2026 Indiana Senate election

The 2026 Indiana Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026, in the U.S. state of Indiana, coinciding with other elections in the state, including for U.S. House, Indiana Secretary of State, Indiana Treasurer, Indiana State Auditor, and Indiana House, as well as various other local elections. Voters will elect members in 25 of the 50 seats in the Indiana Senate to serve four-year terms in single-member constituencies. The primary elections will take place on May 5.

Source: Wikipedia

Article

2026 Indiana Senate election

Primary election

Failed congressional redistricting

In late 2025, as a part of the broader 2025 United States redistricting, Republican President Donald Trump urged the state of Indiana to redraw its congressional districts to oust two incumbent Democratic congressmen from the state. The proposal ran into unexpectedly-strong opposition in the Republican-supermajority Senate, with over a dozen Republican Senators voicing opposition to the move ahead of the vote. In an attempt to pressure holdouts to vote in favor of redrawing the map, Trump vowed to back primary challengers to all Republicans who vote against it. Independent of these actions, a number of Senators were targets of threats of violence against them ahead of the vote, including bomb threats and swatting calls. Ultimately, the Senate on December 11, 2025, voted 31–19 against redrawing the congressional maps, with 21 Republicans joining all 10 Democrats in opposition.

Campaign

Following the vote, Republican governor Mike Braun vowed to assist Trump in primarying the Republican Senators who voted against redistricting. The conservative organization Turning Point Action additionally promised to donate large amounts of money to further that goal. Senator Greg Walker, who was adamantly against redistricting, reversed his decision to retire and announced in January 2026 and will run for reelection.

Overview

2026 Indiana Senate election

<table><thead><tr><th>2026 Indiana State Senate General Election</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Party</td><td>Votes</td><td>Percentage</td><td>% change</td><td>Seats Before</td><td>Seats Up</td><td>Candidates</td><td>Seats Won</td><td>Seats After</td><td>+/–</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td>22</td><td>24</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>10</td><td>3</td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Totals</td><td></td><td></td><td>—</td><td>50</td><td>25</td><td>49</td><td>25</td><td>50</td><td>—</td></tr></tbody></table>

Predictions

2026 Indiana Senate election

<table><thead><tr><th>Source</th><th>Ranking</th><th>As of</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Sabato's Crystal Ball</td><td>Safe R</td><td>January 22, 2026</td></tr></tbody></table>

Retirements

2026 Indiana Senate election

A total of five incumbent state senators – three Republicans and two Democrats – announced their retirements.

Republicans

• District 17: Andy Zay resigned in January 2026 after being appointed to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. • District 31: Kyle Walker retired. • District 39: Eric Bassler retired.

Democrats

• District 29: J. D. Ford retired to run for Indiana's 5th congressional district. • District 46: Andrea Hunley retired.

Results

District 1

The district has been represented by Republican Dan Dernulc since 2022. Dernulc was elected with 52.3% of the vote in 2022.

Declared

• Trevor De Vries, businessman • Dan Dernulc, incumbent state senator • Nader Liddawi

District 4

The district has been represented by Democrat Rodney Pol Jr. since 2021. He was elected with 52.3% of the vote in 2022.

Declared

• Rodney Pol Jr., incumbent state senator

• Johannes Poulard, candidate for this district in (/wiki/2022IndianaSenateelection#District4) • Nate Uldricks, Porter County GOP Chairman

District 6

The district has been represented by Republican Rick Niemeyer since 2014. Niemeyer was re-elected unopposed in 2022.

Declared

• Rick Niemeyer, incumbent state senator • Jay Starkey, carpenter

• Kate-Lynn Holley, realtor and former WWE wrestler

District 11

The district has been represented by Republican Linda Rogers since 2018. Rogers was re-elected with 61.7% of the vote in 2022.

Declared

• Linda Rogers, incumbent state senator • Brian Schmutzler, physician

• Gabrianna Gratzol, community organizer and activist

District 14

The district has been represented by Republican Tyler Johnson since 2022. Johnson was elected with 65.1% of the vote in 2022.

