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Vernon Smith

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Vernon Smith
Image of Vernon Smith

Democratic Party

Indiana House of Representatives District 14
Tenure

1990 - Present

Term ends

2026

Years in position

35

Compensation

Base salary

$32,070.24/year

Per diem

$196/day

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Indiana University, 1966

Graduate

Indiana University, 1969

Law

Indiana University, 1978

Personal
Religion
Christian: Baptist
Profession
Professor
Contact

Official website

Official Twitter

Personal website

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Vernon Smith (Democratic Party) is a member of the Indiana House of Representatives, representing District 14. He assumed office in 1990. His current term ends on November 4, 2026.

Smith (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Indiana House of Representatives to represent District 14. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Smith's professional experience includes working as an Assistant Professor of Education at Indiana University Northwest, Principal of Gary Community Schools and teacher.

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Smith was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Smith was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Smith was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Indiana committee assignments, 2017
• Education
• Government and Regulatory Reform
• Insurance
• Local Government

2015 legislative session

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

2013-2014

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

2011-2012

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

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Smith served on these committees:

Issues

Legislative walkout

Smith and 36 other Democratic representatives participated in a legislative walkout on February 22, 2011, in opposition to proposed right-to-work legislation that would have limited union powers in Indiana. The Democratic departure left the House void of a quorum, leaving only 58 of the 67 representatives needed to establish a quorum.[1] Terri Austin, Steven Stemler and Vanessa Summers stayed behind to provide, if necessary, a motion and a seconding motion, which would enable them to stop any official business from proceeding should the Republicans try to do so.[1]

On March 7, 2011, House Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer revealed that the Democrats were staying at the Comfort Suites in Urbana, Illinois during their absence from the statehouse.[2] According to the Indiana Constitution, Article 4, sections 11 and 14, the House may enforce fines and other methods to compel absent members to return. Beginning on March 7, 2011, each Democrat was subject to a fine of $250, to be withheld from future expense or salary payments, for each day they were not present in the statehouse.[3] Regarding their actual pay, House Speaker Brian Bosma announced that the 37 lawmakers were required to be physically present in the chambers to receive their per diem payment of $152/day.[2]

On March 21, 2011, Governor Mitch Daniels (R) and House Republicans increased daily fines from $250/day to $350/day. In response to the increase in fines, House Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer stated that Democrats "will remain steadfast" in their opposition to the right-to-work bill.[4] Rep. Winfield Moses, Jr. (D) called the increase "a poke in the eye," and said it would not cause the Democrats to return.[5]

The Democrats returned to the statehouse on March 28, 2011, after the two sides had agreed to compromise on a number of issues, including shelving the controversial right-to-work bill.[3] Although the Democrats had some of their demands met, each absent member accrued a total of $3,500 in fines.[3]

The Legislature ended up passing right-to-work legislation on February 1, 2012, becoming the 23rd state to do so. Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) signed the measure into law.[6]

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

2024

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 14

Incumbent Vernon Smith defeated Ivan Ursery II in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 14 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Vernon Smith
Vernon Smith (D)
 
72.1
 
17,570
Image of Ivan Ursery II
Ivan Ursery II (R) Candidate Connection
 
27.9
 
6,786

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

Total votes: 24,356
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 14

Incumbent Vernon Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 14 on May 7, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Vernon Smith
Vernon Smith
 
100.0
 
3,524

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

Total votes: 3,524
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 14

Ivan Ursery II advanced from the Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 14 on May 7, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ivan Ursery II
Ivan Ursery II Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
877

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

Total votes: 877
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.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Smith in this election.

2022

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 14

Incumbent Vernon Smith won election in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 14 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Vernon Smith
Vernon Smith (D)
 
100.0
 
11,848

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

Total votes: 11,848
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 14

Incumbent Vernon Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 14 on May 3, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Vernon Smith
Vernon Smith
 
100.0
 
3,754

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

Total votes: 3,754
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.

Campaign finance

2020

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 14

Incumbent Vernon Smith won election in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 14 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Vernon Smith
Vernon Smith (D)
 
100.0
 
19,982

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

Total votes: 19,982
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 14

Incumbent Vernon Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 14 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Vernon Smith
Vernon Smith
 
100.0
 
7,953

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

Total votes: 7,953
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.

