Election law changes? Our legislation tracker’s got you. Check it out!

Jim Tomes

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Jim Tomes
Republican Party
Candidate, Indiana State Senate District 49
Indiana State Senate District 49
Tenure
2010 - Present
Term ends
2026
Years in position
16
Compensation
Base salary
$33,032.24/year
Per diem
$213/day
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 8, 2022
Next election
May 5, 2026
Education
High school
Mater Dei High School
Associates
Ivy Tech
Military
Service / branch
U.S. Army
Personal
Religion
Christian: Catholic
Profession
Trucking Teamster and Union Steward
Contact
Official website
Personal Facebook

Jim Tomes (Republican Party) is a member of the Indiana State Senate, representing District 49. He assumed office in 2010. His current term ends on November 4, 2026.

Tomes (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the Indiana State Senate to represent District 49. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary on May 5, 2026.[source]

Biography

Tomes' professional experience includes working as a trucker and union steward.

Committee assignments

2025-2026

Tomes was assigned to the following committees:

2023-2024

Tomes was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Tomes was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Tomes was assigned to the following committees:

2018 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2018 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Indiana committee assignments, 2018
• Agriculture
• Commerce and Technology
• Corrections and Criminal Law
• Natural Resources
• Utilities

2016 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2016 legislative session, Tomes served on the following committees:

Indiana committee assignments, 2016
• Agriculture
• Commerce and Technology
• Corrections and Criminal Law
• Natural Resources
• Utilities

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Tomes served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Tomes served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Tomes served on these committees:

Noteworthy events

Law enforcement drones

On January 7, 2013, Tomes introduced SB 0020 to restrict the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). This bill would have banned anyone, including law enforcement officers, from using drones for surveillance purposes without the permission of the surveillance's subjects. The bill also would have banned the use of any evidence collected using a drone without the subject's permission. Intentional violation of the drone ban would have been a Class D felony. The bill would have forbade the use of government funds for purchasing drones beginning on July 1, 2013.[1] SB 0020 was referred to the Rules and Legislative Procedure Committee on January 7. Sen. John Waterman (R) was added as a second author on January 10. The bill was ultimately withdrawn.[2]

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2026

See also: Indiana State Senate elections, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on May 5, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Democratic primary

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Democratic primary for Indiana State Senate District 49

Cindi Clayton (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Indiana State Senate District 49 on May 5, 2026.

Candidate
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Cindi Clayton

There are no incumbents in this race.

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

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Republican primary for Indiana State Senate District 49

Incumbent Jim Tomes (R) and Brandi Durham Pugh (R) are running in the Republican primary for Indiana State Senate District 49 on May 5, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Jim Tomes
Jim Tomes
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Brandi Durham Pugh

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

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.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2022

See also: Indiana State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Indiana State Senate District 49

Incumbent Jim Tomes won election in the general election for Indiana State Senate District 49 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jim Tomes
Jim Tomes (R)
 
100.0
 
26,320

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 26,320
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 State Senate District 49

Incumbent Jim Tomes advanced from the Republican primary for Indiana State Senate District 49 on May 3, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jim Tomes
Jim Tomes
 
100.0
 
4,995

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 4,995
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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Campaign finance

2018

See also: Indiana State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Indiana State Senate District 49

Incumbent Jim Tomes defeated Edie Hardcastle in the general election for Indiana State Senate District 49 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jim Tomes
Jim Tomes (R)
 
64.0
 
28,895
Image of Edie Hardcastle
Edie Hardcastle (D)
 
36.0
 
16,276

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 45,171
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 State Senate District 49

Edie Hardcastle advanced from the Democratic primary for Indiana State Senate District 49 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Edie Hardcastle
Edie Hardcastle
 
100.0
 
3,056

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 3,056
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 State Senate District 49

Incumbent Jim Tomes advanced from the Republican primary for Indiana State Senate District 49 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jim Tomes
Jim Tomes
 
100.0
 
6,868

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 6,868
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 gubernatorial election, 2016

Tomes filed a statement of candidacy to fill a ballot vacancy for the office of Indiana Governor on July 18, 2016. The vacancy was created when incumbent Mike Pence (R) withdrew from the Republican ticket on July 15, 2016, in order to run for vice president of the United States on a joint ticket with Donald Trump. The Republican state committee must submit a replacement to the secretary of state within 30 days of a ballot vacancy. U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita (R), U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks (R), and Lt. Governor Eric Holcomb (R) also filed statements of candidacy. On July 26, 2016, the Republican state committee selected Holcomb as the replacement candidate.[3]

2014

See also: Indiana State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Indiana State Senate 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. Incumbent Jim Tomes was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[4][5]

2010

See also: Indiana State Senate elections, 2010

Tomes defeated Democratic candidate Patty Avery by a margin of 15,254 to 14,248 in the November 2 general election.[6] Democratic incumbent Bob Deig did not run for re-election.

