Indiana House Republicans choose Ben Smaltz as new speaker

By GREGG MONTGOMERY & TONY SANDLEBEN
WISH-TV | wishtv.com

House Republicans selected new leaders Wednesday, and Senate Republicans announced they had formally voted on the leadership team they previewed earlier in the fall.

House Democrats made no changes to their leadership team, while Senate Democrats plan to make their choices Friday.

House Republicans selected Rep. Ben Smaltz of Auburn as the next House speaker. The House Republican Caucus also chose Rep. Matt Lehman of Berne as majority leader and Rep. Jake Teshka of North Liberty as majority caucus chair.

Republicans also had to choose a leader in the House of Representatives after current House Speaker Todd Huston of Fishers lost his reelection bid Tuesday.

Smaltz issued a statement.

“I’m honored to be selected by my colleagues to serve as Speaker-elect and lead the House Republican caucus,” Smaltz said. “We had a disappointing night last night, but Republicans maintained the majority in the House and we will continue to champion the common-sense, fiscally responsible leadership Hoosiers expect and deserve. We will continue to build on the progress we’ve made in Indiana and focus on the issues important to Hoosiers – lowering cost of living, growing our economy, and expanding opportunity for Hoosiers across our state.”

House Democrats made no changes to their leadership, House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta said Wednesday.

The Indiana Senate Republican Caucus elected its previously announced leadership team Wednesday for the upcoming General Assembly session, with state Sen. Chris Garten of Charlestown as Senate president pro tempore.

Under Senate rules, the Democratic caucus also will weigh in on Garten’s selection when the Legislature meets for Organization Day on Nov. 17.

Garten named Sen. Eric Koch of Bedford as majority floor leader. The caucus elected Sen. Tyler Johnson of Leo as majority caucus chair.

Garten said in a statement that both Indiana and the country are at a point that requires “bold leadership.”

“I am incredibly humbled that my caucus members have named me the next Indiana Senate president pro tem,” Garten said. “Senate Republicans do not take the opportunity to serve lightly. We know we must earn out constituents’ trust each and every day.”

A news release said Republicans will work to strengthen schools, defend freedom, scrutinize the allocation of tax dollars, and find ways to cut more taxes.

Democratic leaders on Wednesday said they hoped their midterm election successes would lead to a greater focus on affordability and other everyday issues at the Indiana Statehouse.

Democrats went into Tuesday with 30 of the 100 seats in the Indiana House of Representatives. They needed to flip four seats to break the Republican supermajority.

Lawmakers will gather at the Statehouse on Nov. 17 for Organization Day, the ceremonial start of the 2027 General Assembly session.

This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/politics/indiana-house-republicans-choose-ben-smaltz-as-new-speaker.