J. D. Ford
Indiana State Senator, District 29 since 2018. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Won the 2026 race for Indiana's 5th District.
Indiana State Senator, District 29Born 1982
- In office
- 7 yrs
- Since 2018
- Bills became law
- 4
- 58 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 20.3%
- Chamber median 2.2%
- With party
- 96%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +3.3
- Won 2026
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 11:01 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Education and Career Development · ranking democratic member
- Elections · ranking democratic member
- Family and Children Services · ranking democratic member
- Artificial Intelligence Task Force
- Child Services Interim Study
- Commerce and Economic Development Interim Study
- Commerce and Technology
- Education Interim Study
- Elections Interim Study
- Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Interim Study
- Financial Institutions and Insurance Interim Study
- Health and Provider Services
- Homeland Security and Transportation
- Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services Interim Study
- Roads and Transportation Interim Study
- Utilities
- Veterans Affairs and The Military
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
AGENCIES; Department of Child Services (DCS) · Became law Feb 2026
AGENCIES; Department of Education (DOE) and Secretary of Education · Failed in the House Feb 2026
ENERGY; Alternative (Including Renewable) · Failed in committee Jan 2026
AGENCIES; Department of Health (IDOH) · Failed in committee Jan 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Ford sits in the Indiana State Senate
Ford is closer to the center than 40% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Fady Qaddoura, Mark Spencer, Greg Taylor
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:50 PM ET
With Ford’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats96%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills82%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Indiana State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Ford’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Ford | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2026 | HB 1266: Department of education and education matters. | No | No | Yes | Passed 28–19 |
| Feb 26, 2026 | SB 285: Housing matters. | No | No | Yes | Passed 28–22 |
| Feb 26, 2026 | SB 27: Stadium authority. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 45–4 |
| Feb 25, 2026 | SB 277: Indiana department of environmental management. | No | No | Yes | Passed 26–21 |
| Feb 24, 2026 | HB 1004: Various education matters. | No | No | Yes | Passed 28–20 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Ford was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Indiana's 5th District | Won | D+3.3 | R+17.1 | +20.4 |
| 2022 | Indiana State Senate, District 29 | Won | D+3.4 | — | — |
| 2018 | Indiana State Senate, District 29 | Won | D+13.4 | — | — |
| 2014 | Indiana State Senate, District 29 | Lost | R+8.6 | — | — |
| 2014 | Indiana State Senate, District 29 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Indiana Election Division and civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $1.4M
- Spent
- $1.1M
- Cash
- $324.5K
Source: FEC filings through Oct 14, 2026Updated Nov 3, 2026, 2:14 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| NEIGHBORS TO ELECT J.D. FORD FEC | Active |
Source: FEC filings through Oct 14, 2026Updated Nov 3, 2026, 2:14 AM ET
Seats Ford has held
- Indiana State Senate, District 29 · since 2018
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Ford has run against
- Victoria Spartz (R) · 2026 general, won
- Alex Choi (R) · 2022 election, won
- Mike Delph (R) · 2018 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Indiana Election Division and civicAPI (unofficial)
In the polls
Included in 3 polls; Ford’s best result was 47% (Indiana's 5th District).
Ford’s polls in the database →How we know Ford
One person, matched across every source we use.
- FEC H6IN05307
- Open States ocd-person/85b8c0cf-3df4-45a1-8c38-d220b7122226
- Wikidata Q58755278
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 11:01 PM ET