03/27/2026
HOOSIER BALLOT BREAKDOWN: Candidate Interview
Mary Allen – U.S. House District 8
What’s really at stake in this race?
In our latest Hoosier Ballot Breakdown, Mary Allen says the 2026 election comes down to a clear choice: a representative who “acts as a rubber stamp” for Washington politics, or one who fights directly for the people of Indiana’s 8th District.
Allen, a city councilor, small business owner, and Army Reserve veteran, says she was motivated to run out of frustration with leadership she believes has failed to stand up for working families—especially as costs rise and rural healthcare access declines.
She identifies the cost of living as the most urgent issue facing Hoosiers, arguing that families are being squeezed by both corporate practices and government inaction.
If elected, Allen says her first priorities would include:
• Supporting a ban on congressional stock trading
• Fighting to improve rural healthcare funding
• Putting “kitchen table issues” ahead of party politics
Allen also emphasizes independence, stating she would support or oppose legislation based on how it impacts everyday Hoosiers—not party leadership.
She acknowledges concerns about running as a Democrat in a Republican-leaning district but urges voters to look at her record and focus on who will fight for their jobs, healthcare, and financial stability.
Her message to voters: your vote is your voice—and this race is about representation that answers to the people, not political insiders.
Read the full interview below.