INDIANAPOLIS — In Indiana’s ninth district, a Republican incumbent is running once again for her seat, facing a physician running as a Democrat as well as a Libertarian who was asked to run for the position by the state party chair.
After May’s primary, the candidates who will be on November’s general election ballot for Indiana’s ninth district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives include:
- U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin, D-Ind. District 9 – Republican
- Tim Peck – Democrat
- Russell Brooksbank – Libertarian
U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind. District 9 – Republican
After her first term as Indiana’s ninth district representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind. District 9 is asking for voters to allow her to remain in the position for another term.
Houchin, who announced her reelection campaign in January, first ran for the seat in 2022 after serving in the Indiana State Senate.
As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Houchin serves on the House Financial Services Committee as well as the House Education and Workforce Committee, specifically focusing on topics like housing and insurance, as well as higher education and workforce development.
“Our first year has flown by, but we have been hard at work fighting for the American people, and our work has just begun,” Houchin said when she announced her reelection campaign. “I often say we need more Washington County commonsense in Washington D.C., and that’s what we’ve been delivering. From fighting the reckless and out-of-control spending of the Biden Administration to securing our Southern border and stopping the flow of criminals and drugs into our country, we will not back down.
“I’m committed to being the strong conservative fighter our district needs. I will never waver on my commitment to protecting our freedoms and liberties, keeping our communities safe and ensuring our children have a bright future.”
Some of the issues that Houchin is focusing on through her reelection campaign include:
- Border security
- Houchin said on her website that federal lawmakers claim that the border is secure, instead of securing the border. Houchin said she is calling on Senate Democrats, and the White House, to “stop this (border) invasion once and for all.”
- Cut government spending
- Houchin said she believes that government takes too much money from individuals and that they spend too much. She stressed that the federal government should balance its budget and not add to its growing national debt.
- Protect the unborn
- Houchin said she is a pro-life leader who has advocated for the prohibition of late-term abortions.
- Uphold law and order
- Houchin stressed the importance of supporting public safety officials. She said she would “fight to ensure (that) officers have the necessary resources to do their jobs effectively and safely, and they have the support and compensation they deserve.”
- Create jobs
- Houchin believes that the best way to create jobs and grow the economy is to “get government out of the way and let small business owners do what they do best — innovate and create new jobs.” This includes cutting red tape and supporting limited government while working to “cut taxes, promote free markets and control government spending.”
- Protect the Second Amendment
- Houchin stressed that the Second Amendment is “one of (the country’s) most important freedoms, and understands the “importance of protecting (the) constitutional right to bear arms.”
Tim Peck – Democrat
Through his campaign, Tim Peck, a physician, entrepreneur and the Democratic candidate for Indiana’s ninth district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, said he wants to serve as a voice for all constituents, not only the ones in the political party he identifies with.
According to his website, Peck has had a history of working as a policymaker in the U.S. Congress, previously advocating for bills that have encouraged the adoption of telemedicine and other technologies. Peck also has testified before the U.S. Congress as an expert.
“When I walked those halls of Congress, I saw it as a privilege,” he said on his website. “A privilege to speak for those who couldn’t advocate for themselves, and utilize that privilege to make the halls of power work for the people it was designed to work for … We need innovation in Congress — not cynicism. We need collaboration — not partisanism. We need new voices to lead us to solutions, and if you elect me to represent you in Congress, I will work with the people of Indiana to give all of us a voice in DC.”
Some of the issues that Peck is campaigning on include:
- Healthcare
- Peck said he believes the country’s healthcare system is “too difficult to navigate.” The system, in his view, can be better by adjusting how the system is incentivized, stressing the importance of patient experience and quality outcomes.
- Reproductive rights
- Peck believes that the government should not regulate a woman’s reproductive health care decision. Peck also said that he is an advocate for in-vitro fertilization, stressing that he would work to make sure that states cannot criminalize or interfere with IVF treatments.
- Economic empowerment
- Peck stated he would focus on “targeted economic development initiatives” that prioritize job creation and skills training.
- Strong border protections
- Peck said he supported the recent efforts to pass the bipartisan border security bill, stating that, because it did not pass, it’s just “kicking the can down the road (which would) put more people’s lives in danger.”
- Education investment
- Peck emphasized the importance of increased funding and strategic investments in all education opportunities, as well as stressing that he supports early childhood education for all children.
- Public safety investment
- Peck said he advocates for responsible gun ownership and supports law enforcement with “the necessary funds and resources.”
However, Peck made it a point on his website to highlight “shared nonpartisan values,” ones that he believes can bring Democrats, Republicans, Independents and Libertarians together in this specific race, including:
- Reducing fraud, waste and abuse
- Not increasing taxes on working people
- Reducing red tape for small businesses
- Strong protection at the border
- Healthcare
“I pledge to represent you and your needs,” Peck said on his website. “I’m running for Congress to represent you and work with other members of government to make progress — regardless of their political affiliation. We need to shake loose the deadlock, and I intend to shine a beacon on how that can be done.”
Russell Brooksbank – Libertarian
Russell Brooksbank, the Libertarian candidate for Indiana’s ninth district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, said he is:
“Working hard to get elected so that I can leave you alone”
According to his social media page, Brooksbank first entered the race in June after the state chair of the Libertarian party reportedly asked him to do it. Brooksbank’s page states that he is a Libertarian who “serves his community by affecting government policy through activism, being a watchdog and running for office.”
“I cannot ignore such a call to action. My country and my party need me. So once more into the fray, my friends,” he said in his post announcing his candidacy.
Since he started his campaign, Brooksbank has participated in several candidate forums and made his stances known on a number of issues through his social media page. Some of the stances he has taken include:
- Against the military draft
- Against civil asset forfeiture
- Taxes are a “scam”
- Let Ukraine and Russia sort out their conflict on their own
- Vote to remove the United States from NATO.
Early voting is continuing throughout the state of Indiana. Information for Marion County early voting sites can be found by clicking here. For early voting locations in your area, visit the state’s election website.
For information about Election Day voting sites throughout the state of Indiana for November’s general election, click here.
