Indiana's seventh state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Brian Buchanan.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 128,475 civilians reside within Indiana's seventh state senate district. Indiana state senators represent an average of 129,676 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 121,610 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Indiana State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Indiana legislators assume office the day after their general election.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Indiana State Senate a candidate must be:

• A United States citizen at the time of election
• Have resided in the state for at least two years and in the senate district for at least one year before the election
• Be at least twenty-five (25) 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 senate, the state committee of a political party must appoint a replacement. The appointee selected by the state committee is contingent upon the approval of the state party chairperson. A special election is only allowed if the vacant seat is left by an independent.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Indiana State Senate 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 State Senate 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 Brandt Hershman defeated Justin Notoras in the Indiana State Senate District 7 general election.

Indiana State Senate, District 7 General Election, 2016

Incumbent Brandt Hershman ran unopposed in the Indiana State Senate District 7 Republican primary.

2012

Elections for the office of Indiana State Senate 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 Brandt Hershman (R) defeated Brad Thompson (D) in the general election and was unopposed in the Republican primary. Thompson was nominated at a local Democratic Party caucus to appear on the general election ballot.

Indiana State Senate, District 7, General Election, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Indiana State Senate District 7 raised a total of $1,402,194. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $127,472 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Indiana State Senate District 7