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Indiana House of Representatives District 35

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Indiana House of Representatives District 35
Incumbent
Assumed office: November 4, 2020

Indiana House of Representatives District 35 is represented by Elizabeth Rowray (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Indiana state representatives represented an average of 67,903 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 65,016 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Indiana House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Indiana legislators assume office the day after their general election.[1]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

To be eligible to serve in the Indiana House of Representatives:[2]

Sec. 14. A candidate for the office of representative in the general assembly must:

(1) be a United States citizen at the time of election;
(2) have resided in the state for at least two (2) years and in the house district for at least one (1) year before the election; and
(3) be at least twenty-one (21) years old upon taking office; as provided in Article 4, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana.[3]

According to Indiana Code 3-8-1-1, all candidates must be registered voters.[4]


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[5]
SalaryPer diem
$32,070.24/year$196/day.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Indiana General Assembly, the state committee of the party that last held the seat must appoint a replacement. This is contingent upon the approval of the respective state chairperson of the party. Any vacant seat held by an independent must be filled by a special election.[6]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Indiana Code §3-13-5-0.1


2016 pivot county

206 Pivot Counties Logo.png
See also: Pivot Counties and Legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties

This district was one of 710 state legislative districts that, based on boundaries adopted after the 2010 census, intersected with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.

The 206 Pivot Counties were located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. At that time, the partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties was slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.[7]

District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in Indiana after the 2020 census

The Indiana General Assembly approved new state legislative district maps on October 1, 2021, and Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed the new district boundaries into law on October 4, 2021. The Indiana Senate Republican caucus released its first draft of state Senate districts on September 20, 2021, and the Indiana House Republican caucus released its first proposed state House district maps on September 14, 2021. The Indiana state Senate approved final legislative district boundaries by a vote of 36-12, with all votes to approve by Republicans. Eleven Senate Democrats joined State Sen. Ron Grooms (R) in voting against the maps. The Indiana House of Representatives approved final district maps by a vote of 64-25. All votes in favor were by Republicans with 22 Democrats and three Republicans voting against.[8][9]

After the General Assembly approved the maps, House Speaker Todd Huston said, "We're incredibly grateful for the work of Representative Greg Steuerwald and Senator Eric Koch who tirelessly and thoughtfully led the way on drawing these maps. Redistricting is a complex and important process that impacts all Hoosiers. We're thankful for the hundreds of constituents who shared their feedback along the way, and I'm confident we delivered fair maps that ensure every Hoosier vote counts."[10]

The full legislative history of Indiana's redistricting proposals, including House and Senate committee reports and proposed amendments, can be found here at the Indiana General Assembly's website. These maps took effect for Indiana's 2022 legislative elections.[11]

How does redistricting in Indiana work? In Indiana, the state legislature is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district lines. The legislature must approve a redistricting plan by the close of the first legislative session occurring after completion of the United States Census. The governor may veto the lines drawn by the state legislature.[12][13]

In the event that both chambers of the state legislature do not approve a congressional redistricting plan, a backup commission must draw the lines. The commission comprises the following members:[13]

  1. Speaker of the House
  2. President Pro Tempore of the Senate
  3. Chair of the Elections Committee, Indiana State Senate
  4. Chair of the Elections and Apportionment Committee, Indiana House of Representatives
  5. A gubernatorial appointment

The Indiana Constitution mandates that state legislative districts be contiguous. There are no such requirements for congressional district lines.[12]

Indiana House of Representatives District 35
until November 8, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Indiana House of Representatives District 35
starting November 9, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 35

Incumbent Elizabeth Rowray defeated Philip Gift in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 35 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Elizabeth Rowray
Elizabeth Rowray (R)
 
71.0
 
22,529
Image of Philip Gift
Philip Gift (D) Candidate Connection
 
29.0
 
9,204

Total votes: 31,733
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35

Philip Gift advanced from the Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35 on May 7, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Philip Gift
Philip Gift Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
1,895

Total votes: 1,895
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35

Incumbent Elizabeth Rowray advanced from the Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35 on May 7, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Elizabeth Rowray
Elizabeth Rowray
 
100.0
 
7,261

Total votes: 7,261
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2022

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 35

Incumbent Elizabeth Rowray defeated Brad Sowinski in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 35 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Elizabeth Rowray
Elizabeth Rowray (R)
 
70.0
 
14,948
Brad Sowinski (D)
 
30.0
 
6,393

Total votes: 21,341
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35

Brad Sowinski advanced from the Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35 on May 3, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Brad Sowinski
 
100.0
 
1,805

Total votes: 1,805
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35

Incumbent Elizabeth Rowray advanced from the Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35 on May 3, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Elizabeth Rowray
Elizabeth Rowray
 
100.0
 
5,359

Total votes: 5,359
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 35

Elizabeth Rowray defeated incumbent Melanie Wright in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 35 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Elizabeth Rowray
Elizabeth Rowray (R)
 
55.3
 
16,767
Image of Melanie Wright
Melanie Wright (D)
 
44.7
 
13,570

Total votes: 30,337
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35

Incumbent Melanie Wright advanced from the Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Melanie Wright
Melanie Wright
 
