Mark Messmer

Mark Messmer
Born	Mark Brian Messmer Template:Birth year and month
Birthplace	Jasper, Indiana, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	U.S. Representative for Indiana's 8th congressional district
Education	Purdue University (BS)
Spouse(s)	Kim Messmer
Children	4
Website	[[messmer.house.gov messmer.house.gov] Official site]

Mark Brian Messmer (born September 1962) is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative for Indiana's 8th congressional district since January 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Messmer has built a long career in Indiana public life, beginning with local school board service and advancing through both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly before winning election to Congress. He represented the 63rd district in the Indiana House of Representatives from 2008 to 2014, then served in the Indiana Senate representing the 48th district from 2014 to 2024. During his time in the Senate, he held the position of Majority Leader from 2018 to 2022. Messmer succeeded Larry Bucshon in the 8th Congressional District seat after winning the 2024 general election. A native of Jasper, Indiana, Messmer has focused on issues including energy policy, infrastructure, agriculture, and national defense during his time in office. He is a graduate of Purdue University and a member of the Congressional Western Caucus.

Early Life

Mark Brian Messmer was born in September 1962 in Jasper, a small city in Dubois County in southwestern Indiana. Jasper, the county seat of Dubois County, is a community with strong German-Catholic heritage and a manufacturing-based economy. Messmer grew up in this environment and would maintain deep ties to the region throughout his career.

Before entering elected politics, Messmer was involved in community service through local educational institutions. He served on the Holy Family School Board from 2001 to 2004, including as president of the board from 2003 to 2004. This early involvement in education governance provided Messmer with his first experience in public service and community leadership in the Jasper area.

Education

Messmer attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Purdue, one of Indiana's flagship public universities, is known for its programs in engineering, agriculture, and business. Messmer's educational background at Purdue would inform his later legislative focus on issues including energy policy, agriculture, and infrastructure development.

Career

Indiana House of Representatives (2008–2014)

Messmer entered the Indiana General Assembly in 2008, winning election to represent the 63rd district of the Indiana House of Representatives. He succeeded Dave Crooks in the seat and took office on November 5, 2008. Messmer served three terms in the Indiana House, establishing himself as a Republican legislator focused on energy and economic issues.

During his tenure in the House, Messmer was involved in energy policy matters. He was associated with legislative efforts related to natural gas and coal gasification policy in Indiana. Energy production and affordability were significant issues in southwestern Indiana, a region with ties to the coal industry and an interest in diversified energy sources.

Messmer served in the Indiana House until November 5, 2014, when he moved to the Indiana Senate. He was succeeded in the 63rd House district by Mike Braun, who would later go on to serve in the United States Senate and be elected Governor of Indiana.

Indiana Senate (2014–2024)

In 2014, Messmer was elected to the Indiana Senate, representing the 48th district. He succeeded Lindel Hume in the seat. The 48th district encompassed portions of southwestern Indiana, a region with a diversified economy including manufacturing, agriculture, and energy production.

Messmer rose through the Republican leadership ranks in the Indiana Senate. On November 7, 2018, he was elevated to the position of Majority Leader of the Indiana Senate, succeeding Rodric Bray in the role. As Majority Leader, Messmer held one of the most influential positions in the chamber, responsible for managing the legislative calendar and guiding the Republican caucus's policy priorities through the legislative process.

During his tenure as Majority Leader and as a senator, Messmer was involved in several policy areas. In 2022, the Indiana Senate passed legislation to restrict foreign ownership of cropland in the state to 320 acres, a measure that reflected growing national concern about foreign acquisition of American agricultural land. This issue of protecting American farmland from foreign acquisition would remain a priority for Messmer into his congressional career.

During his time in the Indiana Senate, Messmer also co-authored legislation that drew scrutiny during his later congressional campaign. Reports indicated that he had co-authored bills that would have provided in-state tuition and driving cards for undocumented immigrants, a position that attracted criticism from some Republican quarters during his 2024 congressional race.

Messmer served as Majority Leader until August 17, 2022, when he was succeeded by Chris Garten. He continued to serve in the Indiana Senate after stepping down from the leadership post. Upon announcing his candidacy for Congress, Messmer expressed gratitude to the constituents of southwestern Indiana for their support during his legislative career.

Messmer resigned his Indiana Senate seat on September 3, 2024, ahead of his election to Congress. He was succeeded in the 48th Senate district by Daryl Schmitt.

2024 Congressional Campaign

In 2023, Messmer entered the race for Indiana's 8th congressional district following the announcement by incumbent Larry Bucshon that he would not seek re-election. The 8th district covers a large swath of southwestern Indiana, including communities along the Wabash and Ohio rivers.

