Democrats Flip Seats in Southern Indiana
Democrats won several Republican-held county and state House seats in Clark and Floyd counties during the 2026 midterm elections.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Political Parties
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Democrats flipped several Republican-held seats in Clark and Floyd counties in the 2026 midterm elections. The party also won statewide offices, including secretary of state and comptroller in Indiana.
Why it matters
The results shift local and state officeholders in southern Indiana and show Democratic gains in statewide races. Party leaders cited voter concerns over corruption, rising costs, and national issues as factors in the outcome.
The results come from the 2026 midterm elections, with Democrats defeating Republicans in county offices and State House District 72. Republican leaders in Clark and Floyd counties had not commented on the results at the time of reporting.
The players
Democratic Party
The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States and won the contested races described in this story.
Beau By
Beau By is a Democrat who will serve as Indiana's next secretary of state.
The details
Tim Deeringer was elected Clark County sheriff, defeating Republican Kenny Kavanaugh. Christian Barrera defeated Republican Ron Grooms in Clark County's District 2 council race, and Marcey Wisman won the Floyd County clerk's race over Republican Steve Burks. Michele Henry defeated Republican Darrell Neeley in State House District 72, and Beau By will be Indiana's next secretary of state.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Voters cast ballots in the 2026 midterm elections.
Political Context
Democrats flipped seats in Clark and Floyd counties and won statewide offices in Indiana's 2026 midterms. The results point to Democratic competitiveness in southern Indiana, though the statewide offices were won by Democrats in a state that Republicans have long dominated.
Residents of Clark and Floyd counties will see new officeholders in the sheriff, council, clerk, and State House seats. Indiana voters will have a new secretary of state, which affects how state election records and business filings are managed.
The takeaway
Local races often turn on issues voters see close to home, and these results show how county-level contests can shift party control. Readers should watch how the new officeholders approach the responsibilities of their offices.
Further reading
For more on how parties are organizing across the state, see Political Parties coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLKY.
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