100.0
 
4,948

Total votes: 4,948
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35

Elizabeth Rowray advanced from the Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Elizabeth Rowray
Elizabeth Rowray
 
100.0
 
7,427

Total votes: 7,427
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2018

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 35

Incumbent Melanie Wright defeated Ben Fisher in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 35 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Melanie Wright
Melanie Wright (D)
 
50.7
 
12,799
Image of Ben Fisher
Ben Fisher (R)
 
49.3
 
12,465

Total votes: 25,264
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35

Incumbent Melanie Wright advanced from the Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Melanie Wright
Melanie Wright
 
100.0
 
4,326

Total votes: 4,326
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35

Ben Fisher advanced from the Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 35 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ben Fisher
Ben Fisher
 
100.0
 
5,099

Total votes: 5,099
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Indiana House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 3, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 5, 2016.

Incumbent Melanie Wright defeated Bill Walters in the Indiana House of Representatives District 35 general election.[14][15]

Indiana House of Representatives, District 35 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Melanie Wright Incumbent 52.54% 15,643
     Republican Bill Walters 47.46% 14,129
Total Votes 29,772
Source: Indiana Election Divsion


Incumbent Melanie Wright ran unopposed in the Indiana House of Representatives District 35 Democratic primary.[16][17]

Indiana House of Representatives, District 35 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Melanie Wright Incumbent (unopposed)



2014

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Indiana House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 6, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 7, 2014. Melanie Wright was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent L. Jack Lutz was unopposed in the Republican primary. Wright defeated Lutz in the general election.[18][19]

Indiana House of Representatives 35, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngMelanie Wright 50.6% 8,581
     Republican L. Jack Lutz Incumbent 49.4% 8,375
Total Votes 16,956

2012

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Indiana House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on May 8, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 10, 2012. Incumbent L. Jack Lutz (R) defeated Melanie Wright (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.[20][21]

Indiana House of Representatives, District 35, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngL. Jack Lutz Incumbent 50.8% 14,676
     Democratic Melanie Wright 49.2% 14,229
Total Votes 28,905

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Indiana House of Representatives District 35 raised a total of $1,990,723. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $68,646 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Indiana House of Representatives District 35
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $18,195 2 $9,097
2022 $31,945 2 $15,973
2020 $680,921 3 $226,974
2018 $66,726 2 $33,363
2016 $103,276 2 $51,638
2014 $232,003 2 $116,002
2012 $341,637 2 $170,819
2010 $55,286 3 $18,429
2008 $112,432 2 $56,216
2006 $81,200 2 $40,600
2004 $118,434 3 $39,478
2002 $116,774 2 $58,387
2000 $31,894 2 $15,947
Total $1,990,723 29 $68,646


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Indiana General Assembly, "Indiana Constitution, Article 4, Section 3," accessed February 5, 2021
  2. Indiana General Assembly, "IC 3-8-1-14: Representative in general assembly," accessed May 21, 2025
  3. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  4. Justia, "IN Code § 3-8-1-1 (2024)," accessed May 27, 2025
  5. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  6. Indiana General Assembly, "Indiana Code," accessed February 5, 2021 (§3-13-5-0.1)
  7. The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
  8. Indiana House of Representatives Republican Caucus, "GOP statements on initial drafts of Indiana House and Congressional district maps," September 14, 2021
  9. IndyStar, "Gov. Holcomb signs Indiana's redistricting maps into law," October 4, 2021
  10. Indiana Senate Republicans, "General Assembly approves new congressional, state legislative districts 10.1.21," October 1, 2021
  11. Indiana Senate Republicans, "General Assembly approves new congressional, state legislative districts," Oct. 1, 2021
  12. 12.0 12.1 All About Redistricting, "Indiana," accessed April 6, 2015
  13. 13.0 13.1 Brennan Center for Justice, "Indiana," accessed April 6, 2015
  14. Indiana Secretary of State, "November 8, 2016 General Election candidates," February 5, 2016
  15. Indiana Election Division, "General election 2016 results," accessed December 16, 2016
  16. Indiana Secretary of State, "May 3, 2016 Primary Election candidates," February 5, 2016
  17. Indiana Secretary of State, "May 3, 2016 Primary Election Results," accessed August 18, 2016
  18. Indiana Secretary of State, "Official primary election candidate list," accessed February 10, 2014
  19. Indiana Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 12, 2014
  20. "Indiana Secretary of State - Official Primary Results," accessed October 11, 2013
  21. "Indiana Secretary of State – Official General Election Results," accessed October 11, 2013


Current members of the Indiana House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Todd Huston
Majority Leader:Matthew Lehman
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
Tim Yocum (R)
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
Tony Isa (R)
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
Dave Hall (R)
District 63
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
District 68
District 69
Jim Lucas (R)
District 70
District 71
District 72
District 73
District 74
District 75
District 76
District 77
District 78
District 79
District 80
District 81
District 82
District 83
District 84
District 85
District 86
District 87
District 88
District 89
District 90
District 91
District 92
District 93
District 94
District 95
District 96
District 97
District 98
District 99
District 100
Republican Party (70)
Democratic Party (30)