Evansville Man Cited for Running for Office Despite Ineligibility

Kenneth Colbert accused of falsely declaring candidacy despite being declared ineligible by the Republican Party

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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An Evansville man named Kenneth Colbert, 61, has been cited by the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office for Falsely Making a Declaration of Candidacy after he filed paperwork to run as a Republican candidate for delegate to the Indiana Republican Party's state convention, despite being previously declared ineligible to run for office by the Republican Party due to not being in good standing.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of upholding election integrity and ensuring candidates meet all legal requirements to run for office. It also raises questions about how political parties manage their internal processes for determining candidate eligibility and communicating those decisions to would-be candidates.

The details

According to the Vanderburgh County Clerk, Colbert completed candidacy paperwork that included a signature affirming he met all requirements, even though he had previously been served paperwork notifying him of his ineligibility. Detectives confirmed Colbert had been declared ineligible to run as a Republican through December 31, 2029, and that he had unsuccessfully appealed that decision to the Indiana Election Commission.

  • On February 3, 2026, Vanderburgh County Sheriff's deputies responded to the Vanderburgh County Election Office.
  • Colbert filed paperwork earlier that day to run as a Republican candidate for delegate.
  • Colbert has been given a court date of May 19, 2026.

The players

Kenneth Colbert

A 61-year-old Evansville man who filed paperwork to run for elected office despite being declared ineligible by the Republican Party.

Dotie Thomas

The Vanderburgh County Clerk who reported Colbert's filing to the sheriff's office.

Michael Duckworth

The former Vanderburgh County Republican Party Chairman who confirmed Colbert's ineligibility ruling.

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What they’re saying

“We must uphold the integrity of our elections and ensure all candidates meet the legal requirements to run for office.”

— Dotie Thomas, Vanderburgh County Clerk (wmskamfm.com)

What’s next

The judge will decide on May 19, 2026 whether to allow the charges against Colbert to proceed.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of political parties and election officials working together to maintain transparent and fair electoral processes, and the consequences for those who attempt to circumvent the rules.