State Comptroller (Auditor of State) of Indiana · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Indiana state comptroller (auditor of state) race?
Jessica Bailey has the strongest record in the Indiana state comptroller (auditor of state) race. Jessica Bailey scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Elise Nieshalla at 60, as of October 9, 2026. Jessica Bailey's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Elise Nieshalla's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. John Schick (0 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Jessica Bailey
61 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- 75
Republican · incumbent
Elise Nieshalla
60 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 50
Libertarian
John Schick
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Jessica Bailey
- Credit2023-10-29
Was named Clerk of the Year among Indiana's 92 county clerks.
Elise Nieshalla
- On the record2025-01-09
Joined Attorney General Todd Rokita in demanding proof that Indiana University spends no state money on the Kinsey Institute, and joined calls to defund IU; IU says the institute is separately funded.
- Credit2025-12-23
The State Board of Accounts issued an unmodified audit opinion on the fiscal 2025 statewide financial statements prepared by her office.
Source: Indiana Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, fiscal 2025
John Schick
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Jessica Bailey. No public record found.
Elise Nieshalla. No public record found.
John Schick. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Jessica Bailey. No public record found.
Elise Nieshalla. No public record found.
John Schick. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Jessica Bailey. Answered the UIndy Reflector's 2026 candidate questionnaire. No 2026 comptroller debate or forum found.
Source: UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026
Elise Nieshalla. Answered the UIndy Reflector's 2026 candidate questionnaire. No 2026 comptroller debate or forum found.
Source: UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026
John Schick. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Jessica Bailey. Porter County clerk since 2019, in her eighth year. No conduct finding found.
Elise Nieshalla. Served seven years on the Boone County Council, three as president, and as comptroller since December 2023. No conduct finding found.
Source: Wikipedia, Elise Nieshalla
John Schick. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Jessica Bailey. Took and kept the oath of Porter County clerk, an elected office, since 2019. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Elise Nieshalla. Took and kept the oaths of Boone County Council member and state comptroller. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Comptroller's office, About
John Schick. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Jessica Bailey. Elected Porter County clerk, serving since 2019 and in her second term; the office runs county elections and court records.
Sources: UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026, Ballotpedia, Jessica Bailey
Elise Nieshalla. Appointed comptroller Dec. 1, 2023 and has not completed a full term; earlier seven years on the Boone County Council, including as president, and president of the Indiana County Councils Association.
Sources: Wikipedia, Elise Nieshalla, Comptroller's office, About
John Schick. No public record found.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Jessica Bailey. Proposes streaming State Board of Finance meetings and making the state transparency portal easier to search, both tied to the comptroller's duties.
Source: UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026
Elise Nieshalla. Describes the office's specific duties and her launch of a Federal Funding Expenditures Dashboard with six years of federal grant spending data.
Source: UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026
John Schick. No public record found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Jessica Bailey. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and answered the Reflector questionnaire.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jessica Bailey, UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026
Elise Nieshalla. Answered the Reflector questionnaire and publishes campaign positions. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026, Ballotpedia, Elise Nieshalla
John Schick. No public record found.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Jessica Bailey. From Porter County, where she has served as the elected county clerk since 2019.
Source: WFYI, May 28, 2026
Elise Nieshalla. Lives in Zionsville and served seven years on the Boone County Council.
Source: UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026
John Schick. No public record found.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Jessica Bailey. Has run the Porter County clerk's office since 2019.
Elise Nieshalla. Heads the statewide comptroller's office, which keeps the state's accounts, runs state payroll, pays vendors and distributes tax revenue to local governments.
Source: UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026
John Schick. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Jessica Bailey. Named Clerk of the Year in 2023 among Indiana's 92 county clerks.
Elise Nieshalla. Her office issued the fiscal 2025 state financial report on Dec. 23, 2025 with a State Board of Accounts audit opinion; the fiscal 2024 report received the GFOA certificate for excellence in financial reporting.
Source: Indiana Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, fiscal 2025
John Schick. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Jessica Bailey. No public record found.
Elise Nieshalla. No public record found.
John Schick. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Jessica Bailey. No public record found.
Elise Nieshalla. No public record found.
John Schick. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Jessica Bailey. No public record found.
Elise Nieshalla. No public record found.
John Schick. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Jessica Bailey. No public record found.
Elise Nieshalla. The State Board of Accounts gave an unmodified opinion on the fiscal 2025 statewide financial statements prepared by her office.
Source: Indiana Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, fiscal 2025
John Schick. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Indiana state comptroller (auditor of state) race?
Jessica Bailey has the strongest record in the Indiana state comptroller (auditor of state) race. Jessica Bailey scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Elise Nieshalla at 60, as of October 9, 2026. Jessica Bailey's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Elise Nieshalla's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. John Schick (0 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Indiana state comptroller (auditor of state) race in 2026?
Jessica Bailey (Democratic), Elise Nieshalla (Republican, incumbent), John Schick (Libertarian). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Jessica Bailey a good candidate for State Comptroller (Auditor of State)?
Jessica Bailey scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Elise Nieshalla a good candidate for State Comptroller (Auditor of State)?
Elise Nieshalla scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is John Schick a good candidate for State Comptroller (Auditor of State)?
John Schick has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Indiana race scored, and the Indiana 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.