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2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Indiana House, District 85

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 85 covers eastern portions of Allen County in northeast Indiana, according to Heine's caucus page [3].
  • Heine is seeking a sixth full term; he won reelection in 2024 with 74.4% of the vote [4].
  • May 5, 2026 primaries: Wikipedia's 2026 election page lists Heine as the only declared Republican and Mark Wehrle as the only declared Democrat, so neither faced a primary opponent [4].
  • No debate or forum between the two candidates was found, and no news coverage of the 2026 race was found in the Fort Wayne media searched.
  • Differences on policy cannot be compared: Wehrle has published no positions that could be found, and iVoterGuide shows every question on its questionnaire as unanswered by him [13].

Candidates on the ballot

Dave Heine

RepublicanIncumbent

Work
Owner of Heine Farms; retired vice president and corporate officer of Do It Best Corp. [3]

Republican incumbent since 2016; farmer and retired Do It Best Corp. vice president [3]. His legislative work has focused on child care licensing, teacher recruitment and tax measures [5, 3].

Heine's background

  • Owner of Heine Farms and retired vice president and corporate officer of Do It Best Corp.; B.S. in accounting from Indiana University (1979) [3].
  • Community roles listed by the caucus include vice chair of the Lutheran Foundation board, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana board, the Central Lutheran School board in New Haven, and chairman of the New Haven Republican Committee [3].
  • His campaign site describes him as a lifelong Allen County resident [14].

Heine's positions

Property taxes

  • Supported SEA 1 (2025); said it "delivers property tax relief to Hoosiers, especially in our rural communities" and is "about supporting local homeowners and others who have been feeling the impact of rising property taxes" [7, 6].

Child care

  • Said in 2025 that "Child care access is a major concern for Hoosier families" and that HEA 1253 is "an important step toward eliminating regulations that limit access to care" [5].
  • Said in 2026 that "Finding quality childcare shouldn't be a barrier for Hoosier parents trying to work" [12].

Taxes & government

  • His campaign site, which carries a 2022 copyright notice, lists co-authoring "the largest tax cut bill in Indiana history," "Safeguarding against government overreach," abortion restrictions, and "Empowering parents to choose the best education for their children" [14].

Heine on the current officeholder

  • Is the current officeholder. No statements by Heine about his 2026 challenger were found.

How Heine got on the ballot

  • Listed as the only declared Republican for District 85 in the May 5, 2026 primary [4].

What we could not find about Heine

  • His campaign website appears not to have been updated since 2022; no 2026 platform found.
  • No statement found explaining his vote for HB 1032 (redistricting).
  • Whether the 2025 teacher-pipeline bill became law was not verified.
  • Campaign finance reports were not reviewed (the Indiana campaign finance portal was not checked).
  • No endorsements or 2026 fundraising totals were found in the sources reviewed.

Heine's record in office

Indiana House record, District 85 (2023-2026) · compiled from the official record, Oct. 12-13, 2026

Authored
26
7 became law
Co-authored
25
15 became law
Sponsored
3
2 became law
Co-sponsored
10
7 became law

Committees, 2026 session

  • Roads and Transportation (Vice Chair)
  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Ways and Means
  • Fiscal Policy, Interim Study Committee on (House Majority Member)

Floor votes

  • 2023: Yes 387, No 55, Excused 48, Not voting 1
  • 2024: Yes 278, No 26, Excused 5, Not voting 1
  • 2025: Yes 378, No 88, Excused 41, Not voting 3
  • 2026: Yes 187, No 61, Excused 118, Not voting 11
How Heine voted on 37 selected bills
The 64 bills Heine carried

  • HB 1077: Speed limits.

    2023 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Increases the speed limit on certain U.S.

  • HB 1078: Governance of public-private agreements.

    2023 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Requires a governmental body to entertain more than one bidder before entering into a public-private agreement for a qualifying project.

