State

State Comptroller (Auditor of State)

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

What this office does: The State Comptroller, formerly the Auditor of State, keeps Indiana's accounts, pays its bills and employees, and distributes tax money to local governments.

Candidates Compare by issue

Jessica Bailey

Democratic

The gist

Pledges an easier-to-use state transparency portal.
Pledges independent scrutiny of State Board of Finance fund transfers.
Pledges timely, clearly tracked payments to local governments.
Supports more accountability for water-quality and microplastics spending.
Pledges to help local governments become more efficient.

More about Jessica

View sources (2)

Pledges an easier-to-use state transparency portal.
Jessica Bailey for Indiana Comptroller (Meet Jessica; What Jessica stands for)
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Jessica Bailey · baileyforindiana.com
“Jessica will turn it into a tool Hoosiers actually use — easier to search, in plain language, and kept current”
Pledges independent scrutiny of State Board of Finance fund transfers.
Jessica Bailey for Indiana Comptroller (Meet Jessica; What Jessica stands for)
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Jessica Bailey · baileyforindiana.com
“Jessica will be the independent voice in the room: asking questions, requesting documentation”
Pledges timely, clearly tracked payments to local governments.
Jessica Bailey for Indiana Comptroller (Meet Jessica; What Jessica stands for)
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Jessica Bailey · baileyforindiana.com
“Jessica will fight to make sure those dollars are tracked clearly, handled responsibly, and paid on time”
Supports more accountability for water-quality and microplastics spending.
Jessica Bailey for Indiana Comptroller (Meet Jessica; What Jessica stands for)
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Jessica Bailey · baileyforindiana.com
“pushing for more accountability when public money touches issues like water quality, plastic waste, and microplastic pollution”
Pledges to help local governments become more efficient.
Indiana Dems announce treasurer, comptroller candidates
News coverage · Indiana Capital Chronicle · May 27, 2026 · indianacapitalchronicle.com
“use my experience as Porter County Clerk to help local governments become more efficient”

John Schick

Libertarian

Chesterton

The gist

Supports electing a comptroller outside the governing party.
Supports reducing the cost of government and regulations.

More about John

View sources (1)

Supports electing a comptroller outside the governing party.
Democrat, Libertarian challenge incumbent State Auditor Klutz
News coverage · Indiana Capital Chronicle · Jul 7, 2022 · indianacapitalchronicle.com
“People should consider that it's probably best not to have the auditor on the same political party.”
Supports reducing the cost of government and regulations.
Democrat, Libertarian challenge incumbent State Auditor Klutz
News coverage · Indiana Capital Chronicle · Jul 7, 2022 · indianacapitalchronicle.com
“As a Libertarian, I am looking to reduce the cost of government, increase liberty and freedom, and reduce restrictions and regulations”

Elise Nieshalla

RepublicanIncumbent

Zionsville

The gist

Opposes ESG factors in state retirement investing.
Proposes using AI to flag anomalies in state payments.
Proposes consolidating fund numbers used by state and local offices.
Supports federal spending cuts and a balanced federal budget.
Supports President Trump's federal efficiency push.
Led launch of a public dashboard of federal spending.In office
Supports divesting state retirement funds from China.In office

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

More about Elise

View sources (6)

Opposes ESG factors in state retirement investing.
Ending Investments in China and ESG
Campaign website · Friends for Elise Nieshalla · eliseforcomptroller.com
“Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors that have prioritized left-wing political causes over financial returns … Divested from ESG-focused funds”
Proposes using AI to flag anomalies in state payments.
Indiana Comptroller Elise Nieshalla launches reelection bid
News coverage · Indiana Capital Chronicle · Jun 26, 2025 · indianacapitalchronicle.com
“look through our massive amounts of information and help our people see even more clearly where there are anomalies”
Proposes consolidating fund numbers used by state and local offices.
Indiana Comptroller Elise Nieshalla launches reelection bid
News coverage · Indiana Capital Chronicle · Jun 26, 2025 · indianacapitalchronicle.com
“It is low-hanging fruit for us as a state to consolidate these numbers in partnership with the local units”
Supports federal spending cuts and a balanced federal budget.
Leading the Call from the State to Address the National Debt
Campaign website · Friends for Elise Nieshalla · eliseforcomptroller.com
“Spend less this year than last year … Create a path to a balanced budget as soon as possible”
Supports President Trump's federal efficiency push.
Making Government More Efficient
Campaign website · Friends for Elise Nieshalla · eliseforcomptroller.com
“Elise fully supports President Trump's efforts to make the federal government more efficient by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse”
Led launch of a public dashboard of federal spending.
Indiana Comptroller Elise Nieshalla Launches New Dashboard Tracking Federal Spending in State (news release)
Public statement · Indiana State Comptroller · May 18, 2026 · in.gov
“the clearest view yet of how those dollars move through Indiana government”
Supports divesting state retirement funds from China.
State Comptroller Nieshalla Announces New International Investment Option Protecting Hoosier Retirement Funds from China (news release)
Public statement · Indiana State Comptroller · Aug 14, 2026 · in.gov
“Indiana's commitment to divest from China resulted in Fidelity creating a new fund to meet our goals”

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; 3 issues covered in this race.