Chris Campbell

Chris Campbell was born in Indiana.[1] She earned a bachelor’s degree in speech and audiology in 1990 and a master's degree in audiology in 1992 from Purdue University. Her professional experience includes working as an audiologist. Her organizational affiliations include the ACLU, League of Women Voters, and the West Lafayette Redevelopment Commission.[2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Indiana is my home, and serving this community is my passion. Born in LaPorte, my deep roots in our state brought me to Purdue University, where I earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Audiology. Purdue is also where I met my husband, Rob. Together, we have been married for 36 years and raised our two children right here in Tippecanoe County, where they benefited from our fantastic local public schools.For decades, I have enjoyed my career as a local audiologist. Though I recently retired, my commitment to this community hasn't slowed down. I have spent years volunteering and serving on several nonprofit boards to give back to the place that has given my family so much.When I’m not volunteering, you can usually find me crafting or staying active at the John Dennis Wellness Center. I know what makes Tippecanoe County a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family—and I am ready to keep working to protect and improve it for everyone.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Economic Balance & Affordability

Hoosier families are struggling to make ends meet, and Indiana needs a truer economic balance. While our state leadership intensely focuses on corporate economic development, it is neglecting a harsh reality: wages are simply not keeping up with inflation. True economic strength cannot be measured by corporate growth alone while working families face skyrocketing costs. I am fighting to bring balance back to Indianapolis by championing real relief for the everyday pressures squeezing our households—specifically targeting the rising costs of childcare, healthcare, housing, and food security.Investing in Public Education and Our Future

Our public schools provide the single most important foundation for the future of Indiana. Unfortunately, our state continues to fall behind on the funding necessary to truly support them. I firmly believe that a state willing to invest heavily in its children is securing a strong, prosperous future. We must fully fund our classrooms to cultivate the next generation of innovative thinkers. These students will grow into the leaders who develop the vital solutions demanded not just by Indiana, but by the country and the world.Responsible Growth & Environmental Protection

We must always look out for what is best for the long-term future of Indiana. I have serious concerns that our state is ignoring the profound environmental and financial costs of the recent data center boom. Unchecked industrial growth cannot come at the expense of our communities. I am fighting to ensure we protect our vital water resources and the stability of our electricity grid. We must stop utility companies from pushing the massive infrastructure costs of these data centers onto local ratepayers who may never see the benefits.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My core passion is simple: putting people and families first in every policy decision. I am deeply concerned about what the future holds, and I believe it is time for politicians to step away from partisan division. For too long, the focus has shifted toward polarizing issues designed to divide us, rather than the real, practical work that improves lives.We need to get back to a real agenda focused on the foundational needs of our community. To me, that means ensuring every Hoosier has a safe and affordable place to live, and that no family is pushed into financial ruin just to access quality healthcare. It means fully funding our public schools so our children get the strong education they deserve, and expanding support systems so families

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I-Pace, AFT, AFL-CIO of Indiana, Planned Parenthood Advocates, Mad Voters Verified, Indiana Professional Fire Fighters, Mom’s Demand Action, Humane World, NOW, Indiana, Reproductive Freedom

Chris Campbell did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Chris Campbell, first elected in 2018 to Indiana House district 26. I serve on Ways & Means (budget), Financial Institutions & Insurance, and am the ranking member of Government & Regulatory Reform. I am a mother of two adult children, and married to husband Rob for 32 years.

I am an Audiologist and have work for an ENT office in Lafayette since 2009.

I have been very active in West Lafayette with neighborhood coordination & communication, Farmers' Market, Parent Council, and several city & school projects. . I served on the library board and was a commissioner on the West Lafayette Redevelopment Commission prior to taking office.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I support protecting women in their reproductive freedom, health decisions, & choosing when to have childrenI believe in fair funding for our public education system, safer schools, affordable college costs & retaining good teachers.Good Paying jobs should provide living wages, benefits and opportunities for growth.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about a lot of different areas where I feel the state could improve, but if I have to choose one, it would be to improve access to affordable treatment, resources and care for mental health. We have come to depend on our jails and prison system to address mental health, which doesn't adequately serve this population. The prison system and lack of enough providers hasn't successfully improved access and long term care for individuals suffering from mental health or addiction, often returning them to the same living conditions and vulnerabilities that result in high recidivism rates.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Responsiveness to voters by getting answers to questions promptly. Availability to address concerns. Knowledgeable about community and general populations values and priorities. Open-mindedness. No community is going to have a blanket set of views or ideas but willingness to hear other viewpoints is important.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Dependable, Committed, Accessible, Communication, Caring