  • HB 1079: Special permit for overweight vehicles and loads.

    2023 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Establishes a special permit for oversize or overweight vehicles and loads for multiple routes for a period of not more than 90 days.

  • HB 1080: Biofuel tax credits.

    2023 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides tax credits for: (1) the sale of higher ethanol blend; and (2) the: (A) sale of blended biodiesel; and (B) blending of biodiesel.

  • HB 1081: Residential tax increment financing.

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

    Removes the threshold conditions that apply to a county or municipality for establishing a residential housing development program and a tax increment allocation area for the program.

  • HB 1373: Railroad investment tax credit.

    2023 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides that a railroad company that is classified as a Class II or Class III carrier is entitled to a credit against the railroad company's state income tax liability equal to 50% of the amount of qualified railroad expenditures or qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures made by the railroad company during the taxable year.

  • HB 1374: Notice of change to provider agreement.

    2023 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Requires an insurer and a health maintenance organization to provide a contracted provider with a current reimbursement rate schedule: (1) every two years; and (2) when three or more Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code rates change in a 12 month period.

  • HB 1495: Medicare product solicitations.

    2023 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides that a Medicare product solicitation may not be made by means of a telephone call to an individual whose principal residence is in Indiana, regardless of where the telephone call originates.

  • HB 1528: Next generation Hoosier educators scholarship program.

    2023 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that an individual enrolled in a transition to teaching program may apply for a one time scholarship under the next generation Hoosier educators scholarship program.

  • 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 1207: 911 fees.

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

    Authorizes the statewide 911 board to increase the following fees one time in the period beginning after April 30, 2023, and ending before July 1, 2026: (1) The enhanced prepaid wireless charge.

  • HB 1454: Department of local government finance.

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

    Provides that the term of any judgment funding bond with regard to either: (1) the city of Hobart; or (2) the Merrillville Community School Corporation; issued for the purpose of paying a property tax judgment rendered against Lake County for assessment year 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014 shall be 25 years.

  • HB 1551: State police and conservation officer salaries.

    2023 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides that before July 1, 2023, the state police board (board) shall establish a new salary matrix for police employees.

  • SB 344: Northeast Indiana strategic development commission.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Establishes the northeast Indiana strategic development fund (fund) administered by the northeast Indiana strategic development commission (commission).

  • SB 271: Certified technology parks.

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

    Specifies additional information that a certified technology park (park) is required to provide to the Indiana economic development corporation (corporation) in the course of a review.

  • SB 274: Tax exempt property.

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

    Provides that a building is exempt from property taxation if it is owned by a nonprofit entity and is: (1) registered as a continuing care retirement community; or (2) licensed as a health care facility.

  • SB 3: State and local tax review task force.

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

    Establishes the state and local tax review task force (task force).

  • SB 300: Residential tax increment financing.

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

    Removes the threshold conditions for establishing a residential housing development program and a tax increment allocation area for the program, including the condition that the governing body of each school corporation affected by the program pass a resolution approving the program before the program may go into effect.

  • SB 345: Termination of parental rights.

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

    Defines "safe haven infant".

  • SB 4: Public health commission.

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

    Defines "core public health services" for purposes of public health laws.

  • HB 1042: Transition to teaching scholarships.

    2024 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that an applicant for a transition to teaching scholarship after June 30, 2024, must be a member of a household with an annual income of $100,000 or less.

  • HB 1102: Child care.

    2024 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Revises the definition of "child care home".

  • HB 1109: Governance of public-private agreements.

    2024 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Requires a governmental body to entertain more than one bidder before entering into a public-private agreement for a qualifying project.

  • HB 1209: Rule against perpetuities.

    2024 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Adds provisions regarding a second power of appointment.

  • 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 1236: Apprenticeship tax credit.

    2024 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides for an apprenticeship tax credit (credit) for an eligible employer.

  • HB 1315: Biofuel tax credits.

