Democrats ended the Republican supermajority in the Indiana House in Tuesday's election, capturing districts that had remained beyond their reach for decades. Their gains included a victory over House Speaker Todd Houston in a district covering Fishers and other Hamilton County communities. Democrats also flipped Senate seats, although Republicans appeared to have secured enough victories to maintain their supermajority there.
Republicans had held a House supermajority since 2012 and a Senate supermajority since 2010. The designation means a party controls more than two-thirds of a chamber's seats. The Democratic gains followed state Republican lawmakers' failure to carry out President Donald Trump's demand for congressional redistricting to benefit the GOP. In May, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee identified six statehouse races where it believed Democratic challengers could prevail.
In House District 37, Democrat Lauren Cole defeated Houston with 51.5% of the vote, according to unofficial results. Cole will enter public office for the first time after winning the historically Republican district, which stretches from Fishers north to Cicero and Arcadia. Houston had represented the district since 2012 and had led the House as speaker since 2020.
Democrat Tiffany Stoner won 63.2% against Republican incumbent Becky Cash in House District 25, unofficial results showed. The district encompasses Zionsville, Whitestown and portions of Boone and Hendricks counties. Their contest repeated a 2024 matchup that Stoner lost by 64 votes. Stoner, who received a commitment of support from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee in May, emphasized public school funding during her campaign.
Another challenger supported by the committee, Democrat Lindsay Gramlich, defeated Republican Danny Lopez in House District 39 with an unofficial 54.2%. The historically Republican district includes parts of Carmel and Westfield. Gramlich, a nonprofit CEO whose organization promotes opportunities for girls, will hold public office for the first time. She told WFYI during the campaign that experts and community members should help inform legislative decisions.
In Senate District 31, Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal received 57.6% against Republican Juanita Albright, according to unofficial results, becoming the first Democrat in decades to win the seat. Albright is a doctor and a Hamilton Southeastern Schools trustee. The district covers northeastern Indianapolis and the Fishers area of Hamilton County.
Forestal entered the race after Republican Sen. Kyle Walker announced last year that he would retire. Walker, who won 55% in the previous election, was among roughly a dozen Republican senators who publicly opposed redistricting. Forestal has served two terms as sheriff and cannot seek another because of term limits.
Republican Spencer Deery retained Senate District 23 with an unofficial 53.8%, defeating Democrat David Sanders and independent Joshua Brant to win a second term. The district includes parts of Tippecanoe, Montgomery, Vermillion, Parke, Warren and Fountain counties. Deery had also opposed Trump's redistricting effort and faced a primary challenge from Trump-backed Paula Copenhaver. His three-vote primary victory prompted a recount that reached the Indiana Supreme Court before his place on the November ballot was secured.
