Indiana's fifty-first state house district is represented by Republican Representative Dennis J. Zent.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 64,776 civilians reside within Indiana's fifty-first 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

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

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 Dennis Zent ran unopposed in the Indiana House of Representatives District 51 general election.

Incumbent Dennis Zent ran unopposed in the Indiana House of Representatives District 51 Republican primary.

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 Dennis J. Zent 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.Dennis Zent (R) defeated Lon Keyes (D) in the general election and defeated Aaron Claudy in the Republican primary. Keyes was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Indiana House of Representatives, District 51, General Election, 2012

Indiana House of Representatives, District 51 Republican Primary, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Indiana House of Representatives District 51 raised a total of $1,070,151. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $59,453 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Indiana House of Representatives District 51