Why are you running?

I love Indiana and I respect my fellow Hoosiers. I was born and raised here, and I am raising my family here. I want Indiana to be a place where families can afford to build a good life, where our public schools are strong, and where people have a meaningful voice in the decisions affecting their communities.

I decided to run because too much of what I see happening at the Statehouse, and from my opponent, is just the opposite. Decisions are being made without listening to the people most affected. Local communities are losing the ability to make their own choices. That’s not right. Families are struggling with rising costs while corporations receive significant tax breaks and incentives. That’s not right. Our public schools continue to fight for resources. That’s not right.

After more than 20 years working in education, healthcare, nonprofits, and public policy, I knew I could do more than be frustrated by those decisions. I could show up and work to change them.
I first ran in 2024 knowing it would take two election cycles to win this seat and earn the trust of the people of House District 88. Every new person I meet and every story I hear further motivates me to keep showing up for this community.

That is why I am running: to provide the representation our district deserves. Representation that shows up and listens. Representation that is willing to hear disagreement, bring people together, and fight for solutions that make life better for Hoosiers.

If elected, what would be your top priorities for your constituents?

My priorities come directly from the people I hope to represent. Over the past nearly three years, I have knocked on thousands of doors across House District 88 and listened to what is working, what is getting harder, and what they need from their state government. Again and again, those conversations come back to three things: People, Pocketbooks, and Public Schools.

People: Government should listen to the people it serves. Too often, decisions that directly affect our neighborhoods and communities are made without meaningful input from the people who will live with the consequences. I will continue to show up, listen, protect local control, and make sure residents have a meaningful voice in decisions about their schools, neighborhoods, development, and communities. State government should be a partner to local communities, not work to override them.

Pocketbooks: Hoosier families need some breathing room. At doors across this district, I hear about the rising cost of groceries, utilities, housing, childcare, and healthcare. Families are working hard and still asking why they can’t get ahead. My opponent and many of his colleagues have voted to provide significant tax exemptions for corporations, yet when given the opportunity to lower the tax burden on Hoosiers’ utility bills, they voted no. Those choices reflect priorities. Mine are clear: I will fight to lower costs for working families, demand accountability for how we spend taxpayer dollars, and put people first.

Public Schools: Strong public schools build strong communities. Our teachers and schools need the resources to serve every child, particularly as our communities grow. Instead, our State Legislature has passed policies that take funding away from local public schools, forcing districts to make cuts or turn to local taxpayers to fill the gaps.

What areas of public policy are you passionate about?

I am especially passionate about public education and access to quality, affordable healthcare, two areas that have shaped both my personal life and my professional career.

As the child of educators, I understand firsthand the value of public schools and the dedication of the professionals who serve our students every day. My mother and stepfather were public school teachers for more than 30 years and proud members of the Indiana State Teachers Association. Their careers, along with my own work in education, taught me the importance of respecting educators, trusting their expertise, and ensuring they have the support and resources they need to succeed. I have spent much of my career working to ensure all children have what they need to succeed, both socially and academically.

My experience, both working healthcare and as a caregiver, has given me a different window into the challenges Hoosier families face. I saw patients struggle to get appointments with the specialists they needed and families forced to confront the cost of lifesaving or life-altering medications. Access to healthcare means very little if the care someone needs is unavailable or simply too expensive to afford.

These experiences shape how I approach public policy. I will fight for funding for public schools, policies that support and retain great educators, and accountability for public education dollars. I will also work to improve access to healthcare, strengthen mental and behavioral health services, and address the costs that too often stand between Hoosiers and the care they need.

In what areas do you see opportunities for bipartisanship in the 2027 legislative session?

I believe one of the greatest opportunities for bipartisan work in the 2027 legislative session will be addressing the cost of living for Hoosier families. Affordability is not a partisan issue. Families across Indiana are feeling the pressure of rising costs for utilities, housing, childcare, healthcare, and everyday necessities.

There are practical opportunities to work across the aisle to reduce those pressures. We should examine how state tax policy affects household budgets, address barriers that make childcare and healthcare more expensive or difficult to access, and ensure that economic development policies benefit the communities and families helping to fund them.

Just as importantly, working together on the issues that affect people every day is how we begin rebuilding trust in government. I have heard from folks across the political spectrum: Republicans, Democrats, Independents, etc. who are tired of partisan division and want their elected officials to work together to solve problems. They do not expect us to agree on everything, but they do expect us to listen to one another, find common ground where we can, and get things done.

That is what public service should look like. I will never compromise my values, but I will work with anyone, regardless of party, who is serious about lowering costs, strengthening our communities, and putting the people first.

The Indiana Senate voted against redistricting during the 2026 legislative session. What is your position on redistricting?

I was firmly opposed to the effort to redraw Indiana’s congressional maps in the middle of the decade. Hoosiers should not have their district lines changed simply because the political party in power believes a different map could give them an electoral advantage. That is political gamesmanship, not good governance.

Redistricting should take place following the census through a fair and transparent process with meaningful public input. I support an independent, nonpartisan redistricting process that takes the power to draw political boundaries out of the hands of the politicians who benefit from them. Voters should choose their representatives, not politicians choose their voters.

At a time when Hoosier families are concerned about the cost of living, healthcare, public schools, and the future of their communities, the General Assembly should be focused on solving those problems, not spending time and taxpayer dollars on an unnecessary, off-cycle attempt to redraw political boundaries.

I was glad to see the Indiana Senate reject the effort. I was disappointed, however, that my opponent did not show up for the House vote that preceded it and offered his constituents no explanation for his absence or where he stood on the issue. Hoosiers deserve representatives who show up, make their positions clear, and focus on serving the people.