Only a limited number of races are truly competitive in this year’s Indiana Senate elections, with significant campaign funding concentrated in a northwest Indiana district and a suburban Indianapolis contest. Democrats are working to flip Senate District 1 and Senate District 31, hoping to make gains against the Republican 40-10 supermajority in the Senate.
Evan Robbins, executive director of the Indiana Democratic Party, noted that when one party “has essentially called all the shots for over 20 years and things are not going well there’s only one group to blame.” Robbins believes people are ready for change at both national and state levels, citing voter weariness with corruption, especially as residents struggle to keep up with bills.
Senate District 1, covering parts of Lake County including Highland, Griffith, Schererville, Dyer, and St. John, is an open seat. Republican Trevor De Vries defeated incumbent Sen. Dan Dernulc in the GOP primary, aided by President Donald Trump’s endorsement after Dernulc’s vote against congressional redistricting last year. De Vries, an insurance broker, is now challenged by Democrat Scott Houldieson, a union electrician. The candidates have not debated or met at a candidate forum.
Houldieson, a Highland resident who has held leadership roles with his United Auto Workers local, stated, “I’m a working guy … I know what working families are going through.” He aims to bring a direct voice of working people to the chamber and has recently focused his campaign on frustrations with NIPSCO service, from reliability to cost. De Vries’s campaign, meanwhile, emphasizes affordability and government “living within its means,” noting that many residents saw no reduction in bills even after two weeks of power outages following devastating August storms. De Vries, 30, said the race has always been about “getting good conservative values back here in Indiana.” While De Vries ran heavily on Trump’s endorsement in the primary, it has not been highlighted in his general election television ads. Houldieson observed that the “Trump-endorsed” signs from the primary are “nowhere to be found now,” suggesting De Vries is “definitely running away from Trump now.” A recent statewide poll indicates Trump has a 54% disapproval rating in Indiana, with national polls also showing his approval dropping. The Senate Democrat Committee has contributed at least $273,000 to Houldieson, out of $357,000 given to candidates since June 1. The Senate Majority Campaign Committee, the Republican group, has given at least $289,000 to De Vries. The current Republican senator won this district with 52% four years ago.
Another closely watched contest is Senate District 31, which includes northeastern Marion County and parts of Hamilton County, such as Fishers. Sen. Kyle Walker, R-Lawrence, opted not to seek re-election following a bitter divide on mid-cycle redistricting. This race pits Republican Juanita Albright against Democrat Kerry Forestal.
Albright, a doctor at Ascension St. Vincent in Fishers, was elected to the Hamilton Southeastern School Board in 2022. Her campaign messaging highlights government living within its means and promises to address rising costs for housing, groceries, prescriptions, and healthcare. On her campaign site, Albright stated, “I’ve spent my career earning people’s trust by listening before acting,” vowing to prioritize her community’s concerns. Forestal has a career in law enforcement, currently serving his second term as the elected Marion County sheriff. He previously worked as a deputy for the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and as a U.S. marshal for much of Indiana during President Barack Obama’s administration. Forestal’s priorities include lowering healthcare and childcare costs, strengthening penalties for repeat, violent, and sex offenders, and fully funding public schools. He told Mirror Indy that teachers, who are “molding the minds of the next generation,” should be paid first. The Senate Majority Campaign Committee has given Albright almost $300,000 in recent months. Forestal is the only other candidate besides Houldieson to receive funds from the Indiana Senate Democrat Committee, with $84,000. Forestal has criticized Albright’s support from groups that work to ban books, Christian conservatives, and those advocating for data centers. Conversely, Albright has released an advertisement addressing issues at the Marion County Jail under Forestal’s leadership.
