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Walt Sorg (Indiana)

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Walt Sorg
Image of Walt Sorg

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

New Trier Township High School

Bachelor's

Thomas Edison State University, 1984

Personal
Birthplace
Bay Shore, N.Y.
Religion
Nondenominational
Profession
Communications consultant
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Personal Instagram

Walt Sorg (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Indiana House of Representatives to represent District 52. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Sorg completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Walt Sorg was born in Bay Shore, New York. He earned a high school diploma from New Trier Township High School and a bachelor's degree from Thomas Edison State University in 1984. His career experience includes working as a communications consultant.[1]

Elections

2024

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 52

Incumbent Ben Smaltz defeated Walt Sorg in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 52 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Smaltz
Ben Smaltz (R)
 
76.7
 
22,279
Image of Walt Sorg
Walt Sorg (D) Candidate Connection
 
23.3
 
6,750

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

Total votes: 29,029
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 52

Walt Sorg advanced from the Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 52 on May 7, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Walt Sorg
Walt Sorg Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
905

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

Total votes: 905
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 52

Incumbent Ben Smaltz defeated Curt Hammitt in the Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 52 on May 7, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Smaltz
Ben Smaltz
 
72.7
 
6,210
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Curt Hammitt
 
27.3
 
2,337

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

Total votes: 8,547
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 Sorg in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Walt Sorg completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sorg's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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As a relative newcomer to Indiana Walt brings a combination of decades of experience in state government with a new point of view. Walt and his wife moved to Auburn (from Lansing MI) in 2021 to be close to their grandchildren (who are adorable and the center of their lives) quickly building a bond with their new hometown.

He has nearly a half-century of experience in state government, giving him insight into ideas that are different from the unquestioned accepted way of doing business in Indianapolis. That experience has also taught him about ideas that sounded good, but didn't work or had unintended consequences. He worked alongside Republicans and Democrats in a state government where the focus was on building consensus rather than governing through one-party power plays.

This is at the heart of his political DNA: progress through consensus, listening to the people rather than commanding them, and -- most of all -- listening to the people, not the professional politicians.
  • Your state representative owes it to you to be accessible. My phone number and personal email are publicly available –(260) 573-0426, walt@Sorg4Freedom.com) – and I respond personally.
  • State government is increasingly stripping us of individual freedoms. This has to be reversed.
  • One-party control of state government has led to a government no longer responding to the people of Indiana. Its refusal to allow public votes on issues like abortion and marijuana shows lawmakers know they are not acting in line with the will of the people.
Climate change; personal freedom; gun safety; gerrymandering and democracy.
I deeply admire President Obama for his tenacity in passing the Affordable Care Act. He knew he would pay a steep price politically for the legislation, but he knew future generations would benefit tremendously from the expansion of affordable healthcare in our nation. My mantra is "politicians focus on the next election, leaders focus on the next generation." I hope to be a leader.
I also admire the very deep family values shared by the Obamas, Bush family and Biden family.
"Slay the Dragon" documents the campaign I helped lead to end gerrymandering in Michigan through a citizen-led petition drive. Our goal was to create a system where the outcome of elections mirrored the political makeup of the state (rather than craft a solution benefiting my political party's interests).
Openness and a willingness to work to achieve consensus.
I get along with just about everyone and am open to new ideas. I'm willing to admit that I was wrong.
This comes from my father who was a political appointee in the Nixon and Reagan administrations. He was deeply committed to the highest ideals of public service. Despite our differences on multiple issues, we were almost always able to have a calm, respectful discussion on the issues of the day.
Working to represent to the best of my ability policies in the best interests of my constituents and the state. We have a diverse population meaning those policies will often represent compromise. It is up to me to work with other legislators in both parties to develop these bills.
A part of my desired legacy is now a part of the Michigan State constitution: the end of gerrymandering in the state, the direct result of the work of a small group of us who were too ignorant to realize what we were attempting (amending the constitution without the support of the political establishment) was impossible.
I'd like to add to my legacy laws improving the chances of the planet of being habitable for future generations.
The election of President Eisenhower in 1956. I was 7.
I was a bus boy and fast order cook in a restaurant throughout high school.
1984. It was and is a prescient warning.
Josiah Bartlet
"All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera. I'm a sucker for great torch songs and it is one of the best.
I have had multiple medical issues due in large part to my struggle with my weight.
The Governor proposes and the Legislature disposes. The relationship must be collegial and non-confrontational with a balance maintained between having a statewide constituency (Governor) and local constituency (legislator)
Building state policies that are focused on the next generation rather than the next election. Too often we mortgage our future for short-term gain. As a grandfather I want to bequeath a strong, sustainable Indiana to my grandkids.
Previous experience in government is critical. I bring to this campaign nearly 50 years of state government experience as a top-level adviser to a Governor, Attorney General and state House Speaker; plus expansive, award-winning experience as a journalist focused on state government and politics.
It is absolutely critical to build a working relationship with legislators from across the ideological spectrum. Nearly all legislators run for the right reason: to help create a better state. However, we often have diverging views on how to get there. By sharing our ideas and our philosophical roots we can better map the road to a stronger, sustainable Indiana.
As a former resident of Michigan I had the honor to work closely with state House Speaker Bobby Crim, generally acknowledged as the best Speaker in the chamber's modern history. He worked tirelessly to build bipartisan solutions to the most difficult issues. He did so by understanding the needs and desires of a very diverse legislature. His work would be my model.
No.
When I go swimming at our Auburn YMCA, I talk often with parents of special needs children. I constantly learn of the challenges they are facing on a daily basis. Coupled with my decades of work on behalf of Special Olympics I am especially sensitive to special people who, just like me and my family, are a part of God's earth.
There must be the ability of top-level executive branch officials to respond immediately to a crisis. The COVID crisis was an excellent example of how the time required to move major decisions through a normal legislative process would have resulted in preventable deaths.
Requiring safe storage of firearms.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana.
In a previous campaign, I was endorsed by former Michigan Governors James Blanchard and Jennifer Granholm; four former Speakers of the state House; National Organization for Women-Michigan chapter; Lansing Area Human Rights Association.
Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications; Ways and Means; Elections and Apportionment; Environmental Affairs; Public Policy
The state's budget is large and complex. In addition to making the budget documents available, we also need to provide less complex summaries that are more practical for the average voter. We should be open about "earmarks" that are designed to benefit one specific location or group of people. The voters have the right to know where the money is going, how much, and who is advocating the appropriation.
It would be an excellent improvement. I believe in direct democracy.

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.

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.

Walt Sorg campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Indiana House of Representatives District 52Lost general$1,600 $990
Grand total$1,600 $990
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

See also

2024 Elections

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External links

Candidate

Indiana House of Representatives District 52
  • Website
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    Personal

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on June 13, 2024


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