Declared

• Tyler Johnson, incumbent state senator

District 15

The district has been represented by Republican Liz Brown since 2014. Brown was re-elected unopposed in 2022.

Declared

• Liz Brown, incumbent state senator • Darren Vogt, Northwest Allen County Schools board member, former Allen County councilman, candidate for this district in 2014

• Chloe Andis, U.S. Air Force veteran, defense consultant • Julie McGill, small business owner

District 17

The district has been represented by Republican Andy Zay since 2016. Zay was re-elected with 75.1% of the vote in 2022. In December 2025, Governor Mike Braun appointed Zay to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. During the caucus election among precinct committee members, Nick McKinley was elected to fill the remainder of Zay's term.

Declared

• Michael Hensley, school board president of Manchester Community Schools • Nick McKinley, incumbent state senator • Chris Parker, realtor

Declined

• Andy Zay, former state senator (2016–2026)

District 19

The district has been represented by Republican Travis Holdman since 2008. Holdman was re-elected unopposed in 2022.

Declared

• Blake Fiechter, Bluffton City Councilman • Travis Holdman, incumbent state senator

District 21

The district has been represented by Republican Jim Buck since 2008. Buck was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2022.

Declared

• Jim Buck, incumbent state senator • Tracey Powell, Tipton County commissioner

• Joseph Kazlas, Navy veteran • Kirsten Root, social worker

District 22

The district has been represented by Republican Ron Alting since 1998. Alting was re-elected unopposed in 2022.

Declared

• Ron Alting, incumbent state senator • Richard Bagsby, pastor and candidate for House District 41 in 2022

• Natasha Baker, teacher • Marlena Edmondson, student service coordinator

District 23

The district has been represented by Republican Spencer Deery since 2022. Deery was elected with 63.6% of the vote in 2022.

Declared

• Paula Copenhaver, former Fountain County clerk; governmental affairs director for Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith; and candidate for this seat in (/wiki/2022IndianaSenateelection#District23) • Spencer Deery, incumbent state senator

• David Sanders, West Lafayette city council member and nominee for this district in (/wiki/2022IndianaSenateelection#District23)

District 25

The district has been represented by Republican Mike Gaskill since 2022. Gaskill was elected with 64.1% of the vote in 2022.

Declared

• Katherine Callahan, small business owner • Mike Gaskill, incumbent state senator

• Tamie Dixon-Tatum, office manager and perennial candidate • Todd Shelton, small business owner

District 26

The district has been represented by Republican Scott Alexander since 2022. Alexander was elected with 61% of the vote in 2022.

Declared

• Scott Alexander, incumbent state senator • Katherine Nunley-Kritsch, small business owner and candidate for this seat in (/wiki/2022IndianaSenateelection#District26)

• Andrew Dale, chairman of Delaware County Democratic party

District 27

The district has been represented by Republican Jeff Raatz since 2014. Raatz was re-elected with 71.2% of the vote in 2022.

Declared

• Anthony Lee Jones, retail worker • Jeff Raatz, incumbent state senator

• Ron Itnyre, professor at Indiana University-East

District 29

The district has been represented by Democrat J. D. Ford since 2018. Ford was re-elected with 51.7% of the vote in 2022. Ford announced he is choosing to run for Indiana's 5th congressional district leaving this seat open.

Declared

• David W. Greene, pastor • Demetrice Hicks, Pike Township board member • Kristina Moorhead, health advocate • Kevin Short, healthcare worker and candidate for House District 40 in 2020

Declined

• J. D. Ford, incumbent state senator (running for U.S. House for 5th district)

Declared

• Mike Delph, former state senator for this district (2005–2018) • V. Roni Ford, former regional deputy director for U.S. senator Todd Young and former Metropolitan School District of Pike Township member • John Ruckelshaus, former state senator for the 30th district (2016–2020)

District 31

The district has been represented by Republican Kyle Walker since 2020. Walker was re-elected with 55.4% of the vote in 2022. He announced that he will not seek reelection due to opposition of redistricting.

