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2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Indiana House, District 53

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

  • Ethan Lawson (Republican) is the only candidate for House District 53 [2].

Candidates on the ballot

Ethan J. Lawson

RepublicanIncumbent

Work
Director of communications for the Indiana National Guard since 2023 [4]

Republican Ethan Lawson of Greenfield was first elected in 2024 to represent House District 53 (parts of Hancock and Madison counties), according to his caucus biography [3].

Lawson's background

  • First elected to the Indiana House in 2024 [3].
  • Director of communications for the Indiana National Guard since 2023, according to his BallotReady profile; his caucus biography also says he has worked for the Indiana National Guard [4, 3].
  • Previously director of speechwriting in the Indiana governor's office (2019–2023), communications director for the Next Level Recovery initiative (2018–2019), communications and scheduling director for the lieutenant governor (2017–2018), and communications and legislative director for the Auditor of State (2014–2017), per BallotReady [4]. Volunteer vice chair of the Hancock County Republican Party [3].
  • Earned bachelor's and MBA degrees in business from Western Governors University [3].

How Lawson got on the ballot

  • Won the May 5, 2026 Republican primary unopposed, with 5,974 votes [5].
  • Has no opponent on the November ballot [2].

What we could not find about Lawson

  • No opponent is on the ballot, so no candidate forum or questionnaire was expected; no 2026 campaign platform was reviewed.

Lawson's record in office

Indiana House record, District 53 (2025-2026) · compiled from the official record, Oct. 12-13, 2026

Authored
8
6 became law
Co-authored
17
8 became law
Sponsored
2
2 became law
Co-sponsored
7
5 became law

Committees, 2026 session

  • Elections and Apportionment
  • Roads and Transportation
  • Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
  • Roads and Transportation, Interim Study Committee on (House Majority Member)

Floor votes

  • 2025: Yes 419, No 89, Not voting 2
  • 2026: Yes 272, No 101, Not voting 4
How Lawson voted on 18 selected bills
The 34 bills Lawson carried

  • HB 1130: Property tax deduction information.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Requires the department of local government finance (department), in a manner determined by the department, to include on every real property tax statement educational information regarding the eligibility and procedures for the over 65 property tax deduction and for various property tax deductions available to veterans.

  • HB 1197: Election matters.

    2025 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires particular candidates for selection for an appointment pro tempore to an office to: (1) comply with qualification requirements imposed on candidates for election to the office; and (2) if the individual is a candidate for selection by a caucus, be affiliated with the political party holding the caucus.

  • HB 1198: Local public work projects.

    2025 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Changes the amount of a public work project that a board may perform using its own workforce, without awarding a contract, from an estimated cost of less than $250,000 to an estimated cost of less than $375,000, adjusted annually to account for inflation.

  • HB 1504: Assistance for obtaining veterans' benefits.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides that a person may not receive compensation for assisting a person to obtain veterans' benefits unless authorized by federal law.

  • HB 1111: Indiana National Guard.

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

    Increases, from $8,800 to $20,000, the amount that shall be paid by the state if a member of the Indiana National Guard dies in the active service of the state.

  • HB 1232: IDACS.

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

    Clarifies that certain information shall be entered into the Indiana data and communication system (IDACS) within 24 hours of the information's receipt unless otherwise provided by law.

  • HB 1348: Nonaccredited nonpublic schools.

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

    Provides that a high school diploma (diploma) or credential issued by a nonaccredited nonpublic school (school) is legally sufficient to demonstrate that the recipient of the diploma or credential has met the requirements to complete high school.

  • HB 1380: Supplemental fee for electric vehicles.

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

    Provides that the supplemental fee to register an electric vehicle does not apply to a motor driven cycle.

  • HB 1523: Public depositories.

    2025 · Co-authored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate

    Amends as follows the Indiana Code section authorizing a political subdivision to invest public funds in certificates of deposit of depositories that have not been designated as a depository by the local board of finance but have been designated by the state board of finance as a depository for state deposits: (1) Provides that an investment that is made under the section after June 30, 2018, in a

  • HB 1643: Campaign finance.

    2025 · Co-authored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate

    Modifies the definition of "auxiliary party organization".

  • HB 1670: Assistance in obtaining veteran benefits.

    2025 · Co-authored · passed both chambers in some form; final version not enacted

    Provides veteran empowerment protections.

  • SB 351: Municipal parks and recreation board.

    2025 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Allows a resident of the library district to be appointed to the parks and recreation board of a third class city or a town.

  • SB 183: Road intersection safety.

    2025 · Co-sponsored · passed both chambers in some form; final version not enacted

    Provides that a person that owns or is the lessee of a parcel of land at an intersection of two county, municipal, or township roads that is not controlled by a traffic signal shall maintain a line of sight area at the intersection.

