Summary

Mark Alan Messmer is a Republican who represented Senate District 48 of the Indiana State Senate from 2014 to 2024. Messmer is a former member of the Indiana House of Representatives, representing three terms for the 63rd district from November 5, 2008, to November 4, 2014.

He previously served on the Holy Family School Board from 2001 to 2004. He served as its president from 2003 to 2004.

In 2022, Messmer sponsored a bill that bans the foreign ownership of agricultural land in Indiana. He also sponsored bills in 2022 to provide in-state tuition and drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.

OnAir Post: Mark Messmer IN-08

About

Source: Campaign Site

Mark Messmer IN-08 1A devoted husband and father, Mark Messmer places his faith and family first. Mark and his wife Kim have been married 39 years and have four children. Mark is a lifelong Hoosier and a proud native of Southern Indiana.

Mark Messmer understands the values that make our communities great: faith, family, and hard work. As a local small business owner, Mark knows firsthand less government creates more jobs. He and his wife Kim are active members of Holy Family Catholic Church in Jasper where Mark has been involved in many activities, including serving as a music minister, the Parish Council, the Holy Family School Board, and the Cursillo program.

While serving in the Indiana Statehouse, Mark has fought tirelessly to promote economic growth, safeguard individual liberties, and uphold our constitutional values.

As our Congressman, Mark Messmer will continue to fight for the same values he learned growing up in Jasper as he works to make our communities stronger and more prosperous.

Voters in both Terre Haute and Evansville need to know that Mark Messmer is a Hoosier businessman and Christian. They need to know that he’ll stand up to the woke mob in DC, that he’ll end birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants, and that he is a pro-Trump conservative.

Voters receive their information through broadcast TV, cable, OTT, and radio. Voters in counties already represented by Mark Messmer know that he is a conservative, so they don’t need to know much else about him.

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Wikipedia


Mark Alan Messmer[1] is a Republican who represented Senate District 48 of the Indiana State Senate from 2014 to 2024. Messmer is a former member of the Indiana House of Representatives, representing three terms for the 63rd district from November 5, 2008, to November 4, 2014. He previously served on the Holy Family School Board from 2001 to 2004. He served as its president from 2003 to 2004.

Messmer supported the state mandated purchase of syngas through coal gasification technology.[2] Developers of Leucadia National proposed a $2.6 billion syngas plant in Rockport, Indiana. Under the terms of the deal endorsed by Messmer, the state of Indiana would have bought syngas under a 30-year contract and then mandate that utilities within the state pass on any losses from the transaction on to Hoosier customers.[3] Gas from the plant would make up about 17 percent of the state’s supply. The deal received criticism due to government intrusion in the energy markets, and for forcing consumers to sign up for risky long-term gas purchases at prices substantially higher than market prices.[4][5] Questions were also raised due to Leucadia National hiring Mark Lubbers to promote the deal. Lubbers is a former aide and close friend of former governor Mitch Daniels.[6] The project was ultimately panned by the state legislature in 2013.[7]

In 2022, Messmer sponsored a bill that bans the foreign ownership of agricultural land in Indiana.[8][9] He also sponsored bills in 2022 to provide in-state tuition and drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.[10]

In February 2024, Messmer announced his candidacy for Indiana’s 8th congressional district in the 2024 election.[11] He defeated former U.S. Representative John Hostettler in 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.[12] Messmer would later go on to defeat his Democratic opponent, Erik Hurt.[13]

References

  1. ^ “Mark Messmer”.
  2. ^ “Indiana advances leadership in clean coal technology”. Governor’s Office. March 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-03-16. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
  3. ^ Bradner, Eric (February 14, 2012). “Vectren: Shale-gas boom makes Rockport coal-to-gas deal risky”. Indiana Economic Digest. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
  4. ^ Bradner, Eric (February 15, 2012). “Indiana House committee hears testimony on planned Rockport coal-to-gas plant”. Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
  5. ^ Evanoff, Ted (January 2, 2011). “Daniels takes natural gas bet that others refused”. Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
  6. ^ Welsh, Gary (May 1, 2011). “Lubbers: Critics Of Coal Gasification Deal Are Sneaky And Evil”. Advance Indiana. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
  7. ^ Bradner, Eric (2013-04-27). “BRADNER: Rockport plant will never be”. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
  8. ^ “Indiana Senate passes bill to restrict foreign ownership of cropland to 320 acres”. 3 February 2022.
  9. ^ “Senate passes bill to keep agricultural land under ownership of Americans”. 2 February 2022.
  10. ^ “GOP House hopeful co-authored bills to provide in-state tuition, driving ‘cards’ to illegal immigrants”. Fox News. 6 February 2024.
  11. ^ “Messmer jumps into 8th Congressional District race”. 4 February 2024.
  12. ^ “Messmer Resigns from State Senate”. 26 August 2024.
  13. ^ Muñiz, Leslie Bonilla (2024-11-06). “Messmer wins in Indiana’s 8th Congressional District • Indiana Capital Chronicle”. Indiana Capital Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
Indiana Senate
Preceded by

Majority Leader of the Indiana Senate
2018–2022
Succeeded by

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana’s 8th congressional district

Taking office 2025
Elect