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2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Indiana House, District 46

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 46 includes all of Owen County and portions of Clay, Monroe and Vigo counties [3].
  • In the May 5, 2026 Republican primary, Heaton defeated former Brazil Mayor Tom Arthur, 4,479 votes (68.9%) to 2,022 (31.1%), according to Wikipedia's results table [11, 12]. James Pittsford III was the only Democrat listed [11].
  • Heaton was re-elected with 67.9% of the vote in 2024 [11].
  • No debate or forum for the general election was found.
  • Key differences: Pittsford proposes eliminating the state sales tax on residential utility bills and ending state-subsidized vouchers for higher-income families, and says the House and Senate supermajorities have resulted in poor oversight of tax dollars [13]; Heaton voted for and defends the 2025 budget, which expanded school choice to all families, and SEA 1 [4, 7, 6].

Candidates on the ballot

Bob Heaton

RepublicanIncumbent

Work
Has run Heaton Financial Services in Terre Haute since 2003 [3]

Bob Heaton is the Republican incumbent, first elected in 2010, and serves as House majority whip [3]. His recent work includes the 2025 budget, child care licensing changes and a resolution on the national debt [4, 5, 9].

Heaton's background

  • Grew up on a family farm in Clay County; played basketball at Indiana State University, including the 1978-79 season, and earned a business administration degree [3].
  • Has run Heaton Financial Services in Terre Haute since 2003 and has served on several local community boards [3].
  • Lives in the Wabash Valley [3].

Heaton's positions

Property taxes

  • Supported SEA 1, saying "Two-thirds of homeowners will see a lower property tax bill next year than they did this year" [4, 6].

Budget & spending

  • Described the 2025 budget as balanced while funding essential services, and said it "increases K-12 tuition support by $640 million over the next two years" [4].
  • Said of the national debt: "If we're serious about protecting their future, we have to be serious about restoring fiscal responsibility." [9]

Child care

  • Said HEA 1253 "cuts unnecessary bureaucracy and gives providers the flexibility they need to grow and serve more families" [5].

Energy & utilities

  • Said after the 2026 session that "Making sure utilities and energy are more affordable was a key part of that effort," in a release highlighting HEA 1002 on utility performance-based accountability [14].

Agriculture

  • Said "Lowering operating costs during harvest season means farmers can save money" in welcoming diesel-fuel relief for farmers [10].

Heaton on the current officeholder

  • Is the current officeholder. No statements by Heaton about Pittsford were found.

How Heaton got on the ballot

  • Won the May 5, 2026 Republican primary over Tom Arthur with 68.9% of the vote [11]. Heaton did not fill out the Tribune-Star's pre-primary candidate questionnaire [12].

Heaton's endorsements and funding

  • Endorsed by Indiana Farm Bureau's AgELECT PAC for the 2026 primary [15]. Wikipedia also lists primary endorsements from President Donald Trump, Gov. Mike Braun, the NFIB Indiana PAC and the NRA Political Victory Fund [11].

What we could not find about Heaton

  • No 2026 campaign website or candidate survey responses found.
  • No fundraising data found.
  • Most of the Tribune-Star's pre-primary article could not be reviewed for this profile.
  • No statements from Heaton on redistricting or data centers were found.
  • No 2026 campaign platform was found; his caucus releases emphasize keeping costs down and utility affordability [14].

Heaton's record in office

Indiana House record, District 46 (2023-2026) · compiled from the official record, Oct. 12-13, 2026

Authored
12
2 became law
Co-authored
27
14 became law
Sponsored
1
0 became law
Co-sponsored
10
7 became law

Committees, 2026 session

  • Financial Institutions
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance, Interim Study Committee on (House Majority Member)
  • Ways and Means (Chair of Higher Education Subcommittee)

Floor votes

  • 2023: Yes 427, No 51, Excused 13
  • 2024: Yes 285, No 25
  • 2025: Yes 418, No 85, Excused 6, Not voting 1
  • 2026: Yes 280, No 93, Not voting 4
How Heaton voted on 37 selected bills
The 50 bills Heaton carried

  • HB 1260: Athletic training.

    2023 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Replaces the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) with the Board of Certification, Inc.

  • HB 1267: Assisted reproduction and gestational surrogacy.

    2023 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Amends provisions regarding testing of donated human sperm and eggs.

  • HB 1581: Business associations.

    2023 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that the definitions for the uniform business organizations code apply to agricultural cooperatives.

  • HB 1582: DCS workforce stabilization grants.

    2023 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Establishes the child services workforce stabilization fund (fund) for the provision of grants by the department of child services (department) to child services providers for the purpose of addressing costs associated with increased wages for direct care staff.

