State

State Representative, 52nd District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state representative votes on Indiana laws and the state budget in the Indiana House of Representatives.

Candidates Compare by issue

Joseph Trost

Democratic

Concrete construction worker · Avilla

The gist

Pledges to raise wages for working Hoosiers.
Proposes grants to help veterans claim their benefits.
Supports restrictions and a moratorium on data centers.
Supports holding polluting corporations accountable.
Opposes AI-enabled Flock surveillance cameras.
Supports more school funding and higher educator wages.

More about Joseph

View sources (2)

Pledges to raise wages for working Hoosiers.
Call to Action (issues) - Trost for Indiana District 52 Representative
Campaign website · The Friends of Joseph Trost Committee · trostfordistrict52.com
“I will work to increase the wages for all Hoosiers and get more money in the pockets of working class families.”
Proposes grants to help veterans claim their benefits.
Call to Action (issues) - Trost for Indiana District 52 Representative
Campaign website · The Friends of Joseph Trost Committee · trostfordistrict52.com
“I want to fund grants for local American Legions and social workers to continue their work in helping veterans navigate the federal bureaucracy”
Supports restrictions and a moratorium on data centers.
Trost for Indiana District 52 Representative (home)
Campaign website · The Friends of Joseph Trost Committee · trostfordistrict52.com
“Placing common sense restrictions on data centers to protect the safety of our water and keep utility costs low.”
Call to Action (issues) - Trost for Indiana District 52 Representative
Campaign website · The Friends of Joseph Trost Committee · trostfordistrict52.com
“Current leadership failed to put in any energy or water regulations”
Supports holding polluting corporations accountable.
Call to Action (issues) - Trost for Indiana District 52 Representative
Campaign website · The Friends of Joseph Trost Committee · trostfordistrict52.com
“Corporations that operate within our state need to be held accountable for the damage that they are directly causing”
Opposes AI-enabled Flock surveillance cameras.
Call to Action (issues) - Trost for Indiana District 52 Representative
Campaign website · The Friends of Joseph Trost Committee · trostfordistrict52.com
“it constitutes mass surveillance and it runs afoul of the 4th amendment it has no place in a free state like Indiana”
Supports more school funding and higher educator wages.
Call to Action (issues) - Trost for Indiana District 52 Representative
Campaign website · The Friends of Joseph Trost Committee · trostfordistrict52.com
“I want to increase the funding that our schools get.”

Ben Smaltz

RepublicanIncumbent

President and owner of Taylor Rental · Auburn

The gist

Authored a bill redrawing Indiana's congressional districts mid-decade.In office
Authored ending tax exemptions for unused nonprofit hospital property.In office
Authored expunging red flag records for people found not dangerous.In office
Authored barring certain foreign students from state university STEM programs.In office
Authored moving city and town elections to even-numbered years.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Ben

View sources (10)

Authored a bill redrawing Indiana's congressional districts mid-decade.
House Bill 1032 (2026 session), "Redistricting": introduced version
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
“Allows the general assembly to amend congressional districts at a time other than the first regular session”
House Bill 1032 (2026 session): bill details and actions
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
Authored ending tax exemptions for unused nonprofit hospital property.
House Bill 1384 (2026 session), "Nonprofit hospital property taxes": introduced version
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
“is not exempt from property taxation if, after 10 years from the date of purchase of the property by the nonprofit hospital”
House Bill 1384 (2026 session): bill details and actions
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
Authored expunging red flag records for people found not dangerous.
House Bill 1137 (2025 session), "Expungement of red flag law records": introduced version
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
“Requires a court to expunge certain records related to the red flag law if the court finds that an individual is not dangerous”
House Bill 1137 (2025 session): bill details and actions
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
Authored barring certain foreign students from state university STEM programs.
House Bill 1435 (2025 session), "STEM enrollment": introduced version
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
“adopt a policy that prohibits certain foreign students from enrolling in or receiving instruction in a qualifying STEM program”
House Bill 1435 (2025 session): bill details and actions
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
Authored moving city and town elections to even-numbered years.
House Bill 1633 (2025 session), "Municipal elections": introduced version
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
“Moves elections of city and town officers to even-numbered years.”
House Bill 1633 (2025 session): bill details and actions
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.