Tuesday night, Hoosiers across Indiana went to the polls. It was a busy midterm ballot with statewide races, critical school referenda, local offices, and a swath of Indiana House and Senate seats up for election.

It can sometimes feel like individual votes don’t make a difference. But this week’s election was a powerful reminder that when Hoosiers show up and cast their votes, they can reshape the future of our state. An estimated 2 million Hoosiers participated in Tuesday’s election, roughly 160,000 more than in the 2022 midterms. 40% more voters cast their ballots early.

The results have meaninfully shifted Indiana’s political landscape, the priorities of the legislative session ahead, and perhaps the electoral outlook for the next several years.
So, let’s take a look at how everything shook out, what voters decided, and what role you can expect from the Chamber as we move into the vital next phase of getting things done. That means working together—not just as politicians, business leaders, or community members, but as Hoosiers.

Today’s guide:

• Election Recap and How Indiana’s Constitution Just Changed
• Chamber Endorsement Outcomes
• Hoosier Voters Invest in Public Education

Election Recap and How Indiana’s Constitution Just Changed

Statewide Snapshot: This week’s elections were an extraordinary moment in Indiana politics. Republicans have held supermajorities in the House since 2012 and the Senate dating back to 2010. But this week, Indiana Democrats broke the supermajority in the House and made significant gains in the Senate by flipping a number of historically Republican legislative districts.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State candidate Beau Bayh became the first Democrat to win statewide office since 2012. Democrat Jessica Bailey also won the race for state comptroller while Republican Daniel Elliot defeated challenger Coumba Kebe to remain treasurer. These changes add up to one of the most consequential shifts in Indiana’s political landscape in over a decade.

Two Changes to Indiana’s Constitution: Hoosier voters also approved two changes to the state’s constitution. Number #1 allows courts to more frequently deny bail in cases where they believe someone poses a risk to public safety. Previously, bail could only be denied when someone was charged with murder or treason. Number #2 allows city or town court judges to live in a neighboring county or town to where they serve. Before, judges were required to reside in the same county or town where they worked.

Chamber Endorsement Outcomes

The Chamber’s Approach to Politics: The Indy Chamber’s Business Advocacy Committee (BAC) is a nonpartisan political action committee of business and community leaders from across the Indy region. The BAC supports candidates for office that seek to bring solutions to public problems and accelerate Indiana’s growth for all.

Back in October, the BAC announced a slate of endorsed candidates for Indiana Senate and House races. The group evaluates candidates through a scorecard model and interviews, alongside a close examination of their voting record to determine policy alignment with Chamber priorities.

This year’s endorsements went to a group of leaders who are prepared to collaborate on policies that promote economic growth, talent development, and quality of life. We endorsed six candidates for the Indiana Senate, five of whom won their races, and 26 candidates for the Indiana House of Representatives, 20 of whom won their races.

Indiana Senate Endorsements

Indiana House of Representatives Endorsements

We celebrate the candidates we endorsed who won their races for these critical House and Senate seats. For those partners that will not be returning to the Statehouse, we thank them for their dedication in seeking to serve Hoosiers at this critical moment and their partnership over the years. To the newly elected leaders, we hope to build meaningful partnerships to ensure our state thrives now and into the future.

Indy Region Invests in Public Education

Referendum Roundup: Thirty-eight school districts statewide sought referendum support from Hoosier voters this year. Most referendums on the ballot across the Indy region were approved by voters, including referenda in Carmel Clay, Noblesville, Hamilton Southeastern, Beech Grove City Schools, MSD of Washington Township, MSD of Wayne Township, and Zionsville all passed.

But one of the most consequential questions on Indianapolis voters’ ballots this week was whether to approve a new school operating referendum for Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and public charter schools within IPS boundaries. The referendum, advanced by the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC) on behalf of all public schools within IPS boundaries, was approved with about 63% of the vote.

Roughly $95 million in annual funding will now be split equally between IPS and approximately 60 public charter schools over the next four years. This funding will support improved services for students with disabilities and English Language Learners alongside safeguarding student programming and improving teacher pay and retention.

A Show of Unity Between IPS and Charter Advocates: IPEC’s referendum does increase property taxes for Indianapolis homeowners at a time when affordability concerns run high. With a rate of 37.2 cents per $100 of assessed value over four years, it means, for example, that homeowners with a property value of $150,000 will pay about $220 dollars annually under this new referendum.

Even so, the Chamber strongly supported this referendum as an investment in the region’s future because it can stabilize our system of local public schools and put them on a stronger trajectory moving forward.

What’s more, we believe this referendum passed by such a wide margin because traditional public-school supporters, charter school advocates, and community members unified around a shared goal: doing what’s best for students. We’ve seen in the past what can happen when our community works together, including when the business community and IPS partnered on previous referendums to get more dollars into classrooms. This referendum, which passed by an even wider margin than IPS’ capital referendum in 2023, is a reminder that a unified approach, focused first and foremost on student success, can drive progress in Indianapolis.

Here’s What We’re Thinking

The views below are expressed in the voices of our advocacy team members, but they align with the Chamber’s broad position on each topic.

Elections Shape the Future of Our Communities

I often hear people say individual votes don’t matter very much. That outcomes are predetermined, or our political system and trends are too static, too incapable of change. Well, regardless of your political leaning, this week offered a powerful rebuttal to that idea. And a powerful reminder that voting matters.

Hoosiers across our state went to the polls, cast their ballots, and fundamentally changed the political landscape. Some races were decided by the tightest of margins, highlighting just how meaningful every voter who turns out can be. Democracy, after all, is responsive to those who show up.

What do these remarkable shifts mean for the Indy Chamber? Our work transcends any single candidate, party, or election. It’s about building relationships, coalitions, and solutions to move Indiana forward.

Here’s our commitment: To work with anyone — regardless of political party — who wants to help the Indy region succeed. There will be dozens of new legislators this session. Over the coming months, we’ll focus on building relationships with newly elected leaders, identifying a new wave of champions for the region’s priorities, and strengthening our bipartisan coalitions ahead of the 2027 legislative session.

Political landscapes change. Our responsibility to keep building relationships, finding common ground, and advancing our region’s long-term prosperity remains. That’s exactly what we’re going to keep doing.

Thanks for reading! Follow the Indy Chamber’s advocacy efforts, now year-round and beyond the legislative session with our monthly Legislative Updates. We’ll share timely insights, policy progress and advocacy priorities.