Mark Messmer — U.S. House District 8

BMark MessmerRepublican

First-term Republican congressman from Jasper, small-business owner, and former Indiana Senate majority leader and state representative.

In the House he has an A+ from SBA Pro-Life America, a 96% Heritage Action score, and yes votes on H.R. 28 and H.R. 1. As an Indiana senator he voted against SB 1, the 2022 abortion ban, in committee and on Senate passage (26-20, July 30, 2022), saying anti-abortion groups had urged a no vote; Indiana Right to Life called that bill 'weak and troubling.' He was absent for the final concurrence vote (28-19, Aug. 5, 2022). Little direct record on guns or religious liberty keeps the overall grade at B.

• Life: Rated A+ by SBA Pro-Life America for his House votes, and he introduced the Forced Abortion Prevention and Accountability Act; his 2022 no votes on Indiana's SB 1 came after anti-abortion groups, including Indiana Right to Life, opposed that bill as too weak.
• Family: Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 28) and holds a 96% Heritage Action score; his campaign site describes him as putting faith and family first.
• Religious liberty: No religious-liberty-specific votes were reviewed; the grade rests on his 96% Heritage Action score and his self-description as an active Catholic.
• 2nd Amendment: No NRA rating or gun-specific votes were found for his House or state Senate service, so the grade reflects his broadly conservative record.
• Limited gov’t: Describes himself as a pro-Trump conservative who believes 'less government creates more jobs' and holds a 96% Heritage Action score.
• Fiscal: Voted for H.R. 1 (the 2025 reconciliation tax-and-spending law); no Club for Growth rating was found.

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

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