    2024 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides tax credits for: (1) the sale of higher ethanol blend; and (2) the: (A) sale of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel; and (B) blending of biodiesel or renewable diesel.

  • HB 1316: Next level trust fund.

    2024 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Repeals the provision establishing the next generation trust fund.

  • HB 1328: Department of local government finance.

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

    Provides that a county fiscal body may provide a stipend, not to exceed $2,500, to a circuit court clerk that serves as a voter registration officer each year in which a general election is held.

  • HB 1337: HOA regulation of beekeeping.

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

    Provides that a homeowners association may regulate the number and location of beehives on properties.

  • HB 1381: Property tax deductions and credits.

    2024 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Makes the following property tax changes for assessment dates occurring after December 31, 2024: (1) Increases the assessed value cap from $240,000 to $350,000 that applies to an individual's eligibility for the: (A) over 65 property tax deduction; and (B) over 65 circuit breaker credit; without altering the requirement in current law that any subsequent increases in assessed value are not conside

  • SB 169: Child caring institutions and group homes.

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

    Requires specified types of residential child care facilities to: (1) implement specified personnel policies, including with regard to: (A) minimum qualifications for specified employee classifications; and (B) maintenance of personnel records; (2) comply with specified restrictions on caseloads; (3) obtain specified health records, immunizations, and examinations for each child under the facility

  • HB 1126: Watershed development commissions.

    2025 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Alters the membership of a watershed development commission board that includes the Maumee River basin (Maumee watershed development commission).

  • HB 1127: Biofuel tax credits.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides tax credits for: (1) the sale of higher ethanol blend; and (2) the: (A) sale of blended biodiesel or renewable diesel; and (B) blending of biodiesel or renewable diesel.

  • HB 1128: Governance of public-private agreements.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Requires a governmental body to hold a public comment hearing regarding the necessity of a qualifying project prior to issuing a request for proposal or a request for quotation for the qualifying project.

  • HB 1253: Child care.

    2025 · 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 1326: Scholarships.

    2025 · Authored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate

    Provides that a scholarship granting organization must include certain information in its annual public report to the department of education.

  • HB 1382: Dealer services division.

    2025 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that certain licensing requirements relating to vehicle merchandising do not apply to distributors or manufacturers that are not located in Indiana.

  • HB 1408: Regional innovation development.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Provides that a regional development authority (RDA) (rather than the Indiana economic development corporation) may designate territory within a county, city, or town as a regional innovation development and manufacturing district (district).

  • HB 1688: Sales tax on recreational vehicles.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Repeals provisions added in the 2020 session in HB 1059 that provide that for certain transactions involving a cargo trailer or recreational vehicle, the state gross retail tax rate is the rate of the nonreciprocal state or foreign country in which the cargo trailer or recreational vehicle will be titled or registered.

  • 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 1131: Town of Cumberland.

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

    Provides that on January 1, 2027, the town of Cumberland is an excluded city and no longer part of the consolidated city.

  • HB 1135: Real world and finance curriculum grant funds.

    2025 · Co-authored · not reported from House committee

    Establishes the real world readiness grant program (program) to provide grants to eligible schools to better prepare students for life after graduation with or without the assistance of a partnering organization.

  • HB 1149: Agricultural online portal.

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

    Requires the Indiana state department of agriculture (department) to establish and maintain an online portal on its website for the purposes of: (1) assisting users in the successful navigation of agricultural or related topics among various federal and state agencies; (2) providing a single source for users to access agricultural or related funding opportunities; (3) providing a searchable data b

  • HB 1390: Bureau of motor vehicles.

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

    Provides the records of the bureau of motor vehicles (bureau), for purposes of showing the last registered owner of a vehicle when obtaining a certificate of title for a repossessed vehicle, mean records related to certificate of titles or registrations.

  • HB 1427: Department of local government finance.

