// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Mark Messmer? A mark above the rest, mer-ly a joke.
Mark Messmer | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 8th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Larry Bucshon |
| Majority Leader of the Indiana Senate | |
| In office November 7, 2018 – August 17, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Rodric Bray |
| Succeeded by | Chris Garten |
| Member of the Indiana Senate from the 48th district | |
| In office November 5, 2014 – September 3, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Lindel Hume |
| Succeeded by | Daryl Schmitt |
| Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from the 63rd district | |
| In office November 5, 2008 – November 5, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Dave Crooks |
| Succeeded by | Mike Braun |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mark Brian Messmer September 21, 1962 Jasper, Indiana, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Kim Messmer |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Purdue University (BS) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Mark Brian Messmer[1] (born September 21, 1962)[2] is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Indiana's 8th congressional district since 2025. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Previously, Messmer served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 2008 to 2014 and the Indiana Senate from 2014 to 2024, serving as majority leader of the chamber from 2018 to 2022. Before that, he previously served on the Holy Family School Board from 2001 to 2004, and as its president from 2003 to 2004.
Representing a safe Republican district,[original research?] Messmer was first elected to Congress in 2024 after winning a crowded Republican primary with 38% of the vote. He is a member of the moderate Republican Governance Group.[3]
Indiana House of Representatives
[edit]In 2022, Messmer sponsored a bill that bans the foreign ownership of agricultural land in Indiana.[4][5] He also sponsored bills in 2022 to provide in-state tuition and drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.[6]
U.S. House of Representatives
[edit]In February 2024, Messmer announced his candidacy for Indiana's 8th congressional district in the 2024 election.[7] He defeated former U.S. Representative John Hostettler in the primary by a wide margin of roughly 20 points. He resigned from the Indiana Senate in September 2024 in order to focus on his campaign.[8] Messmer would later go on to defeat his Democratic opponent, Erik Hurt.[9]
Tenure
[edit]Rep. Messmer was sworn into the 119th United States Congress on January 3, 2025.
Committee assignments
[edit]Caucus memberships
[edit]Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mark Messmer | 30,668 | 38.5 | |
| Republican | John Hostettler | 15,649 | 19.7 | |
| Republican | Richard Moss | 11,227 | 14.1 | |
| Republican | Dominick Kavanaugh | 9,397 | 11.8 | |
| Republican | Kristi Risk | 7,350 | 9.2 | |
| Republican | Luke Misner | 2,287 | 2.9 | |
| Republican | Jim Case | 2,107 | 2.6 | |
| Republican | Jeremy Heath | 944 | 1.2 | |
| Total votes | 79,629 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mark Messmer | 219,941 | 68.0 | |
| Democratic | Erik Hurt | 95,311 | 29.5 | |
| Libertarian | Richard Fitzlaff | 8,381 | 2.6 | |
| Total votes | 323,633 | 100.0 | ||
Personal life
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Rep. Mark Messmer". LegiStorm.
- ↑ United States Congress. "Mark Messmer (id: M001233)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ↑ "Republican Governance Group / Tuesday Group PAC". Republican Governance Group. Republican Governance Group. Archived from the original on March 8, 2026. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
- ↑ "Indiana Senate passes bill to restrict foreign ownership of cropland to 320 acres". February 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Senate passes bill to keep agricultural land under ownership of Americans". February 2, 2022.
- ↑ "GOP House hopeful co-authored bills to provide in-state tuition, driving 'cards' to illegal immigrants". Fox News. February 6, 2024.
- ↑ "Messmer jumps into 8th Congressional District race". February 4, 2024.
- ↑ "Messmer Resigns from State Senate". August 26, 2024.
- ↑ Muñiz, Leslie Bonilla (November 6, 2024). "Messmer wins in Indiana's 8th Congressional District • Indiana Capital Chronicle". Indiana Capital Chronicle. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ↑ "Caucus Memberships". Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Religious affiliation of members of the 119th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Mark Messmer at Ballotpedia
- State Representative Mark Messmer official Indiana State Legislature site
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Profile at Vote Smart
- 1962 births
- Living people
- 21st-century members of the Indiana General Assembly
- 21st-century United States representatives
- Catholics from Indiana
- People from Jasper, Indiana
- Purdue University alumni
- Republican Party Indiana state senators
- Republican Party members of the Indiana House of Representatives
- Republican Party United States representatives from Indiana