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

It's important to realize that we are working on the state as a whole, and at times one size doesn't fit all. The job of the general assembly is to work for the overall goals and benefits of the state.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I think it is important to always try to leave things better than you found them.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

I think communication is an important value for the governor to have with the state legislature and not just with their own party affiliation.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

I think the greatest challenge will be to manage the unintended consequences of the near complete abortion ban passed in special session of 2022. This law was passed without making sure that the infrastructure was in place to manage unintended births, increase in disabilities and maternal deaths, The state lacks adequate affordable housing for families struggling to make ends meet. Women and their families need access to affordable healthcare, transportation, healthy food, and child care.

Indiana needs to expand access to contraceptives, which includes allowing pharmacists to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptives. Education should be expanded to teach age appropriate, medically accurate comprehensive sex education.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Indiana has a bicameral state legislature so this questions doesn't really apply to the state of Indiana.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I do feel that a state legislator should have some local experience. I gained so much knowledge about local budgeting and processes for local government that I often times do not see exhibited in legislation. It should not be the job of the general assembly to micromanage every level of government. Appropriate checks and balances need to remain in place to assure locally elected officials are able to do the job they were elected to do. I feel that each level of government plays an important role, including protecting a communities rights to govern to the specific needs and values of their community.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely. As a member of the general assembly, I continue to build relationships with not only those within my caucus, but across the isle and those in the senate. The only way to truly create good policy for the citizens of Indiana is to share ideas and work through details of issues across the state and across ideas.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

The extreme partisan gerrymandering has greatly hindered Indiana's elected body that doesn't resemble the population of Indiana. With the advances in technology and data, the most current maps are highly tilted to a singe party, preventing a fair representation of the state and its constituents. That being said a fair, non-partisan, non-biased process should and needs to be established to assure fairness in voting and fairness in representation. I believe this could be established and map drawing should not be done by those who benefit from biased maps.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

I learn so much from so many different areas that are covered in Indiana code. At times there are steep learning curves depending on the issues and bills. I am never bored and enjoy exploring different topics.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Not for the time being. I feel that there is so much work to be done where I am.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I hear the struggles of Hoosiers every day. Many have lost loved ones to addiction or COVID. Some struggle with medical costs from an illness of their own or a family member. Many work to find adequate day care for their children. Recently I am hearing stories of miscarriages, unintended pregnancies, abortion, strains with the foster care system and so many more.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

The state legislative process is slow and meant to be a slow process going through each house from committee to floor hearings. Negotiations, changes, public hearings and floor debates allow for many parties to be heard and evaluated on how to be fit new language into Indiana code impacting Indiana and Hoosiers for years to come.

An emergency is a acute response to an abrupt situation, that may need quick, precise, expertise and calculated response to immediate danger. Although, it is difficult to gauge all emergency situations, the state does the best it can to have experts in many different fields to respond quickly and advice on the best rules of action with the information on hand. The legislators do not possess this level of expertise nor can they offer emergency response.. The state has systems in place to address emergency situations. A review process is likely a possible way to find optimal ways to address emergency situations. We are currently reviewing emergency rule making in Indiana to see if there are ways the general assembly can tighten rules around emergency situations, or add extra guidelines or definitions when it comes to the emergency rule making process.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes. I think the best ideas are when people come together to find solutions by combining or building on ideas.

Chris Campbell did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

[the profile publisher] biographical submission form

The candidate completed [the profile publisher]'s biographical information submission form:

What is your political philosophy?

Right now, we're facing big challenges with public education, living wages, and mental health. As a mom, community volunteer, and audiologist, I've learned how to listen, plan, and get the job done. I promise to be accessible and responsive to all of the voters of District 26. I want to give a voice to district 26 at the state house.[3]

—Chris Campbell[2]