2018

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 14

Incumbent Vernon Smith won election in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 14 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Vernon Smith
Vernon Smith (D)
 
100.0
 
16,642

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

Total votes: 16,642
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 14

Incumbent Vernon Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 14 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Vernon Smith
Vernon Smith
 
100.0
 
5,182

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

Total votes: 5,182
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 Vernon Smith ran unopposed in the Indiana House of Representatives District 14 general election.[7][8]

Indiana House of Representatives, District 14 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Vernon Smith Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Indiana Election Divsion


Incumbent Vernon Smith ran unopposed in the Indiana House of Representatives District 14 Democratic primary.[9][10]

Indiana House of Representatives, District 14 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Vernon Smith 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. Incumbent Vernon G. Smith was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[11][12]

2012

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2012

Smith won re-election in the 2012 election for Indiana House of Representatives District 14. Smith defeated Sherman D. Carson in the May 8 Democratic primary[13]and ran unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[14][15]

Indiana House of Representatives, District 14, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngVernon G. Smith Incumbent 100% 19,308
Total Votes 19,308
Indiana House of Representatives, District 14 Democratic Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngVernon Smith 83.9% 4,678
Sherman Carson 16.1% 900
Total Votes 5,578

2010

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2010

Smith defeated Republican candidate Catherine Campbell by a margin of 9,404 to 1,446 in the November 2 general election.[16]

In the May 4 primary election, Smith ran unopposed and received 5,041 votes.[17]


Indiana House of Representatives, District 14 General Election (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Vernon Smith (D) 9,404
Catherine Campbell (R) 1,446

2008

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2008

On November 4, 2008, Democrat Vernon Smith won re-election to the Indiana House of Representatives District 14 receiving 17,033 votes, ahead of Republican Catherine Campbell who received 2,168 votes.[18]

Indiana House of Representatives, District 14 (2008)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Vernon Smith (D) 17,033
Catherine Campbell (R) 2,168

2006

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2006

On November 7, 2006, Vernon Smith won re-election to the Indiana House of Representatives District 14.[19]

Indiana House of Representatives, District 14 (2006)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Vernon Smith (D) 8,281
Catherine Campbell (R) 1,240

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Vernon Smith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Vernon Smith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Vernon Smith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 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.

Vernon Smith campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Indiana House of Representatives District 14Won general$23,140 $13,036
2022Indiana House of Representatives District 14Won general$17,250 $6,083
2020Indiana House of Representatives District 14Won general$5,650 N/A**
2018Indiana House of Representatives District 14Won general$12,190 N/A**
2016Indiana House of Representatives, District 14Won $12,435 N/A**
2014Indiana House of Representatives, District 14Won $9,125 N/A**
2012Indiana State House, District 14Won $12,419 N/A**
2010Indiana State House, District 14Won $10,354 N/A**
2008Indiana State House, District 14Won $13,224 N/A**
2006Indiana State House, District 14Won $12,010 N/A**
2004Indiana State House, District 14Won $9,285 N/A**
2002Indiana State House, District 14Won $14,143 N/A**
2000Indiana State House, District 14Won $10,123 N/A**
1998Indiana State House, District 14Won $11,000 N/A**
1996Indiana State House, District 14Won $9,600 N/A**
1994Indiana State House, District 14Won $9,980 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and 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 Indiana scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.


2024


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Smith is the founder of a number of organizations, including the African American Achievers Youth Corps, Incorporated, Gary Indiana City-Wide Festival Committee, Indiana University Dons, Inc, Indiana University Gents, Inc, Young Citizens' League and Youth Ensuring Solidarity. He is also a member of Brothers Keeper Shelter for Homeless Men, Criminal Justice Institute Board of Trustees, Handgun Control, Incorporated, Medical Center of Gary Board, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Northwest Indiana Urban League Board, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church.[20]

See also

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External links

Officeholder

Indiana House of Representatives District 14
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 IndyStar.com, "Indiana Democrats trigger Statehouse showdown over anti-union legislation," February 22, 2011
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fox 59, "Fines begin for absent House Democrats," March 7, 2011
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Wall Street Journal, "Pressure Mounts on Absent Democrats in Wisconsin, Indiana," March 3, 2011 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "wsj" defined multiple times with different content
    4. ↑ IndyStar.com, "Dems' walkout drags on, among nation's longest," March 23, 2011
    5. ↑ WFIE.com, "Indiana Republicans say they're done negotiating," March 17, 2011
    6. ↑ Reuters, "Indiana becomes 23rd "right-to-work" state," February 1, 2012
    7. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "November 8, 2016 General Election candidates," February 5, 2016
    8. ↑ Indiana Election Division, "General election 2016 results," accessed December 16, 2016
    9. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "May 3, 2016 Primary Election candidates," February 5, 2016
    10. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "May 3, 2016 Primary Election Results," accessed August 18, 2016
    11. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "Official primary election candidate list," accessed February 10, 2014
    12. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 12, 2014
    13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ap
    14. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "List of May 8, 2012, primary candidates," accessed March 6, 2014
    15. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, “Election Results – Indiana General Election, November 6, 2012,” accessed January 24, 2013
    16. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "2010 Official General Election Results," accessed March 6, 2014
    17. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "2010 Official Primary Election Results," accessed March 6, 2014
    18. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "2008 Official election results," accessed March 6, 2014
    19. ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "2006 Official election results," accessed March 6, 2014
    20. ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Political Summary," accessed March 6, 2014

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		Indiana House of Representatives District 14
    1990-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -


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