Indiana State Senate District 17 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Indiana, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Indiana State Senate District 17 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Indiana State Senate District 17

Incumbent Andy Zay defeated Joe Swisher in the general election for Indiana State Senate District 17 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andy Zay (R)	75.1	27,512
		Joe Swisher (D)	24.9	9,146

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 36,658
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Joe Swisher (D)

I am a staunch supporter of Pro Choice. I believe a woman has a right to choose her own health care. I am not a doctor and I am not a woman so I believe government should NOT be making that decision for them.

I am a staunch supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. I believe in same sex marriage and that we should be supporting and protecting our trans kids in school.

I am for common sense gun legislation. You should not be able to buy a gun until 21 years old. Ban assault style weapons and high capacity magazines. No teachers carrying guns.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Joe Swisher (D)

I believe that government should stay out of reproductive rights. That should be a woman's right to make herself. I don't think abortion should be a criminal offense. No rape or incest victim should have to sign a criminal affidavit. I also feel strongly about decriminalization of Marijuana. I believe it should be legal. It has a lot of medical benefits. The state can regulate it making it safer and tax money can be used for recovery programs. I also believe in serious talk about some kind of police reforms. I believe social workers should be involved in policing. Somewhere along the line we went from being "peace" officers to "police" officers. I am very passionate about helping the poor. I believe in trickle up economics. The poor seem to always be left behind.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Joe Swisher (D)

I have a strong sense of honor and integrity. I held a TS clearance with the DOD and with the DOJ.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Joe Swisher (D)

The shooting of Bobby Kennedy. He was a political hero of mine. He was a staunch supporter of the poor and marginalized. He was also a big supporter of organized labor and marched in picket lines. I was 9 years old at the time.

See also

More about these elections:

• Indiana State Senate elections, 2022

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