State

State Senator, 45th 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

Nick Marshall

Democratic

Child and education advocate

The gist

Supports fully funding K-12 schools and raising teacher pay.
Proposes eliminating utility reconnection fees.
Supports reissuing child care vouchers to low-income families.
Supports state funds to offset Medicare and Medicaid cuts.
Supports returning SEA 1 revenue to local police and fire.
Supports lower taxes on working-class Hoosiers and small businesses.

More about Nick

View sources (1)

Supports fully funding K-12 schools and raising teacher pay.
Platform | Nick Marshall
Campaign website · Hoosiers for Nick Marshall · hoosiersfornickmarshall.com
“Nick will work to ensure that Indiana fully funds every single K-12 school in the state and finally give Hoosier educators the raise they deserve.”
Proposes eliminating utility reconnection fees.
Platform | Nick Marshall
Campaign website · Hoosiers for Nick Marshall · hoosiersfornickmarshall.com
“Eliminate reconnection fees for disconnected utilities”
Supports reissuing child care vouchers to low-income families.
Platform | Nick Marshall
Campaign website · Hoosiers for Nick Marshall · hoosiersfornickmarshall.com
“Begin re-issuing childcare vouchers to low income Hoosier families”
Supports state funds to offset Medicare and Medicaid cuts.
Platform | Nick Marshall
Campaign website · Hoosiers for Nick Marshall · hoosiersfornickmarshall.com
“Defend cuts to medicare and medicaid, and advocate to supplement those costs at the state level”
Supports returning SEA 1 revenue to local police and fire.
Platform | Nick Marshall
Campaign website · Hoosiers for Nick Marshall · hoosiersfornickmarshall.com
“Return those tax dollars lost from SB1 back to local governments, without raising taxes”
Supports lower taxes on working-class Hoosiers and small businesses.
Platform | Nick Marshall
Campaign website · Hoosiers for Nick Marshall · hoosiersfornickmarshall.com
“Lower taxes on working class Hoosiers and small businesses”

Larry Mahaney

Libertarian

Jeffersonville

The gist

Supports lower taxes and government accountability.
Supports equal rights under the law for everyone.

More about Larry

View sources (1)

Supports lower taxes and government accountability.
Larry Mahaney for State Senate District 45 (campaign Facebook page)
Candidate social media · Larry Mahaney for State Senate District 45 · facebook.com
“Lower taxes. Individual liberty. Government accountability.”
Supports equal rights under the law for everyone.
Larry Mahaney for State Senate District 45 (campaign Facebook page)
Candidate social media · Larry Mahaney for State Senate District 45 · facebook.com
“Protecting All Rights. For All People. All The Time.”

Chris Garten

RepublicanIncumbent

State senator · Charlestown

The gist

Sponsored the 2026 law tightening SNAP and Medicaid eligibility.In office
Sponsored the 2026 law requiring hostile-nation agents to register.In office
Sponsored blocking utility rate hikes tied to data centers.In office
Co-authored the 2026 law banning ranked-choice voting.In office
Co-authored the 2025 property tax overhaul, Senate Enrolled Act 1.In office

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

More about Chris

View sources (10)

Sponsored the 2026 law tightening SNAP and Medicaid eligibility.
Garten to prioritize preventing welfare fraud, increasing national security and protecting ratepayers during 2026 legislative session
Public statement · Indiana Senate Republicans · Jan 12, 2026 · indianasenaterepublicans.com
“strictly prohibiting Medicaid and SNAP benefits for illegal immigrants”
Senate Bill 1: Human services matters (2026 session), introduced version
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
“Terminates the state's participation in the use of expanded categorical eligibility within the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).”
Senate Bill 1: Human services matters (2026 session): bill page
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
Sponsored the 2026 law requiring hostile-nation agents to register.
Senate Bill 256: Foreign agent registration, foreign terrorist organizations, and foreign adversaries (2026 session), introduced version
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
“Requires certain persons acting on behalf of a hostile foreign country to register with the attorney general.”
Senate Bill 256: Foreign agent registration, foreign terrorist organizations, and foreign adversaries (2026 session): bill page
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
Sponsored blocking utility rate hikes tied to data centers.
Senate Bill 257: Electricity rate increases due to data centers (2026 session), introduced version
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
“the Indiana utility regulatory commission may not approve an increase in the rates and charges of an electric utility”
Co-authored the 2026 law banning ranked-choice voting.
Senate Bill 12: Prohibition of ranked choice voting (2026 session), introduced version
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
“Prohibits the use of ranked choice voting.”
Senate Bill 12: Prohibition of ranked choice voting (2026 session): bill page
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
Co-authored the 2025 property tax overhaul, Senate Enrolled Act 1.
Senate Bill 1: Local government finance (2025 session), introduced version
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
“Provides a maximum property tax liability credit for all taxable real property.”
Senate Bill 1: Local government finance (2025 session): bill page
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; 6 issues covered in this race.