2), and Robert P. Martin (Washington Township District 3). Seven others filed as nonpartisan, including Duneland’s Beth M. Mehling, Brandon J. Kroft, and Alayna Lightfoot Pol, and Portage Township’s Jenny Brown, Lori J. Wilkie, and Andy Maletta. No Porter candidate filed as a Democrat or independent. Boone Township and Porter Township drew no candidates for three open seats apiece; Union Township drew only Kevin Ribordy (nonpartisan, at-large) for one of three openings.
Lake County’s labeled field clusters in traditional Democratic cities and a few suburban Republican entries. East Chicago’s District 1 lists Democrats Jose Arteaga, Jesus Luis Ortiz III, and Joel Rodriguez; Hammond’s at-large Democratic slate includes Rina Horgan, Carlotta King, and Lucinda Murphy alongside nonpartisan Cristina McNeiley. Merrillville Democrats Judy Dunlap and Rameen Jackson filed in Districts 1 and 2. Hanover shows a Republican presence with Eric Valiska, Aaron Kuzma, and Jeffrey “Juice” Majewski beside nonpartisan Ryan Eckart. Griffith’s at-large field mixes nonpartisan Lori Rose and Kathy Ruesken with Republican Tina Adams. Hobart’s four at-large candidates — Rikki Guthrie, Sandra Hillan, Donald Rogers, and Stuart Schultz — all left party unlisted, per the Post-Tribune roster.
The Times catalogued Lake County filers June 18 and Porter and LaPorte County filers June 22. Most Lake candidates still declined a major-party brand. Porter’s races are mostly walkovers or empty chairs. November will be the first Region-wide test of whether a “D” or “R” next to a school board name changes who shows up and who wins.