Indiana's 9th Congressional District candidates from left to right: Incumbent Republican Erin Houchin, Libertarian Tonya Hudson, Democrat Brad Meyer, and Independent Floyd Taylor.(Courtesy of candidates)Southern Indiana voters in the state's 9th Congressional District will choose between four candid ates this November to represent them at the national level. Republican incumbent Erin Houchin seeks a third term in office. She's challenged by Libertarian Tonya Hudson, Democrat Brad Meyer and Independent write-in candidate Floyd Michael Taylor. The district spans 18 counties across southeastern and south central Indiana. Cities include part of Greenwood, Bloomington, Franklin, Paoli, Salem and municipalities along the Ohio River across from Louisville, including New Albany. U.S. House members serve two-year terms, write and vote on federal legislation, sit on committees and direct federal resources to their districts. WFYI opened an ongoing voter survey in May, and the most common voting issues were data center policy, affordability and feeling disempowered. Indiana's 9th District leans solidly Republican. The Cook Political Report most recently rated it R+15. Houchin's priorities include securing the country, restoring affordability and protecting what she calls fundamental liberties. She pointed to congressional actions she's supported including border funding to build the wall and tax cuts. Hudson says she wants to abolish the IRS, break down barriers for small business owners and farmers and protect the Second Amendment. Meyer says he wants to establish Medicare for All and increase the federal minimum wage to $20. Taylor prizes transparency and accountability to voters and says if elected, he'll vote based on constituents' input. Some of his priorities include rural health care access and rural broadband and workforce infrastructure, and fiscal and campaign finance transparency. The race comes less than a year after state lawmakers in Indiana voted down a push from President Donald Trump to redraw the congressional districts to favor Republicans in the midterms. Houchin supported mid-cycle redistricting. The regular Indiana redistricting cycle follows the census and is scheduled for 2031.Louisville Public Media contacted each campaign to conduct candidate surveys. We used voter feedback to guide our questions. 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. Erin HouchinPersonal information provided by candidate.Incumbent Party: Republican Website: erinhouchin.com Age: 49 Occupation: U.S. Representative, District 9 Residence: SalemNotable donors: Houchin's committee, Houchin for Congress, raised $1,856,572 as of June 30, 2026, according to Federal Election Commission data. OpenSecrets' data shows the campaign raised $864,000 from PACs. The two largest special interest donors are NextEra Energy and the investment company Pivotal Ventures.Houchin accepted Louisville Public Media's invitation to take a survey. WFYI fact checked statements about publicly available data. If elected, what are your top policy priorities? My top priorities include fighting for Southern Indiana families by securing our country, lowering costs, and protecting our fundamental liberties. To ensure safety, we passed historic border funding to build the wall, back law enforcement, stop fentanyl, and deport criminal illegal immigrants. To restore affordability, we made tax cuts permanent—including no tax on tips, overtime, or Social Security—and I wrote bipartisan legislation to lower drug prices and voted to ban congressional stock trading. Finally, I will always defend our liberties by supporting parental rights, keeping biological men out of women's sports, and leading the fight to protect children online. Many voters told us they struggle to afford food, housing and healthcare. If elected, how would you help them address those needs? Families, like mine, sit down at the kitchen table to balance their budgets, and Washington must do the exact same thing. Reckless spending and an open border drove up costs from groceries to housing. To lower prices, we passed the Working Families Tax Cuts Act to unleash domestic energy, cut red tape, and incentivize manufacturing. We helped Americans keep more of what they earn, expanded small business expensing, invested in rural healthcare, and created Trump Accounts to give children a financial headstart. Additionally, I authored legislation to crack down on prescription drug middlemen to eliminate hidden fees, while delivering $50 billion for rural health to keep local hospitals open and expand care across Southern Indiana. 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 D.C. politicians are caving to bureaucrats and self-interest instead of addressing the concerns of their constituents. True representation requires listening to the families and local leaders that drive our communities. That's why I spend so much time traveling around the district. I voted for the first-ever congressional stock trading ban—barring politicians and their families from trading individual stocks so they can't cash in on inside information. I have also made constituent services a top priority of my office. My team has returned over $10 million to local residents through casework and assisted thousands of constituents navigating federal agencies.* Whether meeting with farmers, business owners, or veterans, I carry the voice of Southern Indiana to Washington.