Messmer's campaign touted his experience in the Indiana General Assembly, including his leadership as Senate Majority Leader. However, the campaign was not without controversy. Fox News reported that Messmer had co-authored Indiana legislation that would have extended in-state tuition rates and driving cards to undocumented immigrants, an issue that drew criticism from some Republican primary opponents and conservative commentators.

Despite these criticisms, Messmer prevailed in the Republican primary and went on to win the general election on November 5, 2024. The 8th district has been a reliably Republican seat, and Messmer's victory continued that pattern.

U.S. House of Representatives (2025–present)

Messmer was sworn in as the U.S. Representative for Indiana's 8th congressional district on January 3, 2025, succeeding Larry Bucshon. He is a member of the Congressional Western Caucus.

Energy Policy

Energy policy has been a central focus of Messmer's congressional tenure, consistent with his legislative work in the Indiana General Assembly. In February 2026, Messmer partnered with Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi to announce the repeal of certain regulations aimed at reducing energy costs for constituents in southern Indiana. The effort was framed as part of broader Republican goals to lower energy prices by reducing regulatory burdens on energy producers.

In August 2025, Messmer visited Indiana American Water's Terre Haute treatment facility to discuss water infrastructure and policy priorities, highlighting his interest in infrastructure investment in the district.

National Defense and Hypersonics

Messmer has taken an active role in defense policy, particularly regarding hypersonic weapons development. He serves as co-chair of the Congressional Hypersonics Caucus alongside Democratic Representative Donald Norcross of New Jersey. In December 2025, Messmer and Norcross participated in a discussion hosted by the Atlantic Council regarding U.S. hypersonic capabilities and the need for the United States to advance its development and deployment of hypersonic weapons systems. This bipartisan effort reflects growing congressional attention to advanced weapons technology amid strategic competition with other nations.

Agriculture and Conservation

Continuing his focus on agricultural issues from his state legislative career, Messmer introduced the Restoring America's Floodplains Act in early 2026. The legislation aimed to enhance flood mitigation through USDA conservation efforts, a matter of particular relevance to Indiana's 8th district, which includes agricultural land along major river systems prone to flooding.

Election Integrity

Messmer supported the passage of the SAVE America Act in the House of Representatives, legislation that emphasized election integrity measures and voter identification requirements. Upon the bill's passage, Messmer issued a statement praising the legislation and emphasizing the importance of voter ID provisions.

Appropriations and District Funding

In his first term, Messmer announced significant funding allocations for Indiana's 8th Congressional District in the FY 2026 appropriations bills, targeting infrastructure improvements and security enhancements for the region.

2026 Re-election Campaign

In August 2025, Messmer announced that he would seek re-election to his congressional seat in 2026. The Evansville Courier & Press reported that Messmer made the announcement official, indicating his intent to continue representing the 8th district.

His re-election bid has not been without criticism. In December 2025, a letter to the editor published in the Courier & Press raised concerns about gerrymandered congressional districts in Indiana, specifically referencing Messmer's 8th district and questioning whether the district's boundaries limited meaningful electoral competition.

Personal Life

Messmer resides in Jasper, Indiana, where he has maintained his home throughout his political career. He is married to Kim Messmer, and the couple have four children. Messmer identifies as a Roman Catholic, consistent with the strong Catholic heritage of the Jasper community where he grew up and raised his family. His early service on the Holy Family School Board reflects this connection to the local Catholic educational community.

Prior to and concurrent with his political career, Messmer has been involved in business in the Jasper area. His business background, combined with his educational foundation at Purdue University, informed his legislative focus on economic development, energy, and infrastructure throughout his career in the Indiana General Assembly and in Congress.

Recognition

Messmer's rise through the ranks of Indiana Republican politics — from school board member to state representative, state senator, Senate Majority Leader, and finally U.S. congressman — represents a trajectory built through sustained engagement in southwestern Indiana's political and civic life. His election as Majority Leader of the Indiana Senate in 2018 marked a significant milestone, placing him among the most influential Republican legislators in the state during a period of unified Republican control of Indiana government.

His selection as co-chair of the Congressional Hypersonics Caucus upon entering Congress reflects his rapid assumption of responsibilities in national defense policy matters during his first term. His involvement in bipartisan defense initiatives, alongside Democratic members such as Representative Donald Norcross, has positioned him in discussions about advanced military technology at institutions such as the Atlantic Council.

Messmer's record of legislative activity in his first term — including the introduction of the Restoring America's Floodplains Act, his work on energy regulatory reform, and his efforts to secure appropriations funding for southern Indiana — has demonstrated an approach focused on constituent-level policy concerns.