By Sydney Byerly
The Indiana Citizen
November 3, 2026
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — Brad Yoder has seen a lot of election cycles. He’s been part of five congressional campaigns in Noblesville, but his experience with campaigning goes back even further — to 1964, when he volunteered for Lyndon B. Johnson.
Now 85, Yoder spent Election Day volunteering for Democratic congressional candidate J.D. Ford, arriving at a Noblesville polling location at 5:45 a.m. He planned to stay until at least 6 p.m. but said if there was a long line then he’d stick around a little longer.
Yoder said he began supporting Ford because he respected his work across party lines during his time as a state senator. He also said he wanted to support whoever challenged Republican U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, whose voting record he believes has harmed Hoosiers.
After decades of campaigning, Yoder said one thing continues to motivate him: getting people to vote.
He has canvassed and made phone calls for Ford, and said he has been encouraged by how few people he’s encountered who believe their vote doesn’t matter.
“It’s important to put your anger into action,” he said.
Yoder wasn’t the only volunteer reporting steady activity at the polls. Ann Quets, another Ford volunteer, said it was heartening to see so many people turning out, particularly in a midterm election.
Other volunteers were supporting candidates in local Hamilton County races. Eric Massey, a Hamilton County prosecutor, volunteered for Republican sheriff candidate Dustin Dixon and judicial candidate Danica Eyler, citing their experience and qualifications.
Massey, who said he has known Dixon professionally for about 10 years, called him the most qualified candidate for sheriff. He also pointed to endorsements from all four Fraternal Order of Police lodges in Hamilton County, saying their support “tells voters everything they need to know” about Dixon’s experience and leadership.
Massey said he also supports Eyler, a current county magistrate, because of her experience on the bench.
Meredith Ziegenhagel, who volunteered for school board candidate Denise Dye, said she has known Dye for years through church and was impressed by her willingness to ask questions about the school referendum.
“I think the board needs a little fresh perspective,” Ziegenhagel said.
For Yoder, though, Tuesday was another chapter in a political involvement that stretches back more than six decades — from campaigning for LBJ to showing up before sunrise for a congressional race in 2026.
