The Ballot Brief
Clark County, Indiana

Indiana Senate District 45

3 candidates are tracked for Indiana Senate District 45 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Nick Marshall, Larry Mahaney and Chris Garten. Candidate information follows official Clark County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Nick Marshall (Democratic), Larry Mahaney (Libertarian), Chris Garten (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Indiana Senate District 45; Chris Garten is the sitting member, per the General Assembly caucus rosters. Democratic and Republican nominees were chosen at the May 5 primary; Libertarian nominees at the party's convention. The field is the Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list (updated August 27, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Chris Garten, is on the ballot.

Indiana › Clark County › Indiana Senate District 45

Nick Marshall

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Reforming Indiana's foster care system
  • Strengthening Hoosier schools and education
  • Supporting recovery and rehabilitation programs alongside bipartisan economic growth

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Nick Marshall grew up in the foster care system, raised by foster parents including a veteran, teacher, farmer and caregiver, and is a University of Louisville graduate, per campaign site. He works with Kentuckiana organizations advocating for children in foster care and improving child literacy, per campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Larry Mahaney

Libertarian

Biography

Larry Mahaney is the Libertarian candidate for Indiana Senate District 45 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Chris Garten

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Has voted against a plan for highway tolls
  • Supports requiring able-bodied adults to work, train or volunteer to receive Medicaid
  • Supports policies to reduce regulations and lower the cost of buying a home

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Chris Garten is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who deployed to Iraq in 2003 and again from 2005 to 2006, per the campaign site. After returning home, he founded Signature Countertops, Inc., a Southern Indiana company that now employs more than 30 people, per the campaign site. Garten is a sitting State Senator and a candidate for Indiana Senate District 45.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
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Questions about this race

Who is running for Indiana Senate District 45 in 2026?

3 candidates are tracked for Indiana Senate District 45 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Nick Marshall, Larry Mahaney and Chris Garten. Candidate information follows official Clark County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Indiana Senate District 45 election in Indiana?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Indiana are on the Indiana election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Clark County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Clark County and state election office filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Indiana election office, or see the full Clark County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Clark County ballot

19 tracked races in Clark County, Indiana. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Indiana House District 70Indiana House District 71Clark County Circuit Court Judge, No. 2See all 19 Clark County races
Candidate profiles
Nick Marshall, full profileLarry Mahaney, full profileChris Garten, full profileOfficial Indiana election office