Result

Rep. Matthew S. Lehman (R-IN) won reelection to Indiana House District 79 on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Democrat Ian G. Richardson by 8,315 votes. ​

Unofficial returns on AllCiv's race page for the district show Lehman with 12,862 votes, or 73.9%, and Richardson with 4,547 votes, or 26.1%, out of 17,409 cast. The results have not been certified. Since 2018, Lehman has won three elections and lost two.

Candidates and Platforms

Lehman is an insurance agent, according to Ballotpedia), and has served in the Indiana House since 2008. He serves as a member, not a chair, on four committees: Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development; Insurance; Public Policy; and Legislative Council.

Ballotpedia reports that in a campaign questionnaire, Lehman said abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments. Democracy Test Kitchen lists taxes and spending, abortion, women's athletics, marijuana, medical marijuana and education quality among his campaign priorities.

Lehman was the primary sponsor of HB 1260, on various insurance matters, and HB 1360, on access to public records. Both passed on Feb. 27 and were enacted.

Richardson is a technician and holds a high school diploma from Norwell High School, according to Ballotpedia.

Money, Polling and Endorsements

Ballotpedia reports that Lehman had $203,037 in contributions and $206,908 in expenditures from Jan. 1, 2025, through Oct. 9. Richardson reported $1,987 in contributions and $1,154 in expenditures for the same period.

Earlier campaign finance reports show Lehman raised $149,234 and spent $84,157 as of April 6. Richardson had raised $444 as of April 10.

Ballotpedia lists an endorsement of Richardson from Unburdening The Ballot: Voting Made Easy, a Sway voting group by Tevin (Momala) Davis. The endorsement carries no date, so it is not tied to the primary or the general election.

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