State

State Senator, 23rd District

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 3
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on Indiana laws and the state budget in the General Assembly.

Candidates Compare by issue

David A Sanders

Democratic

Purdue biology professor; West Lafayette City Council member · West Lafayette

The gist

Pledges to protect the Wabash River from LEAP-Lebanon.
Opposes state preemption of local self-rule.
Opposes government interference in marriage and childbearing decisions.
Opposes government surveillance and invasions of privacy.
Supports public schools, which his three sons attended.
Pledges to help veterans receive earned benefits.

More about David

View sources (2)

Pledges to protect the Wabash River from LEAP-Lebanon.
On the Issues | David Sanders for Indiana State Senate--District 23
Campaign website · David Sanders for Indiana · davidsandersindiana.com
“David successfully built a bipartisan coalition to protect the Wabash River from the LEAP-Lebanon project.”
Opposes state preemption of local self-rule.
On the Issues | David Sanders for Indiana State Senate--District 23
Campaign website · David Sanders for Indiana · davidsandersindiana.com
“He will continue to fight against state preemption of local self-rule.”
Opposes government interference in marriage and childbearing decisions.
On the Issues | David Sanders for Indiana State Senate--District 23
Campaign website · David Sanders for Indiana · davidsandersindiana.com
“He opposes government interference in marriage and childbearing decisions”
Opposes government surveillance and invasions of privacy.
About David | David Sanders for Indiana State Senate--District 23
Campaign website · David Sanders for Indiana · davidsandersindiana.com
“opposing government invasion of privacy”
On the Issues | David Sanders for Indiana State Senate--District 23
Campaign website · David Sanders for Indiana · davidsandersindiana.com
“He has been a vocal opponent of government surveillance.”
Supports public schools, which his three sons attended.
About David | David Sanders for Indiana State Senate--District 23
Campaign website · David Sanders for Indiana · davidsandersindiana.com
“My three sons attended West Lafayette public schools and I am a firm supporter of public education.”
Pledges to help veterans receive earned benefits.
About David | David Sanders for Indiana State Senate--District 23
Campaign website · David Sanders for Indiana · davidsandersindiana.com
“I also will continue to focus on ensuring that veterans receive the benefits that they have earned.”

Joshua Brant

Independent

The gist

Supports comprehensive state and federal anti-corruption legislation.
Supports making health care more accessible and affordable.
Supports private and charter schools alongside public schools.
Supports K-12 schooling with no out-of-pocket costs for parents.
Supports classroom supply expense accounts for teachers.

More about Joshua

View sources (2)

Supports comprehensive state and federal anti-corruption legislation.
Press Release: Official Announcement – Elect Joshua Brant
Campaign website · Elect Joshua Brant · Feb 11, 2026 · electjoshuabrant.org
“We need comprehensive anti-corruption legislation at both the state and federal level to restore trust in our institutions.”
Supports making health care more accessible and affordable.
Press Release: Official Announcement – Elect Joshua Brant
Campaign website · Elect Joshua Brant · Feb 11, 2026 · electjoshuabrant.org
“His personal experiences have shaped his commitment to improving healthcare accessibility and affordability”
Supports private and charter schools alongside public schools.
Education Follow-Up – Elect Joshua Brant
Campaign website · Elect Joshua Brant · Mar 18, 2026 · electjoshuabrant.org
“there were some strong reactions to my support for private & charter schools … I'm not interested in taking anything away from public schools.”
Supports K-12 schooling with no out-of-pocket costs for parents.
Education Follow-Up – Elect Joshua Brant
Campaign website · Elect Joshua Brant · Mar 18, 2026 · electjoshuabrant.org
“For parents, this means that K-12, at very least, should not cost you a dime out of pocket.”
Supports classroom supply expense accounts for teachers.
Education Follow-Up – Elect Joshua Brant
Campaign website · Elect Joshua Brant · Mar 18, 2026 · electjoshuabrant.org
“For teachers, this means you should have your own expense accounts for classroom supplies.”

Spencer R. Deery

RepublicanIncumbent

State senator; special assistant at Purdue University · West Lafayette

The gist

Opposes redrawing congressional maps in the middle of the decade.In office
Sponsored a 2026 law raising penalties for masked crimes.In office
Sponsored parental controls on school-issued devices sent home.In office
Supports temporarily suspending Indiana's gas tax.In office
Sponsored a 2025 law to raise pay for high-need teachers.In office

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

More about Spencer

View sources (5)

Opposes redrawing congressional maps in the middle of the decade.
State Sen. Spencer Deery Statement on Redistricting
Public statement · Indiana Senate Republicans · Aug 13, 2025 · indianasenaterepublicans.com
“candidates should win on the strength of their ideas and not on their ability to choose new voters”
Sponsored a 2026 law raising penalties for masked crimes.
Deery's public safety, education bills ceremonially signed by governor
Public statement · Indiana Senate Republicans · Apr 29, 2026 · indianasenaterepublicans.com
“allows judges to increase penalties for individuals who disguise their faces while committing a crime”
Sponsored parental controls on school-issued devices sent home.
Deery's bill to increase parental control over school-issued technology passes Senate
Public statement · Indiana Senate Republicans · Jan 26, 2026 · indianasenaterepublicans.com
“Senate Bill 159 would give parents increased control over school-issued technology on devices sent home from school.”
Supports temporarily suspending Indiana's gas tax.
Statement: Sen. Deery calls on Gov. Braun to temporarily suspend tax on gas
Public statement · Indiana Senate Republicans · Apr 8, 2026 · indianasenaterepublicans.com
“calling for the governor to temporarily suspend the tax on gas”
Sponsored a 2025 law to raise pay for high-need teachers.
Deery: Bill to empower schools to increase pay for high-need teachers heads to governor's desk
Public statement · Indiana Senate Republicans · Mar 31, 2025 · indianasenaterepublicans.com
“Senate Enrolled Act 249 would change current law by allowing schools to fund these supplemental paychecks before collective bargaining.”

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; 6 issues covered in this race.