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Indiana, State House, District 52

Indiana House of Representatives District 52
Current incumbentBen Smaltz Republican Party
Population64,898
Race95.6% White, 0.9% Black, 1.2% Asian, 1.1% Other, 1.3% Two or More
Ethnicity2.4% Hispanic, 94.2% White Non-Hispanic
Voting age72% age 18 and over

Indiana's fifty-second state house district is represented by Republican Representative Ben Smaltz.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 64,898 civilians reside within Indiana's fifty-second 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.

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 52

Incumbent Ben Smaltz (R) defeated Martha Lemert (D) in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 52 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Ben Smaltz (R)
73.3
17,871

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Martha Lemert (D)
26.7
6,500

Total votes: 24,371
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 52

Martha Lemert advanced from the Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 52 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Martha Lemert (D)
100
1,350

Total votes: 1,350
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 52

Incumbent Ben Smaltz defeated William Carlin in the Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 52 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Ben Smaltz (R)
66.5
4,990

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

William Carlin (R)
33.5
2,514

Total votes: 7,504

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 Ben Smaltz defeated Charlie Odier in the Indiana House of Representatives District 52 general election.

Indiana House of Representatives, District 52 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Ben Smaltz Incumbent 74.99% 21,016
Democratic Charlie Odier 25.01% 7,009
Total Votes 28,025
Source: Indiana Election Divsion

Charlie Odier ran unopposed in the Indiana House of Representatives District 52 Democratic primary.

Indiana House of Representatives, District 52 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Charlie Odier (unopposed)

Incumbent Ben Smaltz ran unopposed in the Indiana House of Representatives District 52 Republican primary.

Indiana House of Representatives, District 52 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Ben Smaltz Incumbent (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. Charlie Odier was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Ben Smaltz was unopposed in the Republican primary. Smaltz defeated Odier in the general election.

Indiana House of Representatives 52, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBen Smaltz Incumbent 75.4% 9,687
Democratic Charlie Odier 24.6% 3,163
Total Votes 12,850

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. Ben Smaltz (R) defeated Charles Odier (D) in the general election. Odier was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Smaltz defeated Gary Harbaugh, Paul Moss and David Powers in the Republican primary.

Indiana House of Representatives, District 52, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBen Smaltz 71% 18,218
Democratic Charles Odier 29% 7,448
Total Votes 25,666

Indiana House of Representatives, District 52 Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngBen Smaltz 56.7% 4,241
Paul Moss 19.9% 1,486
David Powers 15.5% 1,163
Gary Harbaugh 7.9% 592
Total Votes 7,482

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Indiana House of Representatives District 52 raised a total of $1,169,100. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $46,764 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Indiana House of Representatives District 52

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $64,715 2 $32,358
2014 $38,329 2 $19,165
2012 $98,466 5 $19,693
2010 $31,966 3 $10,655
2008 $100,730 3 $33,577
2006 $189,816 2 $94,908
2004 $83,794 2 $41,897
2002 $282,332 4 $70,583
2000 $278,952 2 $139,476
Total $1,169,100 25 $46,764