Who is running for State Senate District 48 in Indiana in 2026?

Bradley (Brad) Hochgesang (D), Daryl Schmitt (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 Senate District 48

State Senate District 48 — 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

DBradley (Brad) HochgesangDemocratic

Candidate for State Senator, District 48 (Democratic).

LifeDFamilyDReligious libertyD2nd AmendmentCLimited gov’tDFiscalD

Rated Liberal by iVoterGuide; no NRA-PVF questionnaire returned and no endorsements or positions found. Grade reflects Democratic party alignment.

Life: No explicit pro-life positions found; running as Democrat suggests pro-choice alignment.
Family: No positions found on marriage, parental rights or gender policy; Democratic platform alignment suggested.
Religious liberty: Rated Liberal by iVoterGuide; no specific religious-liberty position found.
2nd Amendment: No NRA-PVF questionnaire returned (unrated) and no gun-control group endorsement found.
Limited gov’t: No positions found on school choice or regulation; Democratic platform alignment suggested.
Fiscal: No tax or spending positions found; Democratic platform alignment suggested.

Sources: [1] [2]

Ballotpedia

ADaryl SchmittRepublican

Incumbent Republican state senator, District 48.

LifeAFamilyAReligious libertyA2nd AmendmentALimited gov’tBFiscalA

Voted for SB 1 (2025) property-tax relief and SB 236 (2026) abortion-pill liability; IRTL- and NRA-endorsed (A); 89% on IFI's 2026 scorecard; no school-choice vote on record.

Life: Endorsed by Indiana Right to Life PAC (2026) and voted yes on SB 236 (2026) creating civil liability for abortion-inducing drugs.
Family: Voted with Indiana Family Institute on SB 182 (sex definition/birth certificates), SB 88 (success sequence) and HB 1408 (social media and minors) in 2026.
Religious liberty: Voted for HB 1389 (religious liberty in adoption/foster care); IFI 2026 score 89% and rated Conservative by iVoterGuide.
2nd Amendment: NRA-PVF grade A with endorsement.
Limited gov’t: Voted with IFI on SB 76 (immigration) in 2026; no 2023 school-choice budget vote in the evidence.
Fiscal: Voted yes on SB 1 (2025) property-tax relief at both Senate readings.

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

Ballotpedia

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