  • SB 221: State comptroller.

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

    Changes certain references from "auditor of state" to: (1) "state comptroller (referred to as "auditor of state" in the Constitution of the State of Indiana)"; or (2) "state comptroller (auditor of state)".

  • SJR 17: State comptroller.

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

    Proposes an amendment to the Indiana Constitution to do the following: (1) Require the election of a state comptroller instead of an auditor of state.

  • HB 1152: Homeowners association matters.

    2026 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Allows, if certain conditions are met, a homeowners association to increase a budget, without a quorum, in an amount not to exceed 110% of the amount of the last approved budget, within five years after the first sale of a lot or unit from a developer to a person not associated with the developer.

  • HB 1153: Auto dealer matters.

    2026 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires a dealer to collect and retain certain identifying information from a potential purchaser.

  • HB 1161: Local government matters.

    2026 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that individuals who are appointed to certain boards, committees, or other bodies in a county that does not have a consolidated city, serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority as long as: (1) the officeholder who appointed the individual continues to hold the office; or (2) the board, committee, or body that appointed the individual retains all of the same members who served when

  • HB 1202: Various public safety matters.

    2026 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires a vendor or provider of an ignition interlock device to register an ignition interlock device with the department of toxicology.

  • HB 1044: Insurance coverage for public safety employees.

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

    Provides that a public safety employee who: (1) becomes disabled on or after January 1, 2020; (2) receives a Class 1 or a Class 2 impairment benefit; and (3) is eligible for group health insurance coverage for the public safety employee and the public safety employee's spouse or dependents; must pay no more than the amount that the public safety employee would have been required to pay if still se

  • HB 1055: Municipal elections.

    2026 · Co-authored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate

    Moves, as a general rule, elections of town officers to even-numbered years.

  • HB 1059: Commercial advertising on a school bus.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides that a school corporation may display commercial advertising on a school bus owned by the school corporation if the governing body of the school corporation adopts a policy that meets certain requirements.

  • HB 1060: Emergency medical services.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Exempts state educational institution degree programs primarily focused on emergency medical services from a certain elimination provision.

  • HB 1115: Homeowners association governance.

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

    Amends the statute governing residential real estate sales disclosures to provide that in the case of a resale or refinance of property covered by the governing documents of a homeowners association (HOA), an HOA or an agent of the HOA providing a statement of unpaid assessments or other charges relating to a property may not charge more than $50 for the statement.

  • HB 1176: Education matters.

    2026 · Co-authored · passed both chambers in some form; final version not enacted

    Amends provisions, beginning July 1, 2027, regarding use of the Pokagon Indiana education fund to make payments to Indiana public or private institutions of higher learning or workforce development and training programs.

  • HB 1221: Antique firearms.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides that certain requirements regarding the sale, rental, trade, or transfer of a handgun do not apply to an item defined as an antique firearm.

  • 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 1377: Straight ticket voting.

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

    Repeals provisions that prohibit counting straight party votes for candidates for election to an at-large district to which more than one person may be elected.

  • HB 1403: First time home buyer savings program.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Establishes the first time home buyer savings program (program) for the purpose of assisting first time home buyers who seek to open a first time home buyer savings account (account) at a financial institution to save money for the purchase of a single family residence.

  • SB 214: Department of workforce development.

    2026 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Defines or amends certain terms.

  • SB 12: Prohibition of ranked choice voting.

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

    Prohibits the use of ranked choice voting.

  • SB 167: Relocation of outdoor advertising signs.

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

    Provides that the Indiana department of transportation or a zoning authority may not apply zoning standards or require a permit to relocate certain outdoor advertising signs.

  • SB 23: Alcoholic beverage permits for county fairs.

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

    Allows the alcohol and tobacco commission to issue a permit for the sale of alcoholic beverages on the grounds of a county fair conducted by a local board, subject to certain limitations and requirements.

  • SB 91: Syringe exchange program.

    2026 · Co-sponsored · enacted: became law without the Governor's signature

    Prohibits a qualified entity that operates a syringe exchange program (program) from establishing or operating a fixed site for the distribution or exchange of a syringe or needle within 1,000 feet of specified 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 Lawson's record came from

Sources for Lawson

Key points

Sources

Researched Tuesday, October 13, 2026

  1. Indiana House of Representatives (Wikipedia)
  2. 2026 General Election Candidate List (Indiana Election Division)
  3. Member page: State Representative (Indiana House Republican Caucus)
  4. Ethan J. Lawson (candidate profile) (BallotReady)
  5. 2026 Primary Election results (certified), Indiana Election Night Reporting (Indiana Election Division)
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.