BIOGUIDE M001233 · FEC H4IN08249
Mark Messmer
U.S. Representative (since 2025)RINCUMBENT
- Race
- U.S. House · Indiana's 8th District
- Result
- Mark Messmer, projected winner
- Opponent
- Mary Allen (D)
- Research
- Basic
Party line16 votes tracked
With party = voted the same way as most Republicans who voted.
Said vs. did5 statements · 16 votes
Thanks to my work in the Statehouse, Indiana now has the most protective Pro-Life legislation in the nation since Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Protect legal access to abortion
Compare statements with votes ›Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
Thanks to my work in the Statehouse, Indiana now has the most protective Pro-Life legislation in the nation since Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Credits his Statehouse work with Indiana's pro-life legislation and says he will continue to defend the unborn and work to expand adoption and other abortion alternatives.[6]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
I have voted to allow law enforcement to detain illegal aliens that have committed a felony until immigration officials can take them into custody (SEA590). I voted to ban sanctuary universities (SEA243). I co-authored a ban on sanctuary cities (SEA181), and voted to require proof of citizenship to register to vote (HEA1264).
Supports securing the border, deporting people in the country illegally, and ending birthright citizenship for undocumented immigrants; as an Indiana state senator voted for bills allowing law enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants who committed felonies, banning sanctuary universities and cities, and requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.[6]
Cosponsored H.R. 22, the SAVE Act (119th Congress), which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. Cosponsored H.R. 7296, the SAVE America Act (119th Congress), which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
- YESSAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).[12]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
Cosponsored H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (119th Congress), which would bar transgender girls and women from girls' and women's school sports programs that receive federal funds.
Documented position[13]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Cosponsored H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (119th Congress), which would require states to honor other states' concealed-carry permits.
Documented position[14]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization.[16]
- NOWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.[17]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.[18]
Biography
Mark Messmer is the Republican U.S. Representative for Indiana's 8th District and won re-election on November 3, 2026, according to unofficial results. A mechanical engineer and small business owner from Jasper, he served in the Indiana House and Senate, including as Senate majority leader, before winning the open seat in 2024.[1][2][3][4][5]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Messmer was born September 21, 1962, in Jasper, Indiana, and was raised in Southern Indiana.[4][5] He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1985.[2] He worked as a project engineer with John Brown Engineering and Dow Chemical and is co-owner of Messmer Mechanical; his House biography says he and his wife, Kim, are small business owners.[2][4] He served on the Holy Family School Board in Jasper from 2001 to 2004, including as president in 2003-2004, and has been a parish council member and music minister at Holy Family Catholic Church, according to his House biography.[4][5]
Messmer served in the Indiana House of Representatives (District 63) from 2008 to 2014, then in the Indiana Senate (District 48) from 2014 until he resigned in September 2024 to focus on his congressional campaign.[2][5] In the Senate he was majority leader from 2018 to 2022 and chaired the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee and the Joint Rules Committee.[2][5]
Messmer won the May 2024 Republican primary for the open 8th District seat, with 38.5% to former U.S. Rep. John Hostettler's 19.7%, and then the November general election, succeeding retiring Rep. Larry Bucshon.[2][5][19] He won re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election with 55.2% of the vote to Mary Allen's 44.8%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1] For the 2025-2026 Congress he serves on the House Committee on Agriculture (Commodity Markets, Digital Assets and Rural Development; Conservation, Research and Biotechnology; Livestock, Dairy and Poultry), the Committee on Armed Services (Readiness; Strategic Forces), and the Committee on Education and the Workforce.[2][4] He has introduced the Heat Workforce Standards Act, which would repeal a Biden-administration OSHA workplace heat-safety rule, according to Lakeshore Public Media.[19] Ballotpedia lists a 2026 presidential endorsement from Donald Trump.[2] His campaign materials cited endorsements from President Donald Trump and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.[2][3][4][5]
Recent votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207 |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted no | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210 |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21 |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted no | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196 |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212 |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18 |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1 |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted yes | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2 |
Showing the 8 most recent of 16 votes.
All 16 recorded votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans. |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted no | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy. |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026. |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted no | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans. |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region. |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year. |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support. |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted yes | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively. |
| 2025-07-17 | With partyvoted yes | CLARITY Act — digital asset market structureH.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · roll call ↗Democrats 78–134 · Republicans 216–0The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries. |
| 2025-07-17 | With partyvoted yes | GENIUS Act — stablecoin regulationS. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · roll call ↗Democrats 102–110 · Republicans 206–12The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law. |
| 2025-07-03 | With partyvoted yes | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passageH.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 218–2H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025. |
| 2025-06-12 | With partyvoted yes | Rescissions Act of 2025H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–208 · Republicans 214–4The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades. |
| 2025-05-22 | With partyvoted yes | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passageH.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 215–2H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients. |
| 2025-04-10 | With partyvoted yes | SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registrationH.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 4–208 · Republicans 216–0The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls. |
| 2025-03-11 | With partyvoted yes | Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 1–212 · Republicans 216–1The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations. |
| 2025-01-22 | With partyvoted yes | Laken Riley Act — final passageS. 5 · Passed 263–156 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–156 · Republicans 217–0The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions. |
On the record
Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.
- voteAs an Indiana state senator, voted for SEA 590 allowing law enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants who committed felonies until immigration officials take custody.[6]
- voteAs an Indiana state senator, voted for SEA 243 banning sanctuary universities and co-authored SEA 181 banning sanctuary cities.[6]
- voteAs an Indiana state senator, voted for HEA 1264 requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.[6]
- bill2026-09-24 · Introduced a bill on Ready Reserve Force modernization in the U.S. House.[20]
- action2026-07-22 · Announced passage of the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act in the House of Representatives.[20]
In their own words
Priorities
- Describes himself as pro-life and credits his Indiana statehouse work with the state's abortion restrictions since Roe v. Wade was overturned.[6]
- Supports securing the southern border and ending birthright citizenship for people in the country illegally.[6]
- Supports a cryptocurrency regulatory overhaul that promotes blockchain innovation and opposes central bank digital currencies.[6]
Campaign money$1.2M raised · 38% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $257K
- PACs & committees $421K
- Own money & loans $3,500
Largest committee contributions
- American Council of Engineering Companies (Acec/Pac) PAC$10K
- Bwx Technologies, Inc Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- Republican Governance Group/Tuesday Group PAC PAC$10K
- National Beer Wholesalers Association Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- Space Exploration Technologies Corp. PAC PAC$10K
- Allison Transmission Inc. Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- American Crystal Sugar Company Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- Transdigm Group Inc. Employee Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- Midwest Region Laborers' Political League PAC$10K
- Poet PAC PAC$10K
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/mark-b-messmer
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 4 of 466 party-divided votes on file.
Amendment (Grothman) to H.R. 8800 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
A yes vote supported an H.R. 8800 amendment that requires the Secretary of Defense to report within 180 days on options for cutting Defense Department civilian employment by 200,000. (AI-written)
What it does: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 This bill sets forth policies and authorities for FY2027 for Department of Defense (DOD) programs, activities, and military construction as well as the national…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–210, Republicans 174–43
Jul 22, 2026Official record ↗
Amendment (Perry) to H.R. 4553 — Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 28 to the Energy and Water appropriations bill, which cuts $13,319,727 from the Northern Border Regional Commission and credits it to the spending reduction account. (AI-written)
What it does: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Rec…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–211, Republicans 124–91
Sep 3, 2025Official record ↗
Amendment (Perry) to H.R. 4553 — Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 27 to the Energy and Water appropriations bill, which eliminates the $35 million for Title 17 loan guarantee program administration and credits it to the spending reduction account. (AI-written)
What it does: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Rec…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–210, Republicans 120–95
Sep 3, 2025Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 214–212 · Yes 214–No 212 · Democrats 0–211, Republicans 214–0
Jun 9, 2026Official record ↗
- No
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act
With most of their party · Failed 214–217 · Yes 214–No 217 · Democrats 214–0, Republicans 0–216
Feb 11, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 217–215 · Yes 217–No 215 · Democrats 0–214, Republicans 216–1
Feb 25, 2025Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Failed 215–215 · Yes 215–No 215 · Democrats 213–0, Republicans 2–214
Jan 22, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Failed 213–213 · Yes 213–No 213 · Democrats 211–0, Republicans 2–212
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
Compare all 2 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Indiana U.S. House District 8 election results 2026 · NBC News · 2026-11-09 News report
- 2.Mark Messmer · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Mark Messmer campaign website (via Ballotpedia) · Ballotpedia (quoting Messmer's campaign site) Candidate's own words
- 4.Biography · Office of Rep. Mark Messmer Official record
- 5.Mark Messmer · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 6.Mark Messmer campaign website (via Ballotpedia) · Ballotpedia (quoting Messmer's campaign site) Candidate's own words
- 7.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
- 8.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
- 9.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
- 10.H.R. 22, the SAVE Act (SAVE Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 11.H.R. 7296, the SAVE America Act (SAVE America Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 12.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
- 13.H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 14.H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 15.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
- 16.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
- 17.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
- 18.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
- 19.Four Democrats compete for the chance to challenge Rep. Mark Messmer in Indiana's 8th Congressional District · Lakeshore Public Media News report
- 20.Latest News · Office of Rep. Mark Messmer Candidate's own words