Marlin Stutzman
Marlin Stutzman, a Republican farmer who has represented Indiana's 3rd congressional district since 2025 and earlier from 2010 to 2017, seeks re-election in 2026 against Democrat Kelly Thompson, a nonprofit founder.
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- Born
- August 31, 1976
- Birthplace
- Sturgis, Michigan
- Education
- Lake Area Christian High School (1994)
Glen Oaks Community College (1999)
Tri-State University, now Trine University (2005 to 2007)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Marlin Stutzman was born on August 31, 1976, and is a fourth-generation farmer who grew up on a farm in St. Joseph County, Michigan, and LaGrange County, Indiana.
He graduated from Lake Area Christian High School in Sturgis, Michigan, in 1994, attended Glen Oaks Community College in 1999 and studied at Tri-State University, now Trine University, from 2005 to 2007.
With his father, Albert, he co-owns Stutzman Farms, which farms 4,000 acres in the Michiana area, and he also owns Stutzman Farms Trucking.
Career
Stutzman was first elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2002 at the age of 26 and served there from 2003 to 2009, then was elected to the Indiana Senate for the 13th district in 2009. He lost the 2010 Republican primary for U.S. Senate to former senator Dan Coats.
When Representative Mark Souder resigned that year, Republicans of the 3rd district met on June 12, 2010, to choose a replacement and selected Stutzman on the second ballot. He won both the November 2, 2010, special election and a full term on the same day, and was re-elected in 2012 and 2014.
In 2016 he ran again for the U.S. Senate and lost the Republican primary to Todd Young.
On April 18, 2023, Stutzman announced a campaign for his old district after his successor, Jim Banks, entered the U.S. Senate race. He narrowly won the 2024 Republican primary over Tim Smith by 1,307 votes and took 65.0% of the vote in the general election. He serves on the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on the Budget, and he is a member of the Freedom Caucus.
2026 race
Marlin Stutzman is seeking re-election in Indiana's 3rd district, which covers Northeast Indiana around the Fort Wayne metropolitan area and includes Huntington, Auburn, Angola, Bluffton, Decatur and Kendallville.
He won the Republican primary with 68.2% of the vote against Jon Kenworthy, a staffer for former Senator Mike Braun. His Democratic opponent is Kelly Thompson, a nonprofit founder and the 2020 nominee for Indiana's 22nd House district, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary.
The general election takes place on November 3, 2026.