Kyle Dukes, the second-place finisher in last year’s Republican caucus, was the top choice among voters in Tuesday’s primary and is on the verge of becoming Kosciusko County’s next sheriff.

Dukes, an Indiana State trooper who lives outside of Milford, defeated two-term and interim sheriff Rocky Goshert in a four-way race among Republicans.

Kosciusko County’s Democratic Party did not have a candidate for sheriff for the primary, but could still slate one this summer.

A victory by Dukes would extend Republican dominance in the sheriff’s department that began in 1979 when Al Rovenstine was first elected sheriff.

Dukes, 41, had more votes than the other three candidates combined. He picked up 51.1 percent of the vote. Goshert followed with 27.5 percent. County Coroner Tony Ciriello collected 11.8 percent, followed by Chris Rager with 9.4 percent.

Goshert assumed his role as interim sheriff in June when then-sheriff Aaron Rovenstine resigned after pleading guilty two years after facing a 10-count indictment involving allegations of wrongdoing.

At first, Goshert said he would not run in 2018, but changed his mind, saying the department needed somebody with experience.

Goshert ended two terms as sheriff in 2014 because of term limits, and Aaron Rovenstine ran again, seeking a third term in office.

With four candidates, Tuesday’s race became the biggest and most wide-open in 20 years for the top elected law enforcement post in the county.

But the race turned into a two-man contest quickly Tuesday night and Ciriello and Rager were left to battle it out for third place.

Dukes cast himself as the outsider in  the GOP caucus and campaign, saying the department needed a fresh start following the Rovenstine scandal.

In doing so, Dukes lined up the support of seven area police chiefs who conveyed their concerns with the department. Dukes has pledged more cohesion among the departments and supports a unified drug task force in the county.

Dukes said this morning he was surprised by the margin of victory and credited it to a strong campaign team.

He said he thinks voters were attracted to his message of unity and the endorsements from area police chiefs.

“The citizens of Kosciusko County are ready for that,” Dukes said.

He said he plans to take a break, savor the win and then prepare for a fall campaign.

“Right now, our focus is on November,” Dukes said. “We’ll gear up for November and hit it twice as hard.”



State District Races

Two incumbent Republican state representatives – Dave Wolkins and Curt Nisly – held off challengers  Tuesday.

Wolkins, the District 18 incumbent who was first elected in 1988, faced a rare Republican challenge in Russ Reahard, of Wabash County.

Reahard, a part-time pastor, campaigned supporting a complete ban on abortions and constitutional carry, which would allow people to carry firearms without a license.

In Kosciusko County, Wolkins picked up 72.9 percent while Reahard had 27.0 percent, but the district-wide vote total, which was not available, was believed to be much closer.

The district includes Wabash County and portions of Kosciusko, Miami and Grant counties.

Wolkins will face Democrat Dee Moore in the general election in a rematch of 2016.

In the District 22 race, Nisly held off Kimberly Cates in their Republican primary battle, picking up 64.9 percent while Cates gained 35.1 percent  across the district, which includes Kosciusko and Elkhart counties.

The race was closer in Kosciusko County where Nisly had 61.7 percent to 38.2 percent for Cates, who was selected by a caucus in 2017 to serve on Kosciusko County Council.

Cates offered an alternative to Nisly’s “protection at conception” abortion stance and his support of constitutional carry.

Nisly is currently unopposed heading into the general election.





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U.S. House Races

In the Second Congressional District, Mel Hall captured 47.1 percent of the vote in a competitive three-way race in the Democratic primary and will face Republican Jackie Walorski in the general election.

Districtwide, Pat Hackett finished second with 31.9 percent and Yatish Joshi had 11.9 percent.

Hall received 39.1 percent of the vote in Kosciusko County while Joshi picked up 23.2 percent and Hackett had 21.8 percent. Other candidates who did not actively campaign trailed significantly and included Douglas Carpenter (9.4), Roland Leech (4.2) and John  Petroff (2.2).

Walorski won 78.6 percent in a race against Mark Summe in the Republican primary.

In the Third District, Democratic candidate Courtney Tritch easily defeated two other candidates with 79 percent of the vote in Kosciusko County and will face first-term Rep. Jim Banks in the general election.

Tritch’s opponents, Tommy Schrader and John Roberson, picked up about 20 percent of the vote.

Banks was unopposed in the Republican primary.



U.S. Senate Race

Kosciusko County Republican voters were very much in line with state voters in the U.S. Senate race, which will pit Republican businessman Mike Braun against U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly.

Braun topped U.S. Reps. Luke Messer and Todd Rokita in a hotly contested race.

Braun won support from 39 percent of Kosciusko County voters while Rokita received 31 percent and Messer received 29.9 percent.

Statewide, Braun received about 41 percent of the vote followed by Rokita with 30 percent and Messer with 28 percent.

State totals have been finalized.