Sarah Blessing

Sarah Blessing was born in Louisville, Kentucky. She earned a high school diploma from Floyd Central High School, a bachelor's degree from Indiana University in 2003, and a graduate degree from Indiana Wesleyan in 2008. Her career experience includes working as an educator and business owner.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a former 5th grade teacher. I taught at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Albany, Indiana for 18 years. I am a wife and mom to three kids who attend public schools in Harrison County.

I woke up to the realization that if we didn't fight for our democracy in the US we would lose it in 2016 with presidential election. I then became involved in the Harrison County Democratic Party, ran for county council in 2022, state house in 2024, and am running again in 2026.

I also started my own independent media company called Project Next with ER Dr. Tim Peck who is running for Congress. We started this after we both lost our races and many people who voted had no idea who we were. Tim Peck and I want to unite our communities and stop the fear, hate, and division that are destroying our country. We make programs online that show we have more in common than we realize and how we can fix our major government problems. We stop blaming the other side and do the work to push solutions.

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?

Take back our state government. Right now the super wealthy and corporations have bought and paid for the majority of our state representatives. These elected officials no longer listen to what Hoosiers want. I want to be a voice for those who elect me. I will not take corporate money.We need to pass laws that help our prices lower. Our energy bills are too high, are water bills are rising, and data centers and other harmful giant industrial buildings are popping up in our rural communities that harm those who live here. I will work to stop all of these things. I will also work with Republicans in power to convince them to vote better.I will work to get our public tax dollars back in the hands of our public schools. Right now a giant chunk of public funds are being diverted to religious and charter schools. Our public schools across the state are suffering. Over 90% of our Hoosier kids attend public. We need to fight for their right to a quality public education.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Ever single area of state legislation is hurting the majority of Hoosiers right now. This is because the majority of our elected officials listen to their donors instead of regular Hoosiers. We need to make better laws protecting affordable housing, public education, governing data centers, women's right to their own bodies, protect the pride community, lower our utility bills, better rights for renters, and so many other areas.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

MadVoters, Tim Peck for Congress, Our Choice Coalition

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I taught mostly 5th grade for 18 years and have a masters in education. I absolutely loved teaching. My husband and I are raising our three children in Palmyra, Indiana. We want to grow old in the county and make the state better for all of us. I try to workout everyday, adore spending time outside with my kids, and I read whenever I have a spare second.

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 want to support public education and stop the current defunding of our great public schools.I support women’s rights and want all medical decisions to be between the woman and her doctors.We need to protect all Hoosier freedoms and stop the many terrible laws happening in Indiana. We must stand up and stop these extremists who have risen to power in our great state.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am most passionate about saving public education, protecting women and young girls, making policies that help clean up our waters and air, and shaping laws to be more fair for everyone.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I really admire President Obama and his wife Michelle. I found so much wisdom in the 8 years Obama he had the job of president, and I learned many life lessons from both of their autobiographies.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I follow Margaret Attwood’s political philosophy and recommend reading her Handmaid’s Tale and the newer sequel. We must fight to protect and keep our democracy functioning. We cannot take these freedoms for granted.

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

Elected officials should be honest, moral, brave, and be willing to do the right thing even when it’s hard.

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

I am a good communicator. I would enjoy effectively explaining what would be good for our state and how we get there. I am also brave. I have called out local corruption in my county for the past few years and am. It afraid to stand up for what is right.

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

State house elected leaders should vote based on their positions that got them elected. I would vote to restore freedoms of Hoosiers, to protect education, and help shape policies that make Hoosier’s lives better.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would love to leave a legacy of showing women how to stand up for themselves and fight for their freedoms. I would love young people to be encouraged to run for public office because of the things I was able to accomplish.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I used to babysit for about eight different families. I have always loved children and helping them learn and grow.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Pride and Prejudice because I love how smart, stubborn, and good the two main characters are. They admit their faults and learn and grow to make it so they can love each other and be happy.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have lost two babies and almost died from a complicated pregnancy. I was able to get the care I needed from my doctors because this happened before Indiana enacted our current abortion bans. These scary health scares and loss of my babies have made me stronger and given me a desire to protect women today that do not have the same rights I had.

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

The governor and the state legislature should work together and compromise to get laws enacted that help make Hoosier’s lives better.

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

Saving public education from the current law makers attempts to defund and getting women’s health rights back in our state will be challenging but doable if we can elect better people in state positions.

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

It depends on the person. I am a former teacher and am perfectly capable of learning how to do this job. I love to learn new things and I like challenging myself. Soma officials that have been in power a long time have stopped listening to their citizens. If the person has experience and cares and learns and grows than experience can help them.

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

Yes, this is very important. In order to get good things passed we must work together. We should compromise and learn from each other. I am a Democrat and would enjoy learning from Republicans. This sort of compromise used to happen in the past, and I know we can get there again. I would be willing to help with this problem and have many Republican friends in office in my county.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

There are many fantastic Hoosier role models. I definitely am impressed with Shelly Yoder who is in the Indiana State Senate.

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

Yes, I am interested in helping Indiana as best I can. If this means running for a different state office, then I am up for the challenge.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

I would stop the terrible loopholes that are allowing failing charter schools to take millions of our tax payer dollars. This money should be given to our public schools.

What committees interest you?

Education, public health, public safety, and environmental protections interest me.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

We should always have full transparency and accountability. Right now in Indiana it is very hard to see public records. You can ask for them, but if you do not have money and influence, many times the government agencies ignore the requests.

Would a state ballot initiative process be good or bad for your state?

State ballot initiates are definitely good for our state. The voters should have more power over our laws.