In the May 4 primary election, Tomes defeated opponent Andrew Wilson by a margin of 3,082 to 2,968.[7]

Indiana State Senate, District 49 General Election 2010
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Jim Tomes (R) 15,254 51.7%
Patty Avery (D) 14,248 48.3%
Indiana State Senate, District 49 - Republican Primary (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Jim Tomes 3,082 50.9%
Andrew Wilson 2,968 49.1%

2004

See also: Indiana State Senate elections 2004

Tomes lost to Trent Van Haaften in the general election on November 2, 2004.[8] Van Haaften raised $76,120 for his campaign while Tomes raised $18,642.[9]

Indiana House of Representatives, District 76 General Election 2004
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Trent Van Haaften (D) 13,115
Jim Tomes (R) 10,935

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Jim Tomes has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Jim Tomes, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 26,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

Help improve Ballotpedia - send us candidate contact info.


2022

Jim Tomes did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Jim Tomes campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2022Indiana State Senate District 49Won general$83,635 $56,656
2018Indiana State Senate District 49Won general$131,627 N/A**
2014Indiana State Senate, District 49Won $63,616 N/A**
2010Indiana State Senate, District 49Won $163,876 N/A**
2004Indiana House of Representatives, District 76Lost $18,642 N/A**
Grand total$461,396 $56,656
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Tomes and his wife, Margie, have three children. He helped found the 2nd Amendment Patriots, a gun rights grassroots organization, in 1999.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in Indiana

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Indiana General Assembly in 2025.

  • ACLU of Indiana — Legislators are rated based on their votes related to civil liberties.
  • Indiana Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
  • Indiana Family Institute — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to social issues.
  • The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Indiana General Assembly in 2024.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Indiana General Assembly in 2023.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Indiana General Assembly in 2022.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Indiana General Assembly in 2021.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Indiana General Assembly in 2020.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Indiana General Assembly in 2019.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Indiana General Assembly in 2018.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Indiana General Assembly in 2017.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Indiana General Assembly in 2016.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Indiana General Assembly in 2015.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Indiana General Assembly in 2014.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Indiana General Assembly in 2013.

In 2012, the Indiana General Assembly was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.

In 2011, the Indiana General Assembly was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.

See also

2026 Elections

Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
What's on the ballot?
U.S. Congress
U.S. Congress special elections
State executives
State legislatures
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
School boards
Election analysis hub

Government

Seal of Indiana.png
Who represents me?
U.S. Congress
State executives
State legislators
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
School boards

Newsletters

Ballotpedia RSS.jpg
The Daily Brew
The Weekly Brew
The Ballot Bulletin
Checks and Balances
Economy and Society
Hall Pass
Number of the Day
Robe & Gavel
Union Station


External links

Officeholder

Indiana State Senate District 49
  • Website
    		•

    Personal

  • Facebook
    		•

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Indiana State Senate, "Senate Bill 0020," accessed March 6, 2014
    2. ↑ Indiana State Senate, "Bill information on SB 0020," accessed March 6, 2014
    3. ↑ Politico.com, "Indiana GOP picks Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb to replace Mike Pence on 2016 ballot," accessed July 26, 2016
    4. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "Official primary election candidate list," accessed February 10, 2014
    5. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 12, 2014
    6. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "2010 Indiana State Senate Official General Election Results," accessed March 6, 2014
    7. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "2010 Primary Election Results," accessed March 6, 2014
    8. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "Official Election Results, 2004," accessed March 6, 2014
    9. ↑ Follow the Money, "Indiana 2004 Campaign Contributions," accessed March 6, 2014

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		Indiana State Senate District 49
    2010-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -


    Current members of the Indiana State Senate
    Leadership
    Majority Leader:Chris Garten
    Senators
    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
    Liz Brown (R)
    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
    J.D. Ford (D)
    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
    District 43
    District 44
    Eric Koch (R)
    District 45
    District 46
    District 47
    District 48
    District 49
    Jim Tomes (R)
    District 50
    Republican Party (40)
    Democratic Party (10)


    Flag of Indiana
    v • e
    State of Indiana
    Indianapolis (capital)
    Elections

    What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2026 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

    Government

    Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy







    Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Jim_Tomes&oldid=11073001"