State

State Senator, 48th District

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
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

Bradley (Brad) Hochgesang

Democratic

Software engineer; small business owner · Jasper

The gist

Supports property tax relief that protects schools and EMS.
Supports making data centers pay their own way.
Opposes the Mid-States Corridor highway project.
Supports rural road funding and finishing broadband buildout.
Supports housing policy that keeps young families local.
Pledges to consult affected residents before votes.

More about Bradley

View sources (2)

Supports property tax relief that protects schools and EMS.
Brad Hochgesang for State Senate
Campaign website · Citizens for Hochgesang · citizensforhochgesang.org
“Relief that lasts, for the land and the barns, without gutting the schools, ambulances, and county roads that make rural life work.”
Supports making data centers pay their own way.
Brad Hochgesang for State Senate
Campaign website · Citizens for Hochgesang · citizensforhochgesang.org
“Pay your own way in full, bring more power than you take, or build somewhere else.”
Opposes the Mid-States Corridor highway project.
Brad Hochgesang for State Senate
Campaign website · Citizens for Hochgesang · citizensforhochgesang.org
“Stop the Mid-States Corridor”
Supports rural road funding and finishing broadband buildout.
Infrastructure Done Right | Brad Hochgesang for State Senate
Campaign website · Citizens for Hochgesang · citizensforhochgesang.org
“I'll fight for infrastructure funding that reaches rural communities, accountability for grant applications, and broadband completion”
Supports housing policy that keeps young families local.
Brad Hochgesang for State Senate
Campaign website · Citizens for Hochgesang · citizensforhochgesang.org
“We need housing policy that builds communities, not just developments.”
Pledges to consult affected residents before votes.
Brad Hochgesang for State Senate
Campaign website · Citizens for Hochgesang · citizensforhochgesang.org
“publish the facts, find the people most affected, ask them before the vote, and remain accountable for the result.”

Daryl Schmitt

RepublicanIncumbent

State senator; farmer · Jasper

The gist

Supports shrinking government's size and cost to keep taxes low.In office
Supported the 2026 law on performance-based utility rates.In office
Supported requiring parental consent for under-16 social media accounts.In office
Sponsored the 2026 law keeping election records five years.In office
Sponsored a separate southwest Indiana assessment rate for solar land.In office

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

More about Daryl

View sources (6)

Supports shrinking government's size and cost to keep taxes low.
Statehouse Spotlight with Sen. Schmitt: Lowering Hoosiers' taxes
Public statement · Indiana Senate Republicans · indianasenaterepublicans.com
“I will continue to support policies that reduce the size and cost of government so taxes are low”
Supported the 2026 law on performance-based utility rates.
Statehouse Spotlight with Sen. Schmitt: Working to lower energy bills
Public statement · Indiana Senate Republicans · indianasenaterepublicans.com
“House Enrolled Act 1002 requires utility companies to meet affordability and reliability goals through a performance-based ratemaking model”
Supported requiring parental consent for under-16 social media accounts.
Statehouse Spotlight with Sen. Schmitt: Protecting Hoosier children from addictive social media
Public statement · Indiana Senate Republicans · indianasenaterepublicans.com
“large social media sites will be required to block Hoosiers younger than 16 from opening accounts unless that child has parental permission”
Sponsored the 2026 law keeping election records five years.
Senate Bill 113: Elections matters (2026 session), introduced version
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
“Extends the period within which certain election material must be preserved from 22 months to 60 months.”
Senate Bill 113: Elections matters (2026 session): bill page
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
Sponsored a separate southwest Indiana assessment rate for solar land.
Senate Bill 469: Assessment of land used for solar power generation (2025 session), introduced version
Government record · Indiana General Assembly · iga.in.gov
“divide the current south region into two regions (southeast and southwest regions) for which a separate solar land base rate must be determined”

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.