Steuben County, Indiana

Indiana House District 52

2 candidates are tracked for Indiana House District 52 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Joseph Trost and Ben Smaltz. Candidate information follows official Steuben County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Joseph Trost (Democratic), Ben Smaltz (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Indiana House District 52; Ben Smaltz 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, Ben Smaltz, is on the ballot.

Indiana › Steuben County › Indiana House District 52

Joseph Trost

Democratic

Top priorities

Supports rural economic development and incentives for small businesses
Supports restrictions on data centers to protect water supplies and keep utility costs down
Supports expanding access to veterans' benefits through dedicated state liaisons

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Joseph Trost is the Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 52, which covers DeKalb County and portions of Noble and Steuben counties. He works as a concrete construction worker, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Ben Smaltz

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Ben Smaltz is the Republican incumbent for Indiana House District 52, serving since 2012 and chairing the House Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee, per Indiana House Republicans. He is president and owner of Taylor Rental in Auburn, his family's business, per Indiana House Republicans. Smaltz previously served 10 years on the DeKalb County Council, including seven as its president, per Indiana House Republicans. No campaign website was found as of September 21, 2026.

Next on your ballotIndiana House District 51

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Indiana House District 52 in 2026?

When is the Indiana House District 52 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 Steuben 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 Steuben County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Steuben County ballot

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

See all 2 Steuben County races

Candidate profiles

Joseph Trost, full profile Ben Smaltz, full profile Official Indiana election office