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2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Indiana House, District 13

Indiana House of Representatives. 2-year term.

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What this office does

Members of the Indiana House of Representatives write and vote on state laws as part of the Indiana General Assembly. The House has 100 members, each representing one district for a two-year term [1].

The job in full — the duties the Indiana Code puts in it, the term, what it pays and who sets that, and what to ask a candidate.

Term
2 years [1]
Term limit
None [1]
Seats
100 [1]
On the 2026 ballot
All 100 [2]
What the law puts in this job (2)
  • Introduces and votes on state legislation as one of the two chambers of the Indiana General Assembly [1].
  • Must be at least 21 years old when taking office and have lived in the district for at least a year [1].

About this race

  • House District 13 includes all of Benton and Warren counties and portions of Fountain, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Tippecanoe and White counties in west-central Indiana [3]. It is not an open seat; Commons is seeking re-election [2].
  • Commons was unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary; Brenna Geswein won the Democratic primary with 1,670 votes over Edward Moyer Jr.'s 457, according to Wikipedia's tabulation [8]. Ben Davis is the Socialist Party of Indiana nominee, chosen by party convention [8].
  • No debate or candidate forum for this race was found as of October 10, 2026.
  • Commons's campaign emphasizes local control, agriculture, gun rights and opposition to tax increases [9]; Geswein's emphasizes public-school funding, health care costs and scrutiny of data-center incentives [10]; Davis's emphasizes wages, public-school funding, local health care and opposition to AI data centers [11].

Candidates on the ballot

Matt Commons

RepublicanIncumbent

Work
High school social studies teacher and youth football coach [3]

Matt Commons, a Republican from Williamsport, is a high school social studies teacher and Army veteran who has represented District 13 since November 2024 [3].

Commons's background

  • Served five years in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, including two tours in Afghanistan, and received a Purple Heart, per the caucus [3].
  • Is a high school social studies teacher and youth football coach; holds a bachelor's degree from Purdue University, a master's in history from Liberty University and a master's in educational leadership from Indiana State University [3].
  • Lives in Williamsport [3].

Commons's positions

Local control

  • Says "State and national policies should not be pushed onto rural Hoosiers without the input of our local communities" [9].

Agriculture

  • Says "I'll support our local farmers by advocating for pro-agriculture policies and cutting unnecessary regulations" [9].

Education

  • Says "I'll be a voice for students, parents, and teachers to improve Hoosier student outcomes" [9].

Taxes & spending

  • Says "I'll oppose tax increases and reduce spending by exposing government waste, fraud, and abuse" [9].

Gun rights

  • Describes himself as an NRA Patriot life member and pledges to protect the right of self-defense [9].

Elections & redistricting

  • Voted yea on the December 2025 House passage of HB 1032, the mid-decade congressional redistricting bill [5].

How Commons would run the office

  • Lists "stopping government overreach, defending our Constitutional freedoms, protecting parental rights" among his priorities [17].

Commons on the current officeholder

  • Is the current officeholder. His campaign site does not mention his opponents; it says "We've accomplished a lot, but there's more work to be done" [17].

How Commons got on the ballot

  • Unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary, according to Wikipedia's tabulation [8].
  • First won the seat by defeating incumbent Rep. Sharon Negele in the 2024 Republican primary [4].

Commons's endorsements and funding

  • His campaign site has an endorsements page, but the endorsers' names could not be confirmed from it [18].

What we could not find about Commons

  • 2024 primary vote totals against Sharon Negele were not retrieved.
  • Individual votes on the 2025 property-tax law (SEA 1) and the 2025 state budget (HEA 1001) could not be confirmed from a roll call; the caucus describes him as supporting SEA 1.
  • No news interviews or forum appearances for the 2026 race were found.
  • No campaign-finance figures were retrieved from the Indiana campaign finance portal.
  • No fundraising totals were found; the campaign collects donations through WinRed [17].

Commons's record in office

Indiana House record, District 13 (2025-2026) · compiled from the official record, Oct. 12-13, 2026

Authored
11
5 became law
Co-authored
24
5 became law
Sponsored
2
1 became law
Co-sponsored
8
7 became law

Committees, 2026 session

  • Local Government
  • Natural Resources
  • Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
  • Government, Interim Study Committee on (House Majority Member)

Floor votes

  • 2025: Yes 396, No 86, Excused 19, Not voting 9
  • 2026: Yes 264, No 97, Excused 8, Not voting 8
How Commons voted on 18 selected bills
The 45 bills Commons carried

  • HB 1016: School safety commission.

