Biography
Kirsten Root is the Democratic candidate for Indiana State Senate District 21 in the November 3, 2026 general election, in which she faces Republican Tracey Powell for a seat with no incumbent.[1][3] A social worker who has spent much of her career investigating child abuse and neglect for the Indiana Department of Child Services, she listed affordable healthcare and curbing corporate subsidies among her priorities in a Ballotpedia survey.[1][2]
Kirsten Root earned a high school diploma from La Porte High School, a bachelor's degree from Indiana University Indianapolis in 2021 and a second degree from the same institution in 2025, according to Ballotpedia.[1] Her career experience includes working as a social worker.[1]
In a Ballotpedia survey, Root said she lives in Sheridan, grew up in La Porte in a blue-collar family, and was the first in her family to earn a master's degree, in social work.[2] She said her practicums during the program were with the Westfield Fire Department and the IU Compassion Clinic, and that most of her career has been spent investigating child abuse and neglect with DCS.[2] Her key messages included a public healthcare option and public funding to help localities keep hospitals and medical services running, and raising the minimum wage and abolishing right-to-work.[2]
- 1.Kirsten Root · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Kirsten Root - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey (2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
- 3.Indiana State Senate elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Indiana Senate District 21
Kirsten Root is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Indiana Senate District 21 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.