Declared

• Juanita Albright, doctor and Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board of Trustees President • Tiffanie Ditlevson, Fishers city councilor • Travis Hankins, businessman, candidate for Indiana's 9th congressional district in (/wiki/2010UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinIndiana#District9), and candidate for Indiana's 6th congressional district in (/wiki/2012UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinIndiana#District6) • Jan Kepley Keefer, attorney

Declined

• Kyle Walker, incumbent state senator

Declared

• Andrew Dezelan, former Indiana State Senate staffer • Kerry Forestal, Marion County sheriff • Lasima Packett, community advocate and veteran • Catherine Torzewski, realtor and small business owner

District 38

The district has been represented by Republican Greg Goode since 2023. In 2023, Goode was appointed to the Indiana Senate after Jon Ford, resigned.

Declared

• Greg Goode, incumbent state senator • Brenda Wilson, Vigo County council member • Alexandra Wilson

District 39

The district has been represented by Republican Eric Bassler since 2014. Bassler was re-elected unopposed in 2022. In July 2025, Bassler announced he would not be seeking reelection.

Declared

• Tanner Bouchie, attorney • Jeff Ellington, former state representative for the 62nd district (2015–2022) • Kristi Risk, governmental affairs director for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana and candidate for IN-8 in (/wiki/2010UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinIndiana#District8), (/wiki/2012UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinIndiana#District8), and (/wiki/2024UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinIndiana#District8)

Declined

• Eric Bassler, incumbent state senator

District 41

The district has been represented by Republican Greg Walker since 2006. Walker was re-elected with 67.8% of the vote in 2022. In August 2025, Walker announced that he would not run for reelection; however, he reversed himself in January 2026 and will run for reelection. He cited the political turmoil from redistricting as his reason to rejoin the race.

Declared

• Michelle Davis, state representative for the 58th district (2020–present) • Greg Walker, incumbent state senator

Declined

• Greg Pence, former U.S. representative for Indiana's 6th congressional district (2019–2025) • Milo Smith, former state representative for the 59th district (2006–2018)

Declared

• Ross Thomas, attorney, chairman of the Bartholomew County Democratic Party, candidate for this seat in (/wiki/2018IndianaSenateelection#District41), and candidate for Indiana House District 59 in (/wiki/2022IndianaHouseofRepresentativeselection#District59) and (/wiki/2024IndianaHouseofRepresentativeselection#District59)

District 43

The district has been represented by Republican Randy Maxwell since 2023. In September 2023, Maxwell won a caucus held to appoint a new state senator for the 43rd district, garnering 56 of the 80 votes available.

Declared

• Randy Maxwell, incumbent state senator • Joe Volk, farmer and small business owner

District 45

The district has been represented by Republican Chris Garten since 2018. Garten was re-elected with 62.1% of the vote in 2022.

Declared

• Chris Garten, incumbent state senator

• Nick Marshall, foster care advocate and nominee for this district in (/wiki/2022IndianaSenateelection#District45)

District 46

The district has been represented by Democrat Andrea Hunley since 2024. Hunley was elected with 72.9% of the vote in 2022. She announced she would not seek reelection.

Declared

• Allissa Impink, Indianapolis Public Schools board member • Clif Marsiglio, activist, candidate for lieutenant governor in (/wiki/2024Indianagubernatorialelection#Lieutenantgovernorselection2), and candidate for Indianapolis mayor in (/wiki/2023Indianapolismayoralelection#Democraticprimary) • Sam Glynn

Declined

• Andrea Hunley, incumbent state senator

District 47

The district has been represented by Republican Gary Byrne since 2022. Byrne was elected with 66.8% of the vote in 2022.

Declared

• Gary Byrne, incumbent state senator

District 48

The district has been represented by Republican Daryl Schmitt since 2024. After Mark Messmer was elected as the U.S. representative for Indiana's 8th congressional district, Daryl Schmitt was chosen to replace him.

Declared

• Daryl Schmitt, incumbent state senator

District 49

The district has been represented by Republican Jim Tomes since 2010. Tomes was re-elected unopposed in 2022.

Declared

• Brandi Durham Pugh • Jim Tomes, incumbent state senator