    2025 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides for the appointment of a fire chief, or the fire chief's designee, to a county school safety commission.

  • HB 1102: Contracting for preschool programs.

    2025 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Removes language restricting school corporations from entering into a contract with a religiously affiliated nonprofit preschool program.

  • HB 1103: Foreign trade offices.

    2025 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a state agency and the Indiana economic development corporation may not establish an office in a country that is a foreign adversary.

  • HB 1104: Carbon sequestration.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides that, as a prerequisite for the department of natural resources (department) to issue an integration order in regard to the underground storage of carbon dioxide, a storage operator must obtain the consent of: (1) the owners of the pore space underlying at least 85% of the surface area above the proposed storage facility or amended proposed storage facility; and (2) the county executive o

  • HB 1268: DNR study of ground water resources.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Requires the department of natural resources (department) to study certain information pertaining to ground water and water withdrawals.

  • HB 1269: Indiana economic development corporation.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides for appointment to the board of the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) of two nonvoting, advisory members who are members of the general assembly.

  • HB 1007: Energy generation resources.

    2025 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides a credit against state tax liability for expenses incurred in the manufacture of a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) in Indiana.

  • HB 1018: Old home repair tax credit.

    2025 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Allows a credit against a qualified taxpayer's state tax liability in an amount equal to: (1) 20% of the qualified expenditures that a taxpayer makes for the preservation or rehabilitation of the taxpayer's residence; or (2) 55% of the qualified expenditures that a taxpayer makes for the replacement of electrical wiring and fixtures that were added to the property prior to 1940.

  • HB 1045: Teacher compensation.

    2025 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Includes school social workers and school psychologists in the definition of "teacher" for purposes of the requirement for school corporations to expend a certain percentage amount of state tuition support on teacher compensation.

  • HB 1186: Law enforcement matters.

    2025 · Co-authored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate (not reported from Senate committee)

    Provides that a correctional professional is considered a public safety officer for purposes of determining eligibility for line of duty death benefits.

  • HB 1271: Indiana welcome signs.

    2025 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Requires the Indiana department of transportation to include the state motto or slogan, "The Crossroads of America", or the variation "Crossroads of America", on the face of a welcome sign installed at an entry point to Indiana on an interstate, a highway, a street, or a road.

  • HB 1280: Taxation of military income.

    2025 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Exempts military pay for members of the United States Space Force, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps from the individual income tax.

  • HB 1398: Office of school safety.

    2025 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Establishes the office of school safety (office) within the department of homeland security.

  • HB 1495: Review of administrative and judicial rules.

    2025 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Establishes the administrative rules review committee.

  • HB 1521: Consumer genetic testing providers.

    2025 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a person may not discriminate against an individual on the basis of the individual's solicitation and use of consumer genetic testing services or on the basis of the results of genetic testing performed by a provider of consumer genetic testing services (provider).

  • HB 1535: Sentencing of aliens unlawfully present.

    2025 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Makes it a sentencing aggravator that the person is or has been an alien unlawfully present in the United States.

  • HB 1612: Rural business growth.

    2025 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Establishes a state tax credit (credit) for certain capital investments made in rural funds.

  • HB 1637: School and public safety matters.

    2025 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Expands the eligibility requirements for admission to the Indiana Veterans' Home.

  • SB 143: Parental rights.

    2025 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a governmental entity may not substantially burden certain parental rights unless the burden, as applied to the parent and the child, is required to advance a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of advancing the governmental interest.

  • SB 28: Ground water emergencies.

    2025 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Allows the owner or operator of a significant ground water withdrawal facility to file a complaint with the director of the department of natural resources (director) that a water well on the property of the owner of the significant ground water withdrawal facility failed to furnish the well's normal supply of water or failed to furnish potable water.

  • SB 280: Deer hunting.

    2025 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that, for a hunting season beginning after June 30, 2025, rifles may be used to hunt deer on public property subject to certain restrictions.

  • SB 346: Rural business growth.

    2025 · Co-sponsored · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Establishes a state tax credit (credit) for certain capital investments made in rural funds.