*Editor's note: WFYI could not verify this figure. You can read Houchin's press release about the announcement right here. What would you do to ensure Hoosiers are protected against utility rate changes or utility accessibility, or other impacts from data centers? As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, my priority is ensuring Southern Indiana has affordable, reliable energy. The rapid growth of data centers cannot come at the expense of families facing higher monthly electric bills. Data centers should be responsible for their own electric and utilities costs, not the local communities. To protect ratepayers, we must expand all-of-the-above domestic energy—including coal, natural gas, and nuclear—to increase grid capacity and keep power affordable. Large industrial users must pay their share of infrastructure costs so local consumers aren't forced to subsidize them. I understand the challenges of access to utilities and connectivity faced by Southern Indiana. That's why I led, and passed, the Rural Broadband Protection Act, ensuring federal investments deliver high-speed connectivity to our rural farms and towns without wasting taxpayer dollars. Indiana's 9th Congressional District includes rural areas, municipalities in the Louisville Metro and Bloomington, where Indiana University's main campus is. How would you ensure Hoosiers from across the district are represented in Congress? Effective representation requires delivering real results that meet the unique needs of every community. In the Louisville Metro area, I've delivered funding for Clarksville shoreline protection and Charlestown blight elimination. For Bloomington and Monroe County, I secured federal investments to upgrade critical water treatment infrastructure serving the city, county, and Indiana University. In our rural communities, I've championed wastewater repairs in Brown County, sidewalk safety in Georgetown, and legislation supporting our agricultural producers. I've also secured funding for the Monon South Trail in Mitchell. Whether advocating for rural farmers, metro business owners, or university communities, every corner of Southern Indiana has a dedicated, accessible voice in Congress. It's a privilege to serve, and I would be honored to have your support. Tonya HudsonPersonal information provided by candidate.Party: Libertarian Website: hudsonforhoosiers.com Age: 64 Occupation: Real Estate Broker, Suddarth and Company Residence: MitchellNotable donors: Hudson's committee, Tonya Hudson Campaign, raised $1,719 as of June 30, 2026, according to Federal Election Commission data. There is no donor information for Hudson in a search on OpenSecrets.Hudson accepted Louisville Public Media's invitation to take a survey. WFYI fact checked statements about publicly available data.  If elected, what are your top policy priorities? Abolish the IRS, Roll Back the burdensome red tape and costly fees that harm small businesses, farmers and entrepreneurs, vote against unconstitutional wars. Many voters told us they struggle to afford food, housing and healthcare. If elected, how would you help them address those needs? The federal government should not interfere with Free Market Principles. Reducing the price of fuel will help keep grocery costs down. 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 think politicians should be available to the voters and participate in Town Halls and public forums to address their constituents' concerns. What would you do to ensure Hoosiers are protected against utility rate changes or utility accessibility, or other impacts from data centers? This is an issue best addressed at the State level. The state and local officials that are approving the construction of these data centers should be held accountable, and state regulators should not allow for utility rate changes. Indiana's 9th Congressional District includes rural areas, municipalities in the Louisville Metro and Bloomington, where Indiana University's main campus is. How would you ensure Hoosiers from across the district are represented in Congress? By listening and being accessible. I will periodically hold public town halls. I will make sure questions/emails are answered in a timely manner while speaking on behalf of my constituents in Washington D.C. including rural Hoosiers. Brad MeyerPersonal information provided by candidate.Party: Democrat Website: bradmeyer.org Age: 59 Occupation: Former Mechanical Engineer, Crane (Quit to run for office) Residence: BloomingtonNotable donors: Meyer's committee, Friends of Brad Meyer, raised $105,510 as of June 30, 2026, according to Federal Election Commission data. OpenSecrets' data shows the campaign raised money only through individual donors, and $0 from PACs. The two largest special interest donors are Becky Wann Real Estate Professionals and Indiana University Health.Meyer accepted Louisville Public Media's invitation to take a survey. WFYI fact checked statements about publicly available data. If elected, what are your top policy priorities? Establishing Medicare for All, Increasing federal minimum wage to $20, The first $20,000 of income is tax free, Protect the future of social security. Many voters told us they struggle to afford food, housing and healthcare. If elected, how would you help them address those needs? I would work towards establishing Medicare for All, increase the federal minimum wage to $20, the first $20,000 of income is tax free and I would rollback on the tariffs that make groceries and home development expensive and build more homes. 