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

    Increases the threshold that applies to public works projects for which the department of natural resources may use its employees to perform the labor and supervision for the project.

  • HB 1461: Road funding.

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

    Makes various changes to provisions concerning roads and transportation.

  • HB 1544: Tax credit for public school foundation.

    2025 · Co-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 1615: Certified technology parks.

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

    Increases the maximum amount of an additional annual deposit amount for a Level 2 certified technology park (park) to: (1) $500,000; or (2) $500,000 multiplied by the number of redevelopment commissions that have entered into a written agreement for the operation of the Level 2 park; as applicable.

  • SB 292: Short line railroad tax credit.

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

    Allows a taxpayer to claim a credit against state income tax liability for certain qualified railroad expenditures and qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures.

  • SB 306: Film and media production tax credit.

    2025 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a taxpayer may assign any part of the film and media production tax credit (credit) that the taxpayer may claim.

  • SB 465: Certified technology parks.

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

    Provides that if a Level 2 certified technology park (park): (1) has reached the limit of deposits for a Level 2 park; (2) maintains its certification; and (3) is located within a military base enhancement area; the park shall become a Level 3 park upon reaching its Level 2 deposit limit.

  • SB 484: Recreational vehicle dealers.

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

    Sets forth requirements for recreational vehicle dealer agreements for the sale of recreational vehicles in Indiana.

  • HB 1077: Boating issues.

    2026 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Requires a person towed by a motorboat to wear a personal flotation device.

  • HB 1101: Regional economic development.

    2026 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Requires the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) to designate 15 economic development regions throughout Indiana.

  • HB 1117: Uniform municipal innkeeper's tax.

    2026 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Creates a uniform municipal innkeeper's tax that may be imposed at a flat rate that does not exceed $5 per night and includes provisions similar to the uniform county innkeeper's tax.

  • HB 1149: Pre-kindergarten care SGO tax credit.

    2026 · Authored · not reported from House committee

    Establishes an early childhood scholarship tax credit for contributions made to a scholarship granting organization that conducts a program to provide scholarships for children who attend a qualified early child care provider.

  • HB 1282: College savings program.

    2026 · 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 1062: Wake boarding and wake surfing.

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

    Specifies restrictions that apply to wake boarding or wake surfing on a public freshwater lake.

  • HB 1153: Auto dealer matters.

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

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

  • HB 1398: Agricultural programs.

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

    Creates the pork market development program (pork program) and the soybean market development program (soybean program).

  • 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 Heine's record came from

Heine's campaign website

Sources for Heine

Mark (Bird) Wehrle

Democratic

Democratic nominee; almost no public information about his background or positions could be found [13].

Wehrle's background

  • iVoterGuide lists him as a Democrat for District 85 and shows his education, work, affiliations and offices held as "Candidate did not provide" [13]. No other biographical information was found.

How Wehrle got on the ballot

  • Listed as the only declared Democrat for District 85 in the May 5, 2026 primary [4].

What we could not find about Wehrle

  • Very little coverage: no campaign website, news coverage or questionnaire answers were found.
  • No campaign plans found.
  • No statements by Wehrle about Heine or the district's record were found.
  • No endorsements or fundraising reports were found.

Sources for Wehrle

Sources

Researched Saturday, October 10, 2026

  1. Indiana House of Representatives (Wikipedia)
  2. 2026 General Election Candidate List (Indiana Election Division)
  3. Dave Heine (member page) (Indiana House Republicans)
  4. 2026 Indiana House of Representatives election (Wikipedia)
  5. Rep. Heine's bill 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. Allen County legislators: Legislation delivering robust property tax relief and reform to Hoosiers signed into law (Indiana House Republicans)
  8. Allen County legislators highlight new state laws taking effect (Indiana House Republicans)
  9. Mark (Bird) Wehrle, State Representative, District 85 (iVoterGuide)
  10. Vote for Dave Heine (Citizens for Dave Heine (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.