  • SJR 21: Terms of members of Congress.

    2025 · Co-sponsored · enacted: became law (no signature action listed)

    Applies to Congress for a Convention for proposing Amendments under Article V of the Constitution of the United States to provide limits to the number of terms that an individual may serve in the United States House of Representatives and in the United States Senate.

  • HB 1098: Work based learning liability.

    2026 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires an intermediary and an employer to enter into an agreement that sets forth the duties and responsibilities of the intermediary and the employer when participating in a work based learning program.

  • HB 1099: Foreign adversaries.

    2026 · Authored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate (not reported from Senate committee)

    Provides that, if a contractor or a subcontractor working under the contractor for the provision of a technological product or service is a prohibited person, a qualified entity may enter into the contract if the contractor affirms the contractor and its subcontractors are not acting as agents of a foreign adversary.

  • HB 1160: Naturalization examination.

    2026 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, requires administration of the naturalization examination provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (exam) in grade 8.

  • HB 1274: Insurance mandated gun free zone notices.

    2026 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that an insurer may not require an insured or prospective insured to post or display a gun free zone notice.

  • HB 1275: Sale of hemp containing products.

    2026 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides that a person selling certain hemp products may not permit an individual less than 21 years of age to enter the retail premises, and makes a violation a Class C infraction.

  • HB 1034: Student cellular telephone use.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Amends the definition of "wireless communication device." Requires each school corporation and charter school to adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that: (1) prohibits a student from using or possessing a wireless communication device during the school day; (2) requires teacher directed use of a wireless communication device for educational purposes during the school day to

  • HB 1043: Data center water regulation.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Defines "data center".

  • HB 1076: Liability connected with off-road vehicle use.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides that an owner, a spectator, and a promoter are immune from civil liability arising from a claim brought by a participant or the participant's personal representative concerning the damage to or the loss of the participant's property or the participant's injury or death that results from the inherent risks of off-road vehicle use.

  • HB 1095: School police pension matters.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Makes changes to the definition of a "school resource officer" for provisions relating to the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund (1977 fund).

  • HB 1104: Nondisclosure agreements in economic development.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides that the Indiana economic development corporation, the state, any instrumentality of the state, or any other public authority, or any party negotiating on behalf of any of those entities, may not, after June 30, 2026, enter into an economic development agreement or contract that contains any provision, clause, or language that provides that the agreement or contract, or any of its terms,

  • HB 1105: Condemnation of Hoosier homestead property.

    2026 · Co-authored · reported from House committee; no House third-reading vote

    Establishes the Hoosier homestead program administered by the Indiana state department of agriculture to commemorate and maintain a registry of farms owned by the same family for at least 100 years.

  • HB 1187: Property tax credits for veterans.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Increases the property tax deduction for a veteran who is totally disabled to an amount equal to 100% of the assessed value of the individual's real property (instead of $14,000).

  • HB 1281: Restrictions on lobbying for a foreign adversary.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides that a lobbyist may not: (1) register as a lobbyist for a foreign adversary client; and (2) contract as a lobbyist to represent a foreign adversary.

  • HB 1285: Low THC hemp extract.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Defines "hemp" as a cannabis plant that contains not more than 0.3% total THC.

  • HB 1343: Public safety matters.

    2026 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that the law enforcement training board (board) shall select an executive director to serve at the pleasure of the board.

  • HB 1371: Background colors for licenses and permits.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Requires the bureau of motor vehicles to apply a unique background color to a driver's license, a learner's permit, or an identification card issued after December 31, 2026, to an individual who: (1) is an alien with lawful status; or (2) is not registered to vote at the time of issuance.

  • HB 1415: Limits on nuisance actions against racetracks.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides that a racing facility or racetrack or any of its appurtenances is not and does not become a nuisance, public or private, within the area of the racing facility or racetrack, in an action brought by a person who purchased or improved property within the area of the racing facility or racetrack or its appurtenances after the racing facility or racetrack initially commenced operation as a r

  • SB 256: Foreign agent registration, foreign terrorist organizations, and foreign adversaries.

    2026 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that contracts entered into, amended, or renewed by a qualified entity for the provision of a technological product or service must contain a provision requiring the contractor to confirm that the contractor and any subcontractors working under the contract for the contractor are not prohibited persons.

  • SB 7: Carbon sequestration.

    2026 · Sponsored · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Provides that a storage operator may not operate a carbon sequestration project that transports or stores carbon dioxide outside the county where the carbon dioxide is generated unless the project is approved by the appropriate county legislative body or plan commission.

  • SB 176: Shooting ranges.

    2026 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that the maintenance, repair, renovation, modernization, or expansion of buildings, structures, or facilities used in connection with a shooting range, including improvements to safety, security accessibility, or environmental controls, is a continuation of a permitted use and may not be treated by a local unit of government as: (1) an expansion of a nonconforming use; or (2) a basis to d

  • SB 27: Stadium authority.

    2026 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Establishes the northwest Indiana stadium authority (stadium authority) for the purpose of acquiring and financing certain facilities.

  • SB 78: Wireless communication device policy.

    2026 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends definitions, requirements, restrictions, and exceptions regarding wireless communication device policies adopted and implemented by school corporations and charter schools.

How this record was put together, and what it does not show

What we list: 28 bills chosen by a rule that does not look at topic: both state budgets, four bills named in advance, the 2025-26 redistricting bill, and in each session and chamber the 3 bills whose final-passage vote drew the most “nay” votes.

  • Votes reflect party caucus dynamics. Indiana has Republican supermajorities in both chambers, and many floor votes split along party lines; a single vote says little without the bill and its context.
  • Bills often die for procedural reasons, such as no committee hearing or a deadline, and a bill marked “not reported from committee” may have become law inside another bill.
  • A third-reading vote is on the version in front of the chamber at that time; the final version can be very different.
  • Authoring and co-authoring are different: co-authors sign on, often in large numbers, and usually did not write the bill.
  • Attendance counts roll calls on bills and joint resolutions (about 89% of numbered roll calls). “Excused” is an absence the chamber approved; “not voting” means no vote was recorded.

Where Commons's record came from

Commons's campaign website

Sources for Commons

Ben Davis

Socialist Party of Indiana

Work
Senior strategic consultant at GadellNet Consulting Services; calls himself a career IT technologist [13]

Ben Davis, a Lafayette native who describes himself as a career IT technologist, is the Socialist Party of Indiana nominee [12, 8].

Davis's background

  • Describes himself as a "career IT technologist" and a "Lafayette native" [12].
  • BallotReady lists him as a senior strategic consultant at GadellNet Consulting Services, a former Ivy Tech adjunct instructor and former Subaru of Indiana Automotive employee, with an MBA and bachelor's degree from Western Governors University [13].
  • His campaign says he is an activist with groups including PFLAG and DSA, a longtime platelet donor, and a St. Baldrick's children's cancer fundraiser [12].

Davis's positions

Economy & jobs

  • Lists "Not living, but thriving wages" as a priority and says "Life for working Hoosiers continues to worsen under the two-party system" [11].
  • BallotReady's profile says he believes workers should receive more of the value they create [13].

Education

  • Lists "Fully funding public schools" as a priority, saying public education has been "hollowed out" [11].
  • BallotReady's profile says he supports roughly doubling teacher pay and opposes public funds for private or charter schools [13].

Health care

  • Lists "Investing in local health care" as a priority; BallotReady's profile says he supports guaranteed health care for everyone [11, 13].

Data centers

  • Lists "No AI Data Centers" as a campaign position; BallotReady's profile cites noise, pollution, water and power use and rising electricity rates [11, 13].

Energy & utilities

  • BallotReady's profile says he supports building out renewable energy and retiring coal and gas plants quickly, citing Benton County as a model [13].

Immigration

  • BallotReady's profile says he calls to "Abolish ICE" and opposes state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement [13].

How Davis would run the office

  • Says he will "fight against corporate interests" and "lower the cost of living" [12].

Davis on the current officeholder

  • His campaign site does not mention Commons; it says "Indiana House District 13 needs a better option!" [12].

How Davis got on the ballot

  • Nominated by the Socialist Party of Indiana at its convention, according to Wikipedia's tabulation [8]. His campaign site describes the minor-party route as a longer road to qualifying for the ballot than major-party candidates face [11].

What we could not find about Davis

  • His Substack profile describes him as a "Democratic socialist candidate"; the official ballot lists him as Socialist Party of Indiana.
  • Several position details come from BallotReady's profile rather than his own campaign pages.
  • No news coverage, interviews or forum appearances were found.
  • No campaign-finance figures were retrieved from the Indiana campaign finance portal.
  • No endorsements are listed on his campaign site, which links to the Socialist Party of Indiana; donations are collected through Donorbox [11].
  • No fundraising totals were found.

Davis's campaign website

Sources for Davis

Brenna Geswein

Democratic

Work
Engineer at Caterpillar in Lafayette for more than 15 years; financial coach at Habitat for Humanity [14]

Brenna Geswein, a Democrat, is an engineer at Caterpillar in Lafayette and a financial coach with Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette [14].

Geswein's background

  • Has worked as an engineer at Caterpillar in Lafayette for more than 15 years and holds a mechanical engineering degree and an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, per her campaign [14].
  • Served six years on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette and now works there as a financial coach [14].

Geswein's positions

Education

  • Supports fully funding public schools and opposes vouchers, saying "Public money should strengthen the schools that serve every child in every community" [10].
  • Calls for smaller class sizes, competitive teacher pay and accountability for public dollars [10].

Health care

  • Would "Demand fair pricing and greater transparency from hospitals, insurers, and drug companies," supports steady funding for local health departments and protecting rural clinics [10].
  • Supports expanding access to contraception and maternity care "without political interference" [10].

Data centers

  • Criticizes data centers' sales-tax exemption on utility use ("These facilities are exempt from sales tax on their massive utility usage") and calls for reviewing tax incentives, protecting families from shifted utility costs, and transparency on jobs and energy use [10].

Housing

  • Lists attainable homeownership as a focus, calling housing, schools and health care "not partisan issues" [14].

Government

  • Supports accessible voter information, civic education, and "Transparent decisions and clear reporting on public spending" [10].

How Geswein would run the office

  • Says she is running "to protect public schools, strengthening rural communities, expand access to healthcare" [15].

Geswein on the current officeholder

  • Her campaign site does not name Commons; it says she believes the legislature has lost sight of basics and that she aims to "bring responsive representation back to the Statehouse" [14, 15].

How Geswein got on the ballot

  • Won the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary with 1,670 votes to 457 for Edward Moyer Jr., a retired principal, according to Wikipedia's tabulation [8].

Geswein's endorsements and funding

  • iVoterGuide lists endorsements she reported from AFT Indiana, Indiana Reproductive Freedom, 314 Action and Planned Parenthood [16].

What we could not find about Geswein

  • Local coverage (Journal & Courier) of her campaign could not be reviewed for this profile; her place of residence was not confirmed.
  • No forum appearances were found.
  • No campaign-finance figures were retrieved from the Indiana campaign finance portal.
  • No fundraising totals were found; the campaign collects donations through ActBlue [15].

Geswein's campaign website

Sources for Geswein

Sources

Researched Saturday, October 10, 2026

  1. Indiana House of Representatives (Wikipedia)
  2. 2026 General Election Candidate List (Indiana Election Division)
  3. Rep. Matt Commons (Indiana House Republicans)
  4. Matt Commons (Wikipedia)
  5. Legislator scorecard: Matt Commons (BillTrack50)
  6. 2026 Indiana House of Representatives election (Wikipedia)
  7. Issues (Commons campaign)
  8. Platform (Geswein campaign)
  9. Ben Davis for Indiana (Davis campaign)
  10. About Ben (Davis campaign)
  11. Ben Davis (BallotReady)
  12. About Brenna (Geswein campaign)
  13. Elect Brenna (Geswein campaign)
  14. Brenna Geswein (iVoterGuide)
  15. Matt Commons for State House (Commons campaign)
  16. Endorsements (Commons campaign)
What's included
the U.S. House, statewide offices, every Indiana House and Senate district on the ballot, Indiana's statewide public questions and judicial retention questions, and county, township, city, town and school board races from the Indiana Election Division's candidate list.
Everything else
Local races (county, city, school board, judges) and anything else on your ballot are on your official sample ballot: IndianaVoters.in.gov.
Candidate lists
As of Sunday, October 18, 2026.
At the polls
Indiana law lets you bring a list of candidates and public questions into the polling place, including one stored on your phone, as long as you don't electioneer. IC 3-11-8-18.5

This is not an official ballot. Confirm your registration, polling place and ballot with your election office through vote.gov.