I’m not trying to look past this election, but with the 2020 primary moved to March 17 because of the presidential race, the filing deadline for next year is right around the corner.

Dec. 18 is the deadline for those wanting to run in the primary. That gives Republicans and Democrats less than eight weeks to turn in nominating petitions.

In both Mahoning and Trumbull counties, there are elections for two county commissioners, prosecutor, recorder, treasurer, coroner, engineer, sheriff in addition to judicial seats. In Mahoning, there are three common pleas seats as well as domestic relations and probate as well as two spots on the 7th District Court of Appeals. In Trumbull, the judicial races are for one seat on the common pleas bench and probate, and two positions on the 11th District Court of Appeals.

Also on the ballot are U.S. House and Ohio House in both counties and the state Senate seat in Trumbull.

In Mahoning and Trumbull, all of the county-level positions on the 2020 ballot — excluding judges, who don’t run with party affiliations in the general election in Ohio — are Democrats.

Mahoning Democratic Chairwoman Joyce Kale-Pesta and Trumbull Democratic Chairman Dan Polivka said all the incumbents are running next year for re-election.

Meanwhile, Republican leaders in both counties plan to field candidates. But it isn’t easy.

“We have several offices we’re focused on,” said Kevin Wyndham, Trumbull Republican chairman. “We have key offices we’ll announce (we’re pursuing). I don’t want a body on every ballot. That’s been a problem with the Republican Party in the past years: to just put candidates into every race. We’re seeking the best candidates for specific offices.”

Thomas McCabe, Mahoning GOP chairman, said: “We’re trying to get candidates. It’s the same story in this county for 40 years: it’s hard to find good candidates to make a difference, to step up. We have a few potential candidates, but it’s tough. It’s still blue Mahoning County, and we’re trying to make it purple and eventually red.”

Mahoning Republicans may advertise to find candidates, he said.

One interesting aspect of next year’s election is the presence of President Donald Trump on the ballot.

In 2016, Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Trumbull County since Richard Nixon in 1972. Trump received 50.71 percent of the vote compared to 44.49 percent for Democrat Hillary Clinton. Other candidates got the rest of the vote.

During that election in Mahoning County, Clinton won with 49.87 percent of the vote to 46.59 percent for Trump with other candidates making up the rest. It was the best showing by a Republican presidential candidate in Mahoning County since 1972.

But that didn’t translate into success for down-ticket Republicans in either county.

Every nonjudicial countywide Democrat in Mahoning received at least 60 percent of the vote. The two state House candidates — each covers about half of the county — just missed the 60-percent mark.

In Trumbull, every countywide Democrat was also re-elected, getting at least 57 percent of the vote except for Polivka. He received 50.51 percent of the vote, beating Republican Mary E. Williams, who got 43.73 percent, and two other candidates. Also, the two Ohio House and state Senate Democratic candidates got at least 57 percent of the vote in Trumbull in 2016.

Polivka said he’s not sure if Trump will play a factor in next year’s general election.

“The local elected officials are doing a good job,” he said. “Elected officials — Democrat, Republican or independent — if they’re doing a good job, the voters will support them.”

Wyndham and McCabe said they’re hopeful Trump will have an effect on voters next year helping to convince them to back other Republicans, even though it didn’t work in 2016.

Skolnick covers politics for the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator edition.

dskolnick@tribtoday.com