U.S. House, Indiana 9th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Indiana's 9th Congressional District?
Erin Houchin has the strongest record in Indiana's 9th Congressional District. Erin Houchin scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Brad Meyer at 56, as of October 6, 2026. Erin Houchin's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Brad Meyer's highest marks are accountability and communication. Tonya Hudson (7 of 15 criteria) and Floyd Michael Taylor (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Erin Houchin
62 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 44
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 63
Libertarian
Tonya Hudson
On the ballot as Tonya L. Hudson
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Brad Meyer
On the ballot as Brad A. Meyer
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 58
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Floyd Michael Taylor
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- 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.
Erin Houchin
- On the record2026-09-03
Did not respond to the League of Women Voters' invitation to the Oct. 3, 2026 general election candidate forum, per the league.
- On the record2026-04-14
Was invited to but did not attend an April 2026 IU science candidate forum.
- On the record2026-09-23
WFYI could not verify her statement that her office returned more than $10 million to residents through casework.
Source: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide
- Credit2025
Was primary sponsor of the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025, enacted into law; also sponsored the FAFSA Deadline Act, enacted in the 118th Congress.
Source: GovTrack, enacted legislation
Tonya Hudson
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Brad Meyer
- On the record2026-04-04
Debated three Democratic primary rivals at Bloomington City Hall.
Floyd Michael Taylor
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.
Erin Houchin. Her 2025 annual financial disclosure was filed May 1, 2026, and the House Clerk index shows no periodic transaction reports for her. No House Ethics matter or FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076347, House Committee on Ethics site search for Houchin, FEC administrative fines search
Tonya Hudson. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through Sept. 30, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed April 4, 2026. No official finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10075102
Brad Meyer. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure is on file. No FEC administrative fine or official finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082976, FEC administrative fines search
Floyd Michael Taylor. FEC committee reports are on file through June 30, 2026, showing $0 raised, and a House candidate financial disclosure is on file. No official finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082917
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Erin Houchin. No public record found.
Tonya Hudson. No public record found.
Brad Meyer. No public record found.
Floyd Michael Taylor. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Erin Houchin. Did not respond to the League of Women Voters' invitation to the 2026 general election candidate forum, the only general election forum or debate found; she also skipped an April 2026 IU science forum. She answered a Louisville Public Media written survey.
Sources: The Herald-Times via Yahoo, Sept. 3, 2026, Indiana Public Media, April 14, 2026, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide
Tonya Hudson. Set to take part in the League of Women Voters' 2026 general election forum. No debate refusal found.
Brad Meyer. Debated his primary rivals at Bloomington City Hall in April 2026, joined an IU science forum, is set for the League of Women Voters general election forum, and lists open town halls across the district.
Sources: Indiana Public Media, April 5, 2026, The Herald-Times via Yahoo, Sept. 3, 2026, Campaign site
Floyd Michael Taylor. Took part in an April 2026 IU science forum and is set for the League of Women Voters general election forum.
Sources: Indiana Public Media, April 14, 2026, The Herald-Times via Yahoo, Sept. 3, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Erin Houchin. Served in the Indiana Senate from 2014 to 2022 and in the U.S. House since 2023. No censure, reprimand or ethics finding found.
Sources: Wikipedia, Erin Houchin, House Committee on Ethics site search for Houchin
Tonya Hudson. No public record found.
Brad Meyer. No public record found.
Floyd Michael Taylor. 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.
Erin Houchin. Has held sworn state and federal legislative office since 2014. No vote to reject certified results (none occurred in her House tenure) and no misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: GovTrack
Tonya Hudson. No public record found.
Brad Meyer. Served as a civilian engineer for Naval Sea Systems Command Crane, federal civil service. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Floyd Michael Taylor. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Erin Houchin. Served in the Indiana Senate from 2014 to 2022 and is in her second term in the U.S. House.
Sources: Wikipedia, Erin Houchin, GovTrack
Tonya Hudson. Real estate broker with Suddarth and Company; affiliated with the Lions Club and the Indiana Association of Realtors. No public office.
Sources: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Ballotpedia
Brad Meyer. Mechanical engineer with Purdue bachelor's and graduate degrees who worked in local manufacturing and as a civilian engineer at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane. No public office.
