Indiana House Republicans select next leader
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Rep. Ben Smaltz (R-Auburn) carried last year's redistricting bill (right). Photos: Courtesy of Indiana House Republicans and Arika Herron/Axios
House Republicans have chosen Rep. Ben Smaltz (R-Auburn) to lead them through the upheaval caused by Tuesday's blue wave.
Why it matters: With a slim majority, the caucus will need to be in lockstep over the next two years to get its priorities passed — something that hasn't always been the case or necessarily a concern over the last decade.
State of play: The seat held by House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) was one of at least 16 Democrats flipped Tuesday. Three races are still too close to call.
- "This was an incredibly challenging midterm election and ultimately the national headwinds were too difficult to overcome in a number of our races," Huston said in a statement. "While I'm disappointed by the results, I'm incredibly proud of the progress we've made in Indiana to grow our economy, bring good-paying jobs to our state, lower taxes and create thriving communities."
- He was defeated by Democrat Lauren Cole, a political newcomer who said she ran "because I believe our community deserves a new voice."
- "This campaign was always about putting people first," Cole said in a statement posted to Facebook Wednesday, "and that's exactly what I intend to do."
Zoom in: Three other members of party leadership were also ousted — Reps. Greg Steuerwald (R-Avon), Julie Olthoff (R-Crown Point) and Dave Hall (R-Norman).
- Powerful committee chairs, including Reps. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) and Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) were also among those swept out to sea by the blue tsunami.
What they're saying: "The Indiana Democratic Party didn't create this mess, but we got ourselves in a position to take advantage of the fact that people are really unhappy," Karen Tallian told Axios Tuesday night.
- The party said it fielded its most candidates this century — running someone in 97 of 100 House races.
- Its goal was to pick up the four seats needed to break the supermajority. Even party leaders seemed shocked by their success.
"We set out to break the supermajority and guess what we did?" House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) said Tuesday night. "We did it because we talked about issues that are important to people, issues that are affecting the middle class with regards to affordability."
In the Senate, where Democrats picked up at least four seats but Republicans held onto their supermajority, Sen. Chris Garten (R-Charlestown) has been elected as the chamber's next leader.
- The GOP caucus selected him as the next Senate president pro tempore, succeeding outgoing leader Sen. Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville).
- "We will tackle hard issues head-on, working to strengthen our schools, defend our freedom, scrutinize the allocation of every tax dollar, lower health care costs and find ways to keep cutting taxes," Garten said.
- Three Senate races are still too close to call.
Zoom out: Every Indiana county shifted to the left, compared to the 2024 and 2022 elections.
- Democrat Beau Bayh won the secretary of state race to capture Democrats' first statewide win since 2012.
- Jessica Bailey was the second when she won the state Comptroller race, defeating incumbent Republican Elise Nieshalla.
What's next: Lawmakers return to the Statehouse on Nov. 17 for Organization Day, the ceremonial start of the 2027 legislative session that will begin in earnest in January.