52 candidates file to run for 25 Indiana State Senate seats


Twenty-five of the Indiana State Senate’s 50 seats are up for election in 2020, with 52 candidates filing to run for those seats. The primary is scheduled for May 5, and the general election is on November 3. The filing deadline was February 7.

Of the 52 candidates who filed to run for election, 26 are Republicans and 26 are Democrats. In the following 23 districts, the incumbent filed for re-election:

• District 2: Lonnie Randolph (D)
• District 3: Eddie Melton (D)
• District 5: Ed Charbonneau (R)
• District 7: Brian Buchanan (R)
• District 8: Mike Bohacek (R)
• District 9: Ryan Mishler (R)
• District 10: David Niezgodski (D)
• District 12: Blake Doriot (R)
• District 13: Susan Glick (R)
• District 16: Justin Busch (R)
• District 18: Stacey Donato (R)
• District 24: John Crane (R)
• District 28: Michael Crider (R)
• District 30: John Ruckelshaus (R)
• District 32: Aaron Freeman (R)
• District 33: Greg Taylor (D)
• District 34: Jean Breaux (D)
• District 35: R. Michael Young (R)
• District 36: Jack Sandlin (R)
• District 37: Rodric Bray (R)
• District 42: Jean Leising (R)
• District 44: Eric Koch (R)
• District 50: Vaneta Becker (R)

In two districts, the incumbent did not file for re-election. These districts are:

• District 20: Victoria Spartz (R)
• District 40: Mark Stoops (D)

As of February 2020, Republicans held a majority of the chamber with 40 members to Democrats’ 10 members. No seats were vacant.

The Indiana State Senate is one of 86 state legislative chambers holding elections in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.

Indiana has a Republican state government trifecta. A trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and majorities in both state legislative chambers. As of February 14, 2020, there were 21 Republican trifectas, 15 Democratic trifectas, and 14 divided governments where neither party held trifecta control.

Click here to learn more about Indiana State Senate 2020 elections

Additional reading:
Indiana State Senate
Indiana General Assembly
Indiana elections, 2020