Source: Ballotpedia
Floyd Michael Taylor. IT subject matter expert at Cloudfirst.host, per his voter guide answers. No public office.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Erin Houchin. Sits on the Energy and Commerce, Rules and Budget committees and was primary sponsor of two enacted bills; gave specific answers in the Louisville Public Media survey. No chair or ranking post found.
Source: GovTrack, committee membership
Tonya Hudson. Publishes general positions: abolish the IRS for a sales-tax system, cut regulation on small businesses and farmers, and vote against unconstitutional wars.
Source: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide
Brad Meyer. Proposes Medicare for All, a $20 federal minimum wage and making the first $20,000 of income tax-free, with policy pages on his site; positions are general on how they would pass or be paid for.
Source: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide
Floyd Michael Taylor. Lists named draft bills on rural broadband, rural health care and veterans' memory care in his voter guide answers; none has been introduced.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Erin Houchin. Answered the Louisville Public Media candidate survey and keeps issue pages and a newsletter on her House site. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Office site, Ballotpedia
Tonya Hudson. Completed Ballotpedia's survey in 2025 and the Louisville Public Media survey, and publishes an issues page.
Sources: Ballotpedia, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Campaign site
Brad Meyer. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and the Louisville Public Media survey, publishes policy pages and a newsletter, and holds town halls.
Sources: Ballotpedia, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Campaign site
Floyd Michael Taylor. Answered the Louisville Public Media survey and runs a campaign website. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Louisville Public Media 2026 Voter Guide, Ballotpedia
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Erin Houchin. Born in Salem, Indiana, where she lives and keeps her district office. FEC by-state totals show about 72 percent of itemized individual contributions from Indiana ($607,084 of $843,315).
Sources: Ballotpedia, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, FEC contribution totals by state
Tonya Hudson. Lives in Mitchell, in the district. FEC shows $537 in itemized individual contributions, all from Indiana.
Sources: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, FEC contribution totals by state
Brad Meyer. Lives in Bloomington, in the district; born in Brownsburg, outside it. FEC by-state totals show about 98 percent of itemized individual contributions from Indiana ($70,481 of $71,681).
Sources: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, FEC contribution totals by state
Floyd Michael Taylor. Lives in Hardinsburg, per his voter guide entry.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Erin Houchin. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Tonya Hudson. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through Sept. 30, 2026; no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Brad Meyer. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Floyd Michael Taylor. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Erin Houchin. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 1.397 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 1.190, meeting expectations. Primary sponsor of two enacted bills, the FAFSA Deadline Act (118th) and the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
Tonya Hudson. No public record found.
Brad Meyer. No public record found.
Floyd Michael Taylor. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Erin Houchin. Missed 18 of 1,917 roll call votes, 0.9 percent, from January 2023 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Tonya Hudson. No public record found.
Brad Meyer. No public record found.
Floyd Michael Taylor. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Erin Houchin. Keeps a district office in Salem and offers federal agency casework. Her claim of more than $10 million returned through casework could not be verified by WFYI.
Sources: Office site, office locations, Office site, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide
Tonya Hudson. No public record found.
Brad Meyer. No public record found.
Floyd Michael Taylor. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Erin Houchin. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -1.02269 in the latest posted House scores (2023), ranked 340 of 436, in the bottom quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Tonya Hudson. No public record found.
Brad Meyer. No public record found.
Floyd Michael Taylor. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Erin Houchin. No public record found.
Tonya Hudson. No public record found.
Brad Meyer. No public record found.
Floyd Michael Taylor. 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 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Indiana's 9th Congressional District?
Erin Houchin has the strongest record in Indiana's 9th Congressional District. Erin Houchin scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Brad Meyer at 56, as of October 6, 2026. Erin Houchin's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Brad Meyer's highest marks are accountability and communication. Tonya Hudson (7 of 15 criteria) and Floyd Michael Taylor (6 of 15 criteria) have 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 Indiana's 9th Congressional District in 2026?
Erin Houchin (Republican, incumbent), Tonya Hudson (Libertarian), Brad Meyer (Democratic), Floyd Michael Taylor (Write-in). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Erin Houchin a good candidate for Congress?
Erin Houchin scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 44 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Tonya Hudson a good candidate for Congress?
Tonya Hudson has public evidence on 7 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.
Is Brad Meyer a good candidate for Congress?
Brad Meyer scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 58 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Floyd Michael Taylor a good candidate for Congress?
Floyd Michael Taylor has public evidence on 6 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.