Mary Allen

Allen lives in Evansville, Indiana. She says she grew up in a working-class family, with a father who was a Teamster and truck driver, and has lived in Indiana for a little over 30 years with her husband, Greg.[1][2] She served in the U.S. Army Reserve.[1][2] In a WNIN interview, she said she worked in health care for 15 years and alongside her husband in a nonprofit ministry for almost a decade, and has owned small businesses for 15 years, most recently a retail store on Main Street in Evansville. The Indiana Capital Chronicle's voter guide says she worked as an occupational therapist for 15 years, previously owned a home goods store, and co-owns a property company with her husband; Ballotpedia lists her as owner of Sixth and Zero and affiliated with Virginia Street Properties.[1][2][7]

Allen is an at-large member of the Evansville City Council, where she has also served as council vice president; she describes herself as a Rotary member.[1][2][3] She has served on the Vanderburgh County Solid Waste Board and the Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization, and chaired the Enterprise Zone.[1] She won the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary with 66.7% of the vote over three candidates, and was endorsed by the district Democratic party, according to WNIN.[1][2] She describes herself as a mother and grandmother of two.[2] During the campaign, she emphasized affordability, health care and accountability.[1][2][3] She received 44.8% of the vote to Mark Messmer's 55.2%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[4]