Voters in Indiana Senate District 29 will choose between two candidates this November to represent them in the Indiana Senate. The district includes portions of Hamilton, Boone and Marion counties. It includes the city of Zionsville, a portion of Carmel, and the neighborhoods of Traders Point and Eagle Creek, Indianapolis.
Incumbent Sen. J.D. Ford (D) will not be seeking reelection and is instead running for U.S. House of Representatives in Indiana's 5th Congressional District.
There are 50 members of the Indiana Senate. Their job is to work alongside the governor and the Indiana House of Representatives to create laws and set the state budget. They serve four-year terms, and in Indiana there is no limit on the number of terms a senator 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.
Kristina Moorhead
Personal information provided by candidate.
Party: Democrat
Website: kristinamoorhead.com
Age: 42
Occupation: Self-employed Consultant
Residence: Carmel
Top donors (via Transparency USA):
- Charlene Pfenninger
- Indiana Chamber of Commerce
- Matthew Salo
- Tiffany Taylor
- Lyndsay Ward
Moorhead accepted WFYI's invitation to take a survey. WFYI fact checked statements about publicly available data.
If elected, what are your top policy priorities?
As the next State Senator for District 29, my top priorities are protecting Hoosiers by establishing clear standards for data center development, advancing common-sense policies that make life more affordable—such as property tax relief, stronger utility oversight, and expanded access to childcare vouchers—and fully funding our traditional public schools so they have the resources they need without forcing local communities to rely on frequent ballot referendums.
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?
Many Hoosiers feel that politicians are not listening because the Indiana General Assembly has repeatedly passed legislation that does not reflect their priorities. For example, House Republicans moved forward with a special session to approve early redistricting at the end of 2025 despite polling indicating that most Hoosiers opposed it. Likewise, although many Hoosiers believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, Indiana now has a near-total abortion ban that has also affected women experiencing miscarriages. At the same time, issues that directly affect families—such as rising utility costs and the impact of data centers on local communities—have not received the same level of legislative attention.
One of my mentors is JD Ford, the current senator for Senate District 29 and now a candidate for Indiana's 5th Congressional District. He has earned a reputation for putting constituent service first, and I intend to build on that example. I plan to knock on doors during both election and non-election years, hold regular in-person and virtual town halls, and communicate consistently through e-newsletters.
I want the people of Senate District 29 to know that their ideas matter. Some of the best policy ideas I've heard this year have come directly from conversations with constituents. I want to continue those conversations, work collaboratively to solve problems, and build a stronger Indiana together.
What is your position on data center development in Indiana?
I believe the state should establish a policy framework to regulate data centers, safeguard our natural resources, and protect consumers from rising costs, which local governments can then build upon. At a minimum, the state framework should include the following policies:
- Ban state and municipal government officials from entering into non-disclosure agreements tied to data center projects.
- Authorize the IURC to assess and publish how the costs of new data center loads will result in cost shifts for other utility customers.
- Require developers to provide financial assurances before construction begins to cover infrastructure costs if the project is abandoned or the company is unable to follow through on development commitments.
- Make any tax exemptions contingent upon strict employment quotas, specific wage thresholds, environmental baselines for on-site generation, and commitments to remain in operation for 20 or more years.
- Require developers to enter into community benefit agreements to ensure enforceable commitments to local hiring, job quality standards, apprenticeship programs, infrastructure investments, and environmental safeguards.
- Require data center owners to report standardized, non-aggregated data on energy consumption and total pollutant emissions.
Many voters told us they struggle to afford food, housing and healthcare. If elected, how would you help them address those needs?
Food - We need legislation requiring FSSA to participate in SUN Bucks (Summer EBT). Not only does SUN Bucks provide families with additional funds to purchase food, but it also allows parents to continue working without the disruption of having to leave work or lose their jobs to pick up food through alternative community programs. Additionally, we can repeal SEA 1's (2005) changes that decreased the SNAP asset limit from $5,000 to $3,000, which ended SNAP eligibility for 3,000 households but saved only $635,000 over a two-year period.
Housing - Over many years, the Legislature has added tax breaks and credits to an outdated property tax base formula instead of revising it. One potential solution could be to base property taxes on the home's initial purchase price and limit annual increases to the CPI inflation rate, instead of using an annual assessment that is subjective.
Healthcare - State agencies have the authority to oversee hospitals, health insurers, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), yet oversight has too often fallen short. In Terre Haute, for example, regulators approved a hospital merger despite warnings that it would increase patient costs. Indiana must be willing to use its existing authority to reject mergers that reduce competition, raise prices, or fail to deliver a clear public benefit.
Indiana should also establish fiduciary-like requirements for insurers and PBMs to act in the best interests of the people and employers they serve.
John Ruckelshaus
Candidate did not fill out WFYI's survey.
Party: Republican
Website: ruck4senate.com
Age: Not verified
Occupation: Not verified
Residence: Carmel
Top donors (via Transparency USA):
- Harry Brickley
- April K Sasso
- Barrett Realty Investment
- Hoosiers for Good Government PAC
- Indiana Medical PAC
Top priorities: On his website, Ruckelshaus says he prioritizes a "people-first approach" and supports working across party lines to prioritize voters' needs. He says he supports protections for survivors of sexual assault, addressing healthcare costs, protecting jobs, affordable and accessible living and housing, and quality schools.
