Meet the Monroe County candidates for

State and Federal Congress

With less than three months until midterm elections on Nov. 8, state and federal candidates are out campaigning in full force. Primary elections on May 3 decided Democratic and Republican candidates, and the IDS has put together what you need to know about this election’s big names.

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U.S. Senate

Indiana, like the rest of the U.S., has two senators that serve staggered six-year terms. Senate members are one of two houses in the bicameral Congress. Senators enact legislation, confirm presidential appointments and have the power to declare war. Any legislation that passes the Senate must also go through the House of Representatives.

Todd Young

Republican

  • Priorities:

  • Inflation

  • Anti-immigration

  • Opposing China

  • Electing Constitutionalist Judges

  • Pro-police

  • Anti-abortion

  • Gun Rights

  • Veteran Support

More ↓

Current position: U.S. Senator (R-Ind.)

Thomas McDermott, Jr.

Democrat

  • Priorities:

  • Small Businesses

  • Healthcare

  • Pro-choice

  • Gun Control/Safety

  • Education

  • Environment

  • Veteran Support

  • Marijuana Legalization

  • Rural Development

  • Voting Rights

More ↓

Current position: Mayor of Hammond, Indiana

A small portrait of a man wearing a blue button-up shirt with a reddish beard

James Sceniak

Libertarian

  • Priorities:

  • Healthcare

  • Anti-Vaccine Mandates

  • Marijuana Legalization

  • Veteran Support

  • Inflation

  • Lower Gov. Spending

  • Criminal Justice Reform

  • Gun Rights

  • Pro-choice

More ↓

Current position: Behavior therapist for children with autism

U.S. House of Representatives (District 9)

Indiana has 9 Congressional districts, each with one representative in the federal House of Representatives. The House, like the Senate, also enacts legislation and can declare war, but they have several unique powers, including impeachment and election in the case of an Electoral College tie.

Indiana’s 9th Congressional district ranges from the south side of Indianapolis to Indiana’s border with Kentucky near Louisville, and the biggest city in the district is Bloomington.

Matthew Fyfe

Democrat

  • Priorities:

  • Education

  • Healthcare

  • Environment

  • Worker Rights

  • Broadband Access

  • Criminal Justice Reform

  • Veteran Support

  • Marijuana Legalization

  • Rural Development

  • Small Businesses

More ↓

Current position: Math Teacher

Erin Houchin

Republican

  • Priorities:

  • Anti-abortion

  • Gun Rights

  • Pro-police

  • Lower Gov. Spending

  • Anti-immigration

  • Lower Taxes

  • Broadband Access

  • Inflation

  • Small Businesses

  • Education

More ↓

Current position: Former Indiana State Senate (until early 2022)

Tonya Millis

Libertarian

  • Priorities:

  • Reduce Military Presence Abroad

  • Lower Taxes

  • Less Gov. Restriction

  • Healthcare

  • Marijuana Legalization

  • Environment

More ↓

Current position: Real estate broker

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Indiana House of Representatives

Members of the Indiana State House serve two-year terms, and all 100 seats are up for election this year. The House is one of two chambers in the Indiana General Assembly to form Indiana’s legislative branch. Representatives are responsible for passing public policy legislation and regulating state spending and taxes. They work with the governor of Indiana to create laws and establish a budget.

District 46

District 46 stretches from Ellettsville to Youngstown and, aside from Monroe County, also includes portions of Owen, Clay and Vigo County.

Kurtis Cummings

Democrat

  • Priorities:

  • Education

  • Healthcare

  • Gun Rights

  • Rural Development

  • Broadband Access

  • Lower Corporate Influence

Current position: first responder, owner of Switchyard Brewery, Court Appointed Special Advocate

Bob Heaton

Republican

  • Priorities:

  • Education

  • Transportation Infrastructure

  • Public Safety

  • Lower Taxes

Current position: Indiana House Representative, District 46

District 60

District 60 centers around Martinsville and includes Monrovia, Brooklyn and Morgantown.

Peggy Mayfield

Republican

  • Priorities:

  • Education

  • Small Businesses

  • Veteran Support

  • Pro-police

  • Anti-abortion

  • Gun Rights

More ↓

Current position: Indiana House Representative, District 60

Kathy Thorpe

Democrat

  • Priorities:

  • Pro-choice

  • Education

  • Pro-police

  • Voting Rights

Current position: Retired OB/GYN nurse

District 61

District 61 includes IU and greater Bloomington.

Matt Pierce

Democrat

Pierce, who is running unopposed, does not have a campaign website to state his priorities.

Current position: Indiana House Representative, District 61

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District 62

District 62 includes area north, east and south of Bloomington as well as Nashville, Belmont, Smithville and Brown County State Park.

Penny Githens

Democrat

  • Priorities:

  • Education

  • Substance Abuse

  • Minimum Wage

  • Pro-choice

  • Gun Control/Safety

  • Healthcare

  • Worker Rights

More ↓

Current position: Monroe County Commissioner

Dave Hall

Republican

  • Priorities:

  • Anti-abortion

  • Election Security

  • Substance Abuse

  • Broadband Access

  • Pro-police

Current position: Jackson County Council President

This article was updated Oct. 17, 2022, to add candidates from Indiana House District 46.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misidentified the county where Thorpe previously ran for county coroner.

Methodology

Each candidates' top priorities were compiled from campaign websites, campaign social media accounts and Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

Priorities were worded to best fit a variety of candidate positions. The IDS has provided links to candidate campaign websites or social media pages, where more specific information on individual candidates' positions can be found.

Nadia Scharf

By Nadia Scharf

Nadia has worked at the IDS since 2021 as a reporter, arts desk editor and managing editor. Email

Carson TerBush

Design and development by Carson TerBush

Carson is senior studying journalism and informatics who has worked at the IDS since 2019 as a reporter and designer. This semester she is the managing editor of digital. Email Twitter