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? Because the odds that you will do better than your parents are decreasing every generation. This is not an accident. It is a reflection of years of bad policies and neglecting problems that have only gotten worse, and people are starting to realize it. I will address these concerns by being accessible to my constituents, not private interests. I will work toward passing new policies that help working people and families, such as Medicare for All, because no one should have to go broke just trying to stay alive. What would you do to ensure Hoosiers are protected against utility rate changes or utility accessibility, or other impacts from data centers? The decision making process must be restored to local hands, before any project moves forward. Developers will be required to take part in public hearings and conduct objective, independent studies on infrastructure demands, environmental impacts, and long term community obligations. This ensures that local planning commissions and county governments have the data necessary to evaluate proposals on facts, rather than marketing presentations. We must also secure our utilities against cost shifting. This involves implementing performance standards and rate structures that ensure large users pay the full cost for the infrastructure they require. This protects residential and small business ratepayers from unexpected utility hikes. It preserves the reliability of our electric and water grids. Indiana's 9th Congressional District includes rural areas, municipalities in the Louisville Metro and Bloomington, where Indiana University's main campus is. How would you ensure Hoosiers from across the district are represented in Congress? This campaign and my policies have been shaped a lot by what other people have brought attention to me. Since I started running, I have been throughout the district attending events, asking people what keeps them up at night and what changes they would like to see in their home. I have held roundtable discussions for disability healthcare/education, healthcare systems in America, and have attended/hosted many public forums for people to share with me what it is that concerns them. But that does not mean I am done listening to what people have to say. I will always work towards making sure that everyone, in all neighborhoods, in all walks of life will be heard during my time in Congress. Floyd TaylorPersonal information provided by candidate.Party: Independent Website: floyd2026.com Age: 64 Occupation: IT SME, Cloudfirst.host Residence: HardinsburgNotable donors: Taylor's committee, Floyd Taylor for Congress, raised $0 as of June 30, 2026, according to Federal Election Commission data. There is no donor information for Taylor in a search on OpenSecrets.Taylor accepted Louisville Public Media's invitation to take a survey. WFYI fact checked statements about publicly available data.  If elected, what are your top policy priorities? 1. Direct Constituent Representation via the Congress App. As the only write-in candidate in IN-09, I'm building a campaign that doesn't depend on party infrastructure — it depends on constituents. The Congress App binds my votes to verified IN-09 constituent input. Every priority below runs through that system. Representation should be a protocol, not a promise. 2. Rural Broadband and Workforce Infrastructure. IN-09's last-mile gaps suppress economic mobility, telehealth, and education. My Rural Last-Mile Broadband and Workforce Hubs Act addresses infrastructure and the workforce pipeline to sustain it. 3. Rural Healthcare Access. Southern Indiana's healthcare deserts require targeted action — mobile health access, Main Street Health Compact, and Medicare reform. Multiple drafted bills with published fiscal breakdowns. 4. Veterans Dementia and Memory Care. VA memory care fails rural veterans disproportionately. My Veterans Dementia Memory Care Access and Accountability Act addresses access, accountability, and caregiver support. 5. Fiscal Transparency and Budget Continuity. The Constituent-First Budget Continuity and Accountability Act ends manufactured shutdown crises through structural reform, not partisan brinkmanship. 6. Campaign Finance Transparency. I publish my finances openly and accept no PAC money. Structural transparency is the only durable defense against donor capture. Many voters told us they struggle to afford food, housing and healthcare. If elected, how would you help them address those needs? Affordability: Food, Housing, Healthcare The structural answer is the Congress App — my votes will bind to verified IN-09 constituent input, so affordability priorities are set by the people paying the bills, not by lobbyists. Beyond that architecture, I've drafted specific legislation targeting each pressure point: Healthcare. The Main Street Health Compact and Rural Mobile Health Access Act expand care where IN-09 residents actually live — mobile clinics, telehealth infrastructure, and rural provider support. My Medicaid Reform Act and Medicare Comprehensive Care and Fair Premiums Act address the coverage and cost gaps that push families into medical debt. Every bill has a published fiscal breakdown. Housing. The Senior Property Tax Relief Act protects fixed-income homeowners from being taxed out of homes they already own — a direct affordability lever for IN-09's aging population. Food and Wages. Rural broadband and workforce hubs (my Rural Last-Mile Broadband and Workforce Hubs Act) expand access to higher-wage remote and skilled work without requiring families to leave the district. Wage growth is the durable answer to grocery costs; subsidies are the bridge. Fiscal Discipline. The Constituent-First Budget Act ends manufactured shutdowns that disrupt SNAP, Medicaid, and federal housing programs — the crises that hit struggling families first. Every bill is published at floyd2026.com with fiscal analysis. No PAC money. Full transparency. 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? Politicians don't listen because the incentive structure doesn't reward listening. It rewards donors, party leadership, and lobbyists — the people who fund reelection and control committee assignments. Constituent input is treated as sentiment to be managed, not instruction to be followed. Between elections, there is no mechanism that binds a vote in Washington to the will of the district. Voters feel unheard because, structurally, they are. My answer is architectural, not rhetorical: the Congress App. It's a transparent platform where verified IN-09 constituents weigh in on legislation before I vote, and my vote binds to their input. Not a poll. Not a listening tour. A protocol. Every vote I cast will have a public, auditable trail back to the constituents who directed it. That changes the incentive structure at the root. I can't be captured by donors because I don't take PAC money and my votes aren't mine to trade — they belong to the district. I can't hide behind party leadership because the app publishes the input and the outcome. And I can't drift between elections, because the feedback loop is continuous. The reason voters don't feel listened to is that "listening" has never been enforceable. I'm building the enforcement mechanism. Every bill I've drafted — 20+, with published fiscal breakdowns at floyd2026.com — is a template for what constituent-directed legislation looks like. Representation should be a protocol, not a promise. What would you do to ensure Hoosiers are protected against utility rate changes or utility accessibility, or other impacts from data centers? Data centers are arriving in Indiana at industrial scale, and the cost structure is being quietly shifted onto residential ratepayers. When a hyperscale facility signs a sweetheart rate with a utility, the infrastructure upgrades — substations, transmission, generation capacity — get socialized across every household bill in the service territory. Hoosiers pay for the grid; the data center profits from it. I've drafted legislation specifically addressing this. The core protections: Ratepayer Firewall. Large-load customers (data centers, crypto operations, industrial AI) must cover the full cost of infrastructure they trigger. No cost-shifting to residential or small-business ratepayers. Utility commissions must publish the allocation math. Grid Reliability Standards. Data centers cannot be granted interconnection that degrades reliability for existing customers. Capacity commitments must be verified, not projected. Water and Local Impact Disclosure. Facilities must disclose water consumption, cooling demand, and local environmental impact before permitting. Rural aquifers are not a free input. Local Control. Counties and municipalities retain siting authority. No state or federal preemption of local zoning for large-load facilities. Congress App Binding. Data center policy is exactly the kind of technical, high-stakes issue where constituent input must direct the vote — not utility lobbyists. Full text and fiscal analysis at floyd2026.com. Indiana's 9th Congressional District includes rural areas, municipalities in the Louisville Metro and Bloomington, where Indiana University's main campus is. How would you ensure Hoosiers from across the district are represented in Congress? IN-09 is not one constituency — it's rural farming communities, Louisville Metro suburbs, and a major university town anchored by IU. A traditional representative picks a base and messages to it. That's how entire communities end up feeling invisible between elections. My approach is structural, not rhetorical: Congress App — Weighted by Verified Residency. Every verified IN-09 constituent gets input on legislation before I vote, regardless of whether they live in Hardinsburg, New Albany, or Bloomington. The system surfaces where the district agrees and where it splits — and it forces me to represent the actual distribution, not a preferred slice of it. Digitally Mirrored District Offices. Physical offices in Hardinsburg, Salem, Paoli, Bedford, and Bloomington, each equipped with life-sized telepresence to my Washington office. Constituents in any part of the district can meet with me directly during daily office hours — whether I'm in DC or at home. No county gets treated as an afterthought. Issue-Specific Listening. Farm policy input weighted toward agricultural communities. Higher-education and research policy input engaging IU faculty, students, and staff. Metro-adjacent economic policy engaging Louisville commuters. The app segments by relevance without excluding anyone. No PAC Money. The only interests I'm accountable to are the ones inside the district lines. Full detail at floyd2026.com. Copyright 2026 IPB News ...read more read less