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Indiana, State House, District 20

Indiana House of Representatives District 20
Current incumbentJim Pressel Republican Party
Population64,970
Race93.7% White, 1.7% Black, 0.3% Asian, 2.4% Other, 1.8% Two or More
Ethnicity5.6% Hispanic, 90.9% White Non-Hispanic
Voting age75.6% age 18 and over

Indiana's twentieth state house district is represented by Republican Representative Jim Pressel.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 64,970 civilians reside within Indiana's twentieth state house district. Indiana state representatives represent an average of 64,838 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 60,805 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Indiana House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Indiana legislators assume office on the second Tuesday after the general election.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Indiana House of Representatives a candidate must be:

  • A United States citizen at the time of the election
  • Have resided in the state for at least two years and in the house district for at least one year before the election
  • Be at least twenty-one years old upon taking office
  • Registered to vote in the election district the person seeks to represent not later than the deadline for filing the declaration or petition of candidacy or certificate of nomination.

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$25,945/year$173/day

Pensions

Indiana legislators created a 401(k) plan for themselves in 1989, becoming the first in the nation to do so. Lawmakers who took office after April 1989 were ineligible for the traditional pension plan, receiving the individual retirement account instead.

Legislators pay 5% of their annual salary into the 401(k). In 2007, they voted to include per diem allowances, expense payments and leadership stipends into the calculation, thus raising their retirement accounts.

Vacancies

Whenever there is a vacancy in the house, the state committee of the party that last held the seat must appoint a replacement. This is contingent upon the approval of the respective state chairperson of the party. Any vacant seat held by an independent must be filled by a special election.

2016 pivot county

206 Pivot Counties Logo.png

This district is one of 710 state legislative districts that intersects with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.

The 206 Pivot Counties are located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. The partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties is slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Indiana House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for May 5, 2020. The filing deadline is February 7, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 20

Incumbent Jim Pressel (R) defeated Karen Salzer (D) in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 20 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Jim Pressel (R)
61.3
13,631

Karen Salzer (D)
38.7
8,590

Total votes: 22,221
Democratic primary election

No Democratic candidates ran in the primary.

Republican primary election
Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 20

Incumbent Jim Pressel advanced from the Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 20 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Jim Pressel (R)
100
3,420

Total votes: 3,420

2016

Elections for the Indiana House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 3, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 5, 2016. Incumbent Tom Dermody (R) did not seek re-election.

Jim Pressel defeated Karen Biernacki and Aurea Torres in the Indiana House of Representatives District 20 general election.

Indiana House of Representatives, District 20 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jim Pressel 57.11% 15,398
Democratic Karen Biernacki 38.69% 10,432
Libertarian Aurea Torres 4.19% 1,131
Total Votes 26,961
Source: Indiana Election Divsion

Karen Biernacki ran unopposed in the Indiana House of Representatives District 20 Democratic primary.

Indiana House of Representatives, District 20 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Karen Biernacki (unopposed)

Jim Pressel ran unopposed in the Indiana House of Representatives District 20 Republican primary.

Indiana House of Representatives, District 20 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jim Pressel (unopposed)

2014

Elections for the Indiana House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 6, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 7, 2014. Incumbent Tom Dermody was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

2012

Elections for the office of Indiana House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on May 8, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 10, 2012. Incumbent Tom Dermody (R) defeated Karen Salzer (D) in the general election and was unopposed in the Republican primary. Salzer declared her candidacy after the Democratic primary.

Indiana House of Representatives, District 20, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTom Dermody Incumbent 59.9% 15,208
Democratic Karen Salzer 40.1% 10,188
Total Votes 25,396

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Indiana House of Representatives District 20 raised a total of $1,571,290. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $71,422 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Indiana House of Representatives District 20

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $412,583 3 $137,528
2014 $165,565 1 $165,565
2012 $190,125 2 $95,063
2010 $73,831 2 $36,916
2008 $112,893 2 $56,447
2006 $517,515 5 $103,503
2004 $66,190 4 $16,548
2002 $16,487 2 $8,244
2000 $16,101 1 $16,101
Total $1,571,290 22 $71,422