Wesley Haffenden

Wesley Haffenden earned a high school diploma from Garrett High School and an associate degree from Ivy Tech Community College in 2017. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Indiana University in 2020 and a graduate degree from Western Governors University in 2023. His career experience includes working as a real estate broker.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a seventh-generation Hoosier, small business owner, and real estate broker serving Northeast Indiana.

I was raised in NE Indiana in a large working-class family. My father worked in manufacturing and later as a sales manager, and my mother was a nurse and homemaker.

I attended college and became the first in my family to earn a Bachelor’s degree, studying Economics to better understand the factors that influence wages, costs, and opportunity. I later earned my MBA.

Professionally, I have spent nearly a decade working in real estate, helping individuals and families navigate the housing market. This experience has given me insight into the financial challenges many Hoosiers face, including housing affordability and rising costs of living.

I have also been involved in community and student leadership, including serving as Student Body Vice President in college and co-creating the first Pride march in Fort Wayne.

I am running for State Representative with a focus on helping working class families, while calling out the division and distractions that plague our state politics today.

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?

Lower Costs and Raise Wages for Working Hoosiers:

I support raising the minimum wage, expanding workers’ rights, and lowering the cost of living by taking on rising utility bills, healthcare costs, and housing prices. That includes cracking down on corporate price gouging, expanding access to affordable housing, and ensuring Hoosiers can earn a living wage.End the Influence of Big Money in Politics:

I support term limits, independent redistricting, citizen referendums, and stronger campaign finance laws to reduce the influence of corporate and special interest. Government should be accountable to the people, not lobbyists or large donors.Protect Freedom and Expand Opportunity:

I support protecting personal freedoms, including reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ equality, legalizing cannabis with expungement for past convictions, and ensuring access to healthcare and economic opportunity for ALL Hoosiers.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Cost of living, government accountability, and personal freedom: living wages, affordable housing, healthcare reform, utility costs, term limits, getting big money out of politics, and cannabis legalization.