(Ryan Van Velzer / LPM)Dozens of Republican and Democratic candidates have filed for county and state offices representing Southern Indiana in the primary election.Some races are more crowded than others, and candidates have jumped at the opportunity to run for seats being vacated by incumbents.Five people quickly filed for the Indiana state Representative District 72 seat last week, after Ed Clere announced he won’t seek reelection and is instead planning to run for mayor of New Albany next year.Republican Clark County Sheriff Scottie Maples, who is running for a second term, got a primary challenger late last week in former Jeffersonville Police Chief Kenny Kavanaugh. Three Democrats are also in the race.And while Republican Rep. Erin Houchin doesn’t have a primary challenger for the U.S. 9th congressional district seat, four Democrats are running for the chance to face her in November.Friday was the deadline for major party candidates to file to run in the primary. Here’s who did:Clark CountyAssessorRepublican Butch Love is running for reelection to the Clark County assessor’s seat.AuditorRepublican R. Monty Snelling is running for the auditor’s seat. He’s currently the county treasurer.ClerkRepublican Ryan Lynch is seeking a second term.County Commissioners District 3 Republican District 3 Commissioner Bryan Glover isn’t running for reelection. He was first elected to the seat in 2014.Scott Hawkins, Republican Timothy Cochran II, Republican County Council Eight people are running for Clark County Council seats, and two incumbents have primary challengers.District 1Democrat Teah Williams-Hampton is seeking election to the District 1 seat. She was caucused into the spot in 2024 following the death of council member Barbara Hollis.District 2Republican incumbent Ron Grooms is seeking election in District 2. He was selected in 2023 to finish the term for Darci Schiller after she was elected to the Clarksville Town Council.Christian Barrera is running for the seat as a Democrat.District 3Brian Lenfert, Republican incumbentJacob Horton, Republican District 4 David Abbott, RepublicanNate Combs, Republican Christina Gilkey, Democrat Sheriff Republican Sheriff Scottie Maples is seeking a second term. He’ll face former Jeffersonville Police chief Kenny Kavanaugh in the primary.Ed Byers, Tim Deeringer and Dwight Ingle will compete for the Democratic nomination. Byers ran unsuccessfully against Maples in 2022.Prosecutor Republican Prosecutor Jeremy Mull is running unopposed for a fourth term.RecorderRepublican Steve Gill is seeking reelection as county recorder.SurveyorBrian Dixon, a Republican, is seeking election to the surveyor’s seat.Treasurer Republican Danny Yost is running for treasurer. He’s currently the Clark County auditor.Judges Clark County Circuit Court 2Republican incumbent Brad Jacobs is running for another six-year term.Clark County Circuit Court 3 Lisa Glickfield, Republican incumbentAndrea Wasson Stemle, Democrat Floyd County Assessor Republican Terry Watson is running for reelection to the assessor's seat.AuditorDianna Topping, Republican incumbentMaury Goldberg, Democrat Sharon S. Young, Democrat Clerk Republican candidate Steve Burks has filed for the clerk’s seat. He’s the Floyd County Republican Party chair and is married to current Clerk Danita Burks, who’s finishing her second term.County commissioners District 1 Al Knable, Republican incumbent Ellen Morrison Kelley, Democrat County council District 1Democratic incumbent Tony Toran is seeking reelection.District 2 Josh Banet, Republican Calle Jansen, Democrat District 3Republican Danny Short is seeking reelection to the District 3 seat.District 4Republican Andy Lemon is running for District 4. Current District 4 council person Denise Konkle is not seeking reelection.JudgesFloyd Superior Court 1Carrie Stiller, Republican incumbent Floyd Superior Court 2James Hancock, Republican incumbent Floyd Superior Court 3Three people have filed for the Floyd Superior Court 3 seat. Democratic Judge Marie Granger said she isn’t seeking reelection.Christina Knavely, Democrat Maxwell McCrite, Republican Coy Travis, Republican Sheriff Floyd County Republican Sheriff Steve Bush is running for a second term. Jason Kerberg is challenging him in the primary.Prosecutor Republican Prosecutor Chris Lane is seeking a new term.Indiana state representatives District 66, includes parts of Clark, Jefferson and Scott counties Zach Payne, Republican incumbent Ryan Price, Democrat District 70, includes all of Harrison and parts of Clark, Floyd and Washington countiesFive people are vying for the District 70 seat. Republican Karen Engleman is not seeking reelection.Sarah Blessing, Democrat Jerry Finn, Democrat Tamyra Persinger-Andres, Democrat John D. Colburn, Republican Scott Fluhr, Republican District 71, includes part of Clark and Floyd counties Wendy Dant Chesser, Democratic incumbent D.M. Bagshaw, Republican James R. McClure Jr., Republican District 72, includes most of Floyd County Five candidates filed for the District 72 seat in the days after Republican Rep. Ed Clere announced he would not seek reelection to the spot he’s held since 2008.Shawn M. Carruthers, RepublicanDarrell Neeley, Republican Cory Cochran, Democrat Michele (Shelley) Henry, Democrat Nichole Jones, Democrat State senatorsDistrict 45, includes Clark and part of Floyd County  Chris Garten, Republican incumbent Nick Marshall, Democrat District 47, includes Harrison, Washington and part of Floyd CountyGary Byrne, Republican incumbent Ethan Sweetland-May, Democrat U.S. 9th congressional district representative Erin Houchin, Republican incumbentJames H. (Jim) Graham, Democrat Brad A. Meyer, Democrat Tim Peck, Democrat Keil L. Roark, Democrat The primary election in Indiana is Tuesday, May 5. More information is at the Clark and Floyd County Clerk’s websites, and at indianavoters.com.The Clark and Floyd County clerk’s offices have more information here,Coverage of Southern Indiana is funded, in part, by Samtec Inc., the Hazel Walter T. Bales Foundation, and the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County. ...read more read less