  • HB 1583: Health plans and ambulance service providers.

    2023 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends the law requiring a health plan operator to fairly negotiate rates and terms with any ambulance service provider willing to become a participating provider with respect to the operator's health plan.

  • HB 1008: Pension investments.

    2023 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Specifies certain entities, actions taken, or factors considered to which the ESG commitment provisions do not apply.

  • HB 1034: Income tax exemption for military pay.

    2023 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Exempts military pay for members of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the national guard from the individual income tax.

  • HB 1106: Mine reclamation tax credit.

    2023 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides a mine reclamation tax credit (credit), retroactive beginning January 1, 2023, for a taxpayer that enters into an agreement with the Indiana economic development corporation (corporation) for a qualified investment for development of property located on reclaimed coal mining land.

  • HB 1114: New courts and new magistrates.

    2023 · Co-authored · reported from House committee; no House third-reading vote

    Allows the judges of the Daviess circuit and superior courts to appoint a full-time magistrate.

  • HB 1124: Civil proceeding advance payment contracts.

    2023 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends the law concerning civil proceeding advance payment (CPAP) transactions to provide that in a civil proceeding in which a consumer claimant has entered into a CPAP contract, the consumer claimant or the consumer claimant's attorney is required to provide to: (1) each of the other parties in the civil proceeding; and (2) each insurer that has a duty to defend another party in the civil procee

  • HB 1163: Elimination of local income tax councils.

    2023 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Eliminates local income tax councils beginning July 1, 2024, and instead provides that the county fiscal body is the adopting body in all counties for purposes of the LIT.

  • HB 1407: Parental rights.

    2023 · Co-authored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate (not reported from Senate committee)

    Provides that the state of Indiana, a political subdivision or other governmental entity of the state of Indiana, a government official, or any other person acting under the color of law shall not infringe on the fundamental right of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of the parent's child without demonstrating that the infringement: (1) is required by a c

  • HB 1608: Education matters.

    2023 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a school, an employee or staff member of a school, or a third party vendor used by a school to provide instruction may not provide any instruction to a student in prekindergarten through grade 3 on human sexuality.

  • SB 180: Allocation of wastewater utility costs.

    2023 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Allows a utility company that: (1) provides both water and wastewater service; and (2) has acquired wastewater utility property; to request, in the context of a petition by the utility company to the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) for preapproval of a plan for proposed service enhancement improvements to the utility company's wastewater utility property, authorization from the IURC t

  • SB 275: Practice of medicine terms.

    2023 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides, for purposes of the law prohibiting the unlawful practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine, that "the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine" includes attaching to an individual's name the words "allergist", "electrophysiologist", "geriatrician", "immunologist", "medical geneticist", "neonatologist", or "pulmonologist".

  • SB 38: Donation of income tax refund for cancer research.

    2023 · Co-sponsored · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Establishes the Senator David C.

  • SB 451: Carbon sequestration pilot project.

    2023 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Defines the term "pore space".

  • HB 1218: Indecent displays by incarcerated individuals.

    2024 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Creates the crime of indecent exposure in a penal facility, a Class C misdemeanor.

  • HB 1001: Education and higher education matters.

    2024 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends the definition of "eligible student" to include a sibling of a student with a disability with regards to the education scholarship account program (ESA).

  • HB 1002: Enforcement of equal educational opportunity.

    2024 · Co-authored · passed both chambers; vetoed by the Governor

    Defines "antisemitism", specifies that the public policy of the state is to provide educational opportunities free of religious discrimination, and provides that antisemitism is discrimination on the basis of race, creed, religion, or national origin.

  • HB 1004: Pension matters.

    2024 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a state employee may affirmatively elect to enroll in the deferred compensation plan prior to the auto enroll date on day 31 of the state employee's employment.

  • HB 1036: Age verification for material harmful to minors.

    2024 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Requires an adult oriented website operator that displays material harmful to minors to use a reasonable age verification method to prevent a minor from accessing an adult oriented website.

  • HB 1108: Development restrictions on slopes.

    2024 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Prohibits a unit from preventing development exclusively on the basis of slope, if the predevelopment slope of the site is less than 25%, unless the site is within a watershed area of a reservoir that is a source of a municipality's drinking water.

  • HB 1179: State educational institutions.

    2024 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires a state educational institution (institution) to disclose certain foreign gifts and contracts received or entered into after December 31, 2020.

  • HB 1336: Loan brokers.

    2024 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Removes references to principal manager and principal manager license from the Indiana Code.

  • SB 14: Right of certain persons to carry a handgun in the statehouse and state capitol complex.

