Mark Alan Messmer (born December 16, 1967) is an American politician who has served as the

U.S. representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

for

Indiana's 8th congressional district Indiana's 8th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. Based in Southwestern Indiana, southwest and west central Indiana, the district is anchored in Evansville, Indiana, Evansville and also includes Jasp ...

since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he previously represented the 48th district in the

Indiana Senate The Indiana State Senate is the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Senate is composed of 50 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. Senators serve four-year ...

from 2014 to 2024, including as majority leader of the chamber from 2018 to 2022. Messmer is a former member of the

Indiana House of Representatives The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House mem ...

, representing three terms for the 63rd district from November 5, 2008, to November 4, 2014. He previously served on the Holy Family School Board from 2001 to 2004. He served as its president from 2003 to 2004.

Indiana House of Representatives

Messmer supported the state mandated purchase of

syngas Syngas, or synthesis gas, is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in various ratios. The gas often contains some carbon dioxide and methane. It is principally used for producing ammonia or methanol. Syngas is combustible and can be used as ...

through coal gasification technology. Developers of

Leucadia National Jefferies Financial Group Inc. is an American financial services company based in New York City. It is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a part of the ''Fortune'' 1000. Investments The company's major holdings are as follows: Finan ...

proposed a $2.6 billion

plant in

Rockport, Indiana Rockport is a city in Ohio Township and the county seat of Spencer County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,984 at the 2020 census. Once the largest community in Spencer County, the city has recently been surpassed by the ...

. Under the terms of the deal endorsed by Messmer, the state of Indiana would have bought syngas under a 30-year contract and then mandate that utilities within the state pass on any losses from the transaction on to Hoosier customers. Gas from the plant would make up about 17 percent of the state's supply. The deal received criticism due to government intrusion in the energy markets, and for forcing consumers to sign up for risky long-term gas purchases at prices substantially higher than market prices. Questions were also raised due to

hiring Mark Lubbers to promote the deal. Lubbers is a former aide and close friend of former governor

Mitch Daniels Mitchell Elias Daniels Jr. (born April 7, 1949) is an American Academic administration, academic administrator, businessman, author, and retired politician who served as the 49th governor of Indiana from 2005 to 2013. A Republican Party (United ...

. The project was ultimately panned by the state legislature in 2013. In 2022, Messmer sponsored a bill that bans the foreign ownership of agricultural land in Indiana. He also sponsored bills in 2022 to provide in-state tuition and drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.

U.S. House of Representatives

In February 2024, Messmer announced his candidacy for

in the 2024 election. He defeated former

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

John Hostettler John Nathan Hostettler (born July 19, 1961) is an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives for 12 years, representing as a Republican Party (United States), Republican. He lost his reelection bid for a sevent ...

in primary by a wide margin of roughly 20 points. He resigned from the Indiana Senate in September 2024 in order to focus on his campaign. Messmer would later go on to defeat his Democratic opponent, Erik Hurt.

Tenure

Rep. Messmer was sworn into the

119th United States Congress The 119th United States Congress is the current term of the United States Congress, legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It convened on ...

on January 3, 2025.

Committee assignments

* Committee on Agriculture ** Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology ** Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry ** Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development * Committee on Armed Services ** Subcommittee on Readiness ** Subcommittee on Strategic Forces * Committee on Education and Workforce ** Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education ** Subcommittee on Workforce Protections (Vice Chair)

Caucus memberships

* Congressional Western Caucus

Electoral history

Personal life

Messmer is a

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

References

External links

Mark Messmer at BallotpediaState Representative Mark Messmer
''official Indiana State Legislature site'' * * , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Messmer, Mark 1967 births 21st-century members of the Indiana General Assembly 21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives Catholics from Indiana Living people People from Jasper, Indiana Purdue University alumni Republican Party Indiana state senators Republican Party members of the Indiana House of Representatives Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana