Nan Polk

Nan Polk is the Democratic candidate for Indiana House of Representatives District 54 in the November 3, 2026 general election; she was also the Democratic nominee for the seat in 2022.[1][2] A retired teacher and former school board member, she describes rural healthcare, public education and rural broadband as priorities.[3]

Nan Polk's career experience includes working as an educator and administrator, according to Ballotpedia.[1] In a 2022 Ballotpedia survey, she described herself as a lifelong resident of New Castle who graduated from Butler University, earned a master's degree at Ball State, and retired after 32 years of teaching high school science.[4] She said she then taught parenting at a childcare facility for high school parents, helped open four affordable childcare programs, and served nine years on the New Castle school board.[4]

Polk was the Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 54 in the November 8, 2022 general election, which Cory Criswell won with 73.7% of the vote to her 26.3%.[1] In her 2026 survey, Polk said she is a retired teacher who served several years on the school board, and named public education as a policy area she is passionate about.[3] Her campaign themes of faith, family and future include protecting rural healthcare access, expanding rural broadband, reducing property-tax burdens and supporting family farms.[3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.