    2024 · Co-sponsored · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Allows: (1) certain statewide elected officials; (2) members of the general assembly; (3) members of the Indiana lobby registration commission; (4) professional staff of the general assembly; and (5) employees of certain statewide elected offices; to carry a handgun in the statehouse or on the property of the state capitol complex under certain circumstances.

  • SB 202: State educational institution matters.

    2024 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends the duties of state educational institutions' diversity committees.

  • HB 1034: Indecent displays by incarcerated individuals.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Creates the crime of indecent exposure in a penal facility, a Class C misdemeanor.

  • HB 1543: Vigo County courts.

    2025 · Authored · reported from House committee; no House third-reading vote

    Allows the judges of the Vigo circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint one magistrate to serve the Vigo County courts.

  • HB 1544: Tax credit for public school foundation.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides a 25% state tax credit for contributions made to a public school foundation for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and before January 1, 2028.

  • HB 1545: Investment adviser representatives and agents.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Requires an applicant seeking to register as an agent of a broker-dealer in Indiana to pass financial industry regulatory authority (FINRA) examinations unless certain exceptions apply.

  • 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 1041: Student eligibility in interscholastic sports.

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

    Requires, for purposes of interscholastic athletic events, state educational institutions and certain private postsecondary educational institutions to expressly designate an athletic team or sport as one of the following: (1) A male, men's, or boys' team or sport.

  • HB 1080: Innkeeper's and food and beverage taxes.

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

    Provides that the fiscal body of the town of Ellettsville (town) may, not later than December 31, 2025, adopt an ordinance to receive revenue collected from the food and beverage tax.

  • HB 1174: Charges for supervised loans.

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

    Provides that for a supervised loan that is made under the Uniform Consumer Credit Code (UCCC) and that: (1) is entered into after June 30, 2025; (2) is not secured by an interest in land or by personal property used or expected to be used as the debtor's principal dwelling; and (3) has a principal amount that does not exceed $5,000; a lender may contract for and receive, in addition to the loan f

  • HB 1230: School board elections.

    2025 · Co-authored · reported from House committee; no House third-reading vote

    Requires a petition of nomination for a school board office to state one of the following: (1) The candidate's political party affiliation.

  • HB 1253: Child care.

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

    Provides that a granted waiver or variance expires three years after the date that the waiver or variance becomes effective.

  • HB 1484: State educational institution prohibitions.

    2025 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Prohibits state educational institutions from using certain institution funds to finance a speaker series.

  • HB 1492: Transfers for extracurricular reasons.

    2025 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Removes language prohibiting certain students from enrolling into a school corporation primarily for athletic reasons.

  • HB 1565: Social service provider tax credit.

    2025 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Allows a qualified taxpayer to claim a credit against the taxpayer's state tax liability for designated contributions to qualified nonprofit organizations that provide: (1) comprehensive case management services for at-risk families; (2) family support services; (3) in-school programs, community based events, or online resources to assist fathers in learning and improving parenting skills; or (4)

  • SB 382: County transfers or gifts to school corporations.

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

    Provides that, if a county transfers or gifts any unencumbered funds to a school corporation, the county executive may establish a local board to have oversight and manage the use of the funds.

  • SB 119: Certificate of public advantage.

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

    Prohibits the submission of an application for a certificate of public advantage (application) after May 13, 2025.

  • SB 287: School board matters.

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

    Requires a petition of nomination for a school board office to state one of the following: (1) The candidate's political party affiliation.

  • SB 497: Tax credit for newborn children.

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

    Establishes a tax credit for newborn children, which an eligible taxpayer may claim only in the first taxable year in which a particular newborn child is eligible for the exemption allowed under specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

  • HB 1316: Child welfare provider protections.

    2026 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Prohibits a governmental entity from discriminating against a person in adoption and foster care matters based on the person's sincerely held religious belief.

  • HB 1386: Massage establishment liability insurance.

    2026 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Makes it a Class A misdemeanor if a person operates a massage establishment and knowingly or intentionally employs an individual who: (1) is providing massages; and (2) does not have certain professional liability insurance.

  • HB 1282: College savings program.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Makes various changes to the state's Indiana529 plan to conform to Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.

  • HB 1389: Adoption and foster care matters.

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

    Prohibits a governmental entity from discriminating against a person in adoption and foster care matters based on the person's sincerely held religious belief, unless the discriminatory act as applied to the person is required to advance a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive means of advancing the interest.

  • HB 1425: Social service provider tax credit.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Allows a qualified taxpayer to claim a credit against the taxpayer's state tax liability for designated contributions to qualified nonprofit organizations that provide: (1) comprehensive case management services for at risk families; (2) family support services; (3) in-school programs, community based events, or online resources to assist fathers in learning and improving parenting skills; or (4)

  • 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.

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 Heaton's record came from

Sources for Heaton

James H. Pittsford (Jimmy), III

Democratic

Work
Retired after 40 years in the plumbing and steamfitting trade, Local 136 [16]

Jimmy Pittsford is a retired union plumber and steamfitter from the Ellettsville area running as a Democrat [16]. He proposes removing the state sales tax from residential utility bills, fully funding public schools and opposing tolls on Interstate 70 [13].

Jimmy's background

  • Born in Bloomington, grew up in Ellettsville and graduated from Edgewood High School [16].
  • Apprenticed with Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 136 and worked in the trade for 40 years before retiring; served two terms on the local's executive board and one on its finance committee [16].

Jimmy's positions

Energy & utilities

  • Proposes eliminating the 7% state sales tax on residential utility bills, which he estimates would save most residential customers about $157 a year [13].

Education

  • Supports fully funding public schools and "eliminating state subsidized vouchers for our most affluent citizens" [13].

Transportation

  • Wants more road and infrastructure funding and will "oppose the establishment of making Interstate 70 a toll road" [13].

Government accountability

  • Says he will work to "restore accountability and public integrity against public corruption in our state government" [13].

Labor

  • Says the Statehouse has undervalued the working class and that he wants to be its voice in the House [16].

How Jimmy would run the office

  • His site features a "Pothole Report" series on local road conditions [13].

Jimmy on the current officeholder

  • Does not mention Heaton by name on his site, but says "Super- majorities in the House and Senate have resulted in poor management and oversight of our tax dollars." [13]

How Jimmy got on the ballot

  • Was the only Democrat listed in the May 5, 2026 primary [11, 17].

Jimmy's endorsements and funding

  • His campaign lists endorsements from the Indiana State AFL-CIO, United Mine Workers of America, Plumbers and Steamfitters Locals 136 and 440, Indiana Stonewall Democrats and former state Rep. Vern Tincher [18].

What we could not find about Jimmy

  • Very little independent news coverage of Pittsford was found.
  • No fundraising data found.
  • His current town of residence is not stated on his site (campaign mailing address is in Ellettsville).
  • No statements on property taxes, redistricting or data centers were found.

Jimmy's campaign website

Sources for Jimmy

  • About (Pittsford campaign)

Forums and debates

Public events where you can see the candidates, from the hosts' own announcements. Check the host's page for changes before you go.

  • Tuesday, September 15, 2026 · Candidate forum (held)

    League of Women Voters state legislature candidate forum (Terre Haute area) · hosted by League of Women Voters

    Candidates invited or confirmed: Kacey Blundell, Greg Goode, Brandi Vandivier, Tim R. Yocum, Tonya Pfaff, Amy Lore, Rebecca Dawn (Becky) Mayfield

    Recording · Details (Blue 812 News (Substack))

Key points

Sources

Researched Saturday, October 10, 2026

  1. Indiana House of Representatives (Wikipedia)
  2. 2026 General Election Candidate List (Indiana Election Division)
  3. State Rep. Bob Heaton (Indiana House Republicans)
  4. Heaton: Wrapping up the 2025 legislative session (Indiana House Republicans)
  5. Legislation co-authored by Rep. Heaton to simplify child care licensing moves to the governor's desk (Indiana House Republicans)
  6. House Roll Call 433: SB 1 (Local government finance), third reading (Indiana General Assembly (roll-call PDF mirrored by FastDemocracy/BillTexts))
  7. House Roll Call 576: HB 1001 (State budget), conference committee report (Indiana General Assembly (roll-call PDF mirrored by FastDemocracy/BillTexts))
  8. Resolution co-authored by Rep. Heaton urging action on national debt passes House Ways and Means Committee (Indiana House Republicans)
  9. Reps. Heaton, Yocum: Governor answers lawmakers' call to provide diesel fuel relief for farmers (Indiana House Republicans)
  10. 2026 Indiana House of Representatives election (Wikipedia)
  11. Primary race: Indiana State Representative District 46 - Republicans (Tribune-Star)
  12. Pittsford for Indiana (Pittsford campaign)
  13. Reps. Heaton, Yocum: Legislative session ends with new laws to help Hoosiers (Indiana House Republicans)
  14. Indiana Farm Bureau PACs endorse 33 candidates for primary (Indiana Farm Bureau)
  15. About (Pittsford campaign)
  16. James Pittsford III (BallotReady)
  17. Endorsements (Pittsford 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.