5 Indiana political stories to watch in 2026
IndyStar State House reporter Kayla Dwyer breaks down five major stories to watch this year.
Former Vice President Mike Pence has spoken out in the Indiana Senate race, putting him at odds again with his former boss, President Donald Trump.
Mr. Pence is backing incumbent Sen. Jim Buck (R-Kokomo) for re-election, and he faces competition from Mr. Trump-backed candidate Tracy Powell. This is one of eight state Senate races in which President Trump endorsed newcomers last year in retaliation for his decision to vote against a mid-decade redistricting push.
“I have known State Sen. Jim Buck for many years serving Indiana from the statehouse to the White House, and have always found him to be a man of integrity and one of Indiana’s most conservative state legislators,” Pence said in an April 10 statement.
Pence called Buck a “devout Christian” and a “principled conservative” who has always supported anti-abortion causes, tax cuts, gun rights and balanced budgets.
Buck has held the seat comfortably without a primary since 2008. Prior to that, Mr. Buck served as a state representative since 1994.
On the May 5 vote, he will face Powell, a chiropractor who has served as a Tipton County commissioner since 2020 and is a member of the Indiana County Commissioners Association.
Trump’s involvement in these low-level campaigns has catapulted the campaign onto the national stage, attracting millions of dollars in investment from outside groups like Turning Point Action and the Club for Growth. Other influential figures, including former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and now Mr. Pence, have rallied to the other side and defended the incumbent.
While Mr. Daniels was and still is unequivocally opposed to redistricting, Mr. Pence has not made his position on it clear, saying only publicly that he believes the decision should be left to each state.
Buck told IndyStar that he does not believe the latest endorsement represents a change in that position. Buck said Pence simply called and asked if there was anything he could do to help. The two knew each other before Pence was elected to any public office.
“That support was not accompanied by a yes or no vote (on redistricting),” Buck said. “He just knows me.”
“Friends stay together and friends know each other,” he added. “I’m just tickled that he chose to participate.”
Contact State House reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her at X @kayla_dwyer17.
