Three Candidates to Contest Indiana's Third District
Voters will choose their U.S. House representative in the upcoming November 2026 general election.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Political Parties
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Indiana's Third Congressional District will hold a race for a U.S. House seat in November 2026 featuring three candidates. The field includes incumbent Republican Marlin Stutzman, Democratic candidate Kelly Thompson, and independent write-in candidate Phil Beachy.
Why it matters
The outcome of this race will help determine the partisan balance of the U.S. House, where incumbent Marlin Stutzman expects Republicans to maintain a majority. This election provides voters in the district a choice between candidates representing different political paths for their representation in Washington, D.C.
Marlin Stutzman secured the Republican nomination with 68.2% of the vote, while independent candidate Phil Beachy has proposed a 50% income tax rate for the wealthy and a $19 hourly minimum wage. Voters must register by October 6, 2026, to participate.
The players
Marlin Stutzman
He is the incumbent Republican candidate for Indiana's Third Congressional District who previously served three terms in the U.S. House.
Kelly Thompson
She is the Democratic candidate running for a seat representing Indiana's Third Congressional District.
Phil Beachy
He is an independent write-in candidate campaigning for the congressional seat in Indiana's Third District.
The details
Marlin Stutzman, who served three terms in the U.S. House from 2010 to 2016, faces Democrat Kelly Thompson, who ran unopposed in her party's May 2026 primary. Independent Phil Beachy is also seeking the seat as a write-in candidate in the November 2026 general election.
Timeline
Marlin Stutzman served in the U.S. House from 2010 to 2016.
Kelly Thompson ran unopposed in the Democratic primary in May 2026.
The deadline to register to vote is October 6, 2026.
The general election is scheduled for November 2026.
Political Context
The race for the U.S. House majority control drives the intensity of local campaigning across the country. This congressional contest in Indiana follows the pattern set by national party efforts to secure or flip the chamber's legislative agenda.
Eligible residents must complete the official state registration process by October 6, 2026, to ensure their ballot is counted in the November election. The result will influence local representation in Congress regarding federal policy decisions that affect state tax and labor regulations.
The takeaway
Voters in Indiana's Third District have until early October to register for the general election. Evaluating the specific policy platforms of all three candidates is essential for understanding how the district will be represented in the upcoming term.
Further reading
For additional insights, visit the Political Parties section of our site.
More information
To register to vote or check your status, visit the Indiana voter registration portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox 59.
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