FORT WAYNE, Ind. –Tuesday night was a big night for Allen County Democrats as they won a county commissioner’s race for the first time since the 1970s.
The county government has historically been dominated by Republicans. Allen County Democrats have not won a county election since current Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker left County Council in 2019. They hadn’t won a county commissioner seat in 50 years. Tuesday night, they won two of the three seats.
Democrats Jorge Fernandez and Kate Conner defeated Republicans Ozzie Mitson and Paul Moss to give the Allen County Democratic Party a governing majority on the most powerful governing board in Allen County government.
Those two seats were open after incumbents Rich Beck and Therese Brown announced they would not seek reelection this year, leaving Commissioner Ron Turpin, in his third year on the board, as the only incumbent, and soon to be the only Republican on the board.
Democrats also beat incumbent Recorder Nicole Keesling, incumbent Auditor Jacquelynn Scheuman, incumbent Second District County Councilman Mike Clendenen and incumbent Fourth District County Councilman Don Wyss.
“When a group of people dedicated to making their community a better place for everyone unite, anything is possible,” Allen County Democratic Party Chairman Chad Wierzbinski said after the results were released.
Democrats also flipped seats in the state legislature.
Blaine Sefton defeated incumbent Republican State Sen. Tyler Johnson.
Incumbent Republican State Sen. Liz Brown lost to Democratic challenger Julie McGill.
Democrat Timothy C. Murphy defeated incumbent Republican State Sen. Blake Fiechter.
Democrat Wesley Haffenden beat Republican Christopher Judy for the Indiana District 83 state representative seat.
Former Allen County Democratic Party Chair Misti Meehan defeated Republican Bob Morris to represent District 84 in the state House of Representatives.
Allen County Republicans did were not shut out Tuesday night. Some found success.
Republican State Rep. Martin Carbaugh held onto his seat, defeating Democratic challenger Sharon L. Wight.
Republican State Rep. Dave Heine held on to his seat defeating Democratic challenger Mark (Bird) Wehrle.
Incumbent Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman defeated his Democratic challenger Kelly Thompson overall. However, she beat him in Allen County by just under 11 points.
Allen County Republican Party Chairman Steve Shine could not be immediately reached for comment.
