Who is running for State House District 85 in Indiana in 2026?

Mark (Bird) Wehrle (D), Dave Heine (R)

When is the Indiana 2026 general election?

Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.

Indiana › Races › State House District 85

State House District 85 — Indiana 2026

2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot (official Indiana Election Division list, as of October 22, 2026). Grades reflect each candidate's public record on life, family, religious liberty, the Second Amendment, limited government and fiscal responsibility.

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Candidates

DMark (Bird) WehrleDemocratic

Candidate for State Representative, District 85 (Democratic).

LifeDFamilyDReligious libertyC2nd AmendmentCLimited gov’tDFiscalD

No endorsements, ratings or voting record found; graded on Democratic party affiliation.

Life: No explicit pro-life positions found; running as Democrat suggests pro-choice alignment.
Family: No specific positions found; running as Democrat suggests opposition.
Religious liberty: No religious-liberty positions found; graded on party alignment.
2nd Amendment: No NRA-PVF questionnaire returned (unrated); no gun-policy position found.
Limited gov’t: No specific positions found; graded on Democratic affiliation.
Fiscal: No specific positions found; graded on Democratic affiliation.

Sources: [1] [2]

Ballotpedia

ADave HeineRepublican

Incumbent Republican state representative for District 85, with House roll-call votes on record since 2022.

LifeAFamilyAReligious libertyA2nd AmendmentALimited gov’tAFiscalB

Voted yes on SB 1 (2022) abortion ban, HB 1296 permitless carry, HB 1041 girls' sports (and veto override), SB 480 and the 2023 school-choice budget; IRTL-endorsed, NRA A-rated/endorsed and 100% on the IFI 2026 scorecard.

Life: Voted yes on SB 1 (2022) near-total abortion ban and endorsed by Indiana Right to Life PAC for 2026.
Family: Voted yes on HB 1041 (2022) girls' sports and its veto override and on SB 480 (2023) gender-transition ban for minors; voted yes on HB 1608 (2023) at third reading.
Religious liberty: Scored 100% on the Indiana Family Institute 2026 scorecard, including HB 1389 religious-liberty protections for adoption/foster providers; rated Conservative by iVoterGuide.
2nd Amendment: NRA-PVF A rating and endorsement; voted yes on HB 1296 (2022) permitless carry.
Limited gov’t: Voted yes on HB 1001 (2023) budget with near-universal Choice Scholarship (school choice) expansion.
Fiscal: Voted yes on SB 1 (2025) property-tax relief and the 2023 budget; no broader low-tax/spending record captured.

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

Ballotpedia

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