House District 40 covers a portion of Hendricks County in the western suburbs of Indianapolis, including Avon, Danville, and surrounding communities. This is suburban boom country -- Hendricks County's population has grown 86% since 2000. Unlike many deep-red districts, HD-40 has shown measurable competitive trends. Steuerwald won 58.4% in 2024, and he faced a contested 2024 Republican primary where more than a third of Republican primary voters chose a challenger.
Greg Steuerwald is one of the most institutionally significant members of the Indiana House. He serves as House Majority Caucus Chair -- the third-ranking Republican in the chamber. His signature legislative achievement is authoring House Bill 1006, the first comprehensive revision of Indiana's criminal code in more than thirty years. He also voted against Trump's redistricting push in December 2025 -- one of only