Voters in Indiana House District 88 will choose between two candidates this November to represent them in the Indiana House of Representatives. The district includes portions of Hancock, Madison, Hamilton and Marion counties. It includes the cities of McCordsville and Fortville.
There are 100 members of the Indiana House of Representatives. Their job is to work alongside the governor and the Indiana State Senate to create laws and set the state budget. Their seats go up for election every two years, and in Indiana there is no limit on the number of terms a representative can serve.
WFYI opened an ongoing voter survey in May, and the most common voting issues were data center policy, affordability, and feeling disempowered.
WFYI contacted each campaign and sent a survey based on voter questions — it asked candidates for their top priorities and their positions on civic health, data centers and affordability. For candidates who did not respond, information was gathered from websites and social media for a "Top priorities" note. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Chris Jeter
Personal information provided by candidate.
Incumbent
Party: Republican
Website: chrisjeter.com
Age: 47
Occupation: Indiana State Representative, District 88; Attorney and Partner, Massillamany Jeter & Carson LLP
Residence: Fishers
Top donors (via Transparency USA):
- Indiana Multi Family Housing PAC
- Law PAC of Indiana
- Zink Distributing Company LLC
- Indiana Electric Cooperatives State PAC
- Beer Industry PAC
Jeter accepted WFYI's invitation to take a survey. WFYI fact checked statements about publicly available data.
If elected, what are your top policy priorities?
Public safety comes first. I have worked to fund police, prosecutors and courts and to toughen penalties for violent and repeat offenders, and I am the House sponsor of the constitutional bail reform Hoosiers will vote on this November as Public Question 1. Second, keeping Indiana affordable: protecting our AAA bond rating, balanced budgets and no net tax increase, after two of the largest tax cuts in state history. Third, as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, keeping our courts strong and efficient. I also stay focused on parents directing their children's education and defending Hoosiers' constitutional freedoms.
Many voters told us they don't think today's politicians listen to their constituents. Why do you think that is, and how would you address the concern?
Too many people treat public office as a career instead of a service, and when holding onto the seat becomes the goal, listening to the folks back home slips. I did not come out of politics. I am a Navy veteran and a small-business owner, and I believe elected office should be about serving. That is why I re-file congressional term limits every session even when it does not pass, and why I spend time at town halls, school visits and community events where there is no camera and no crowd to impress. The best ideas I take to the Statehouse come from constituents, not lobbyists, and I make a point to show up and follow up personally.
What is your position on data center development in Indiana?
Data centers can bring real investment and good jobs to Indiana, and I have supported making our state competitive for that growth. It has to be done responsibly. Hoosier families and small businesses should not see their electric bills climb or their water reliability suffer to power these facilities, so the largest users should carry their fair share of the cost. Local communities deserve a real voice in where these projects go, and we need to keep building reliable, affordable power to meet the new demand. Investment is welcome when it protects ratepayers, the grid and local control.
Many voters told us they struggle to afford food, housing and healthcare. If elected, how would you help them address those needs?
The most direct thing state government can do is stop making everyday life more expensive. That means holding the line on taxes, keeping our budget balanced and protecting our AAA credit rating so we are not passing higher costs on to families. I have supported two of the largest tax cuts in state history and worked to rein in property taxes and cut the red tape that drives up the price of housing and everyday goods. On healthcare, I want more price transparency and competition so Hoosiers know what they are paying before they get the bill. Affordability is not any one program. It is the discipline to keep Indiana a place working families can afford.
Stephanie Jo Yocum
Personal information provided by candidate.
Party: Democrat
Website: stephaniejoyocum.com
Age: 44
Occupation: Vice President of External Affairs, Playworks
Residence: Indianapolis
Top donors (via Transparency USA):
- ActBlue Indiana
- Hamilton County Democratic Party Central Committee
- Erik Hidak
- James Yocum
- Melinda Devore
Yocum accepted WFYI's invitation to take a survey. WFYI fact checked statements about publicly available data.
If elected, what are your top policy priorities?
Protecting Pay/Affordability
Protecting Local Voice and Control
Protecting Public Schools
Many voters told us they don't think today's politicians listen to their constituents. Why do you think that is, and how would you address the concern?
I have heard this from people across our community. They tell me they've reached out to their representative and never received a response. They feel that decisions are made before they ever have a chance to weigh in, that political talking points have replaced real conversations, and that special interests receive more attention than the people who have to live with the consequences. It's no wonder so many people have lost trust in government.
I believe listening is one of the most important responsibilities of any leader and that the people most affected by a decision should have a seat at the table. Teachers should help shape education policy, healthcare providers should inform healthcare policy, and local leaders and families should have a voice in the decisions that affect their communities. Good policy is built with people, not for them.
Throughout this campaign, I've talked with thousands of Hoosiers at their doors, at community events on the phone, and online. Listening doesn't always mean agreeing. Some of my most meaningful conversations have been with people who weren't sure we had anything in common, yet we found common ground by listening to one another.
Every vote I cast will be informed by the people I represent, not just party leadership or special interests. If elected, I'll continue engaging with the community regularly, communicating openly, and remaining accessible year-round because everyone deserves to be heard.
What is your position on data center development in Indiana?
When considering any major development, I believe leaders should ask three questions: Is it responsible growth? Do the people most affected have a seat at the table? Will it result in shared prosperity for Hoosier families and local communities, not just corporations?
Those questions are especially important as Indiana considers the rapid expansion of data centers. I'm not opposed to data centers or economic development, but I don't believe the state has done enough to fully understand the long-term impacts on our electric grid, utility costs, water resources, infrastructure, farmland, and local communities before aggressively encouraging their growth.
Just as importantly, the people most affected haven't had a meaningful voice in these decisions, and we haven't done enough to ensure the communities hosting these projects share fairly in the benefits.
Before approving projects of this scale or offering significant public incentives, we owe Hoosiers three things: a full understanding of the risks, a meaningful seat at the table, and confidence that the benefits will be shared. That's what responsible growth looks like.
Many voters told us they struggle to afford food, housing and healthcare. If elected, how would you help them address those needs?
Our state is one of the strongest for corporations and large businesses but one of the worst when it comes to quality of life for the people who live here. We must do more to balance the scales. Corporations continue to receive significant tax breaks and incentives while every day Hoosiers are living with stagnant wages and increasing costs. Meanwhile our state is projecting a nearly $6 Billion surplus after next year.* We need to ensure that Hoosiers are benefiting from corporate development, not paying for it. We need accountability for skyrocketing prices and we must increase the minimum wage which hasn't increased in nearly 20 years.
*Editor's note: Indiana ended the 2026 fiscal year with a budget surplus of about $1.86 billion and nearly $4 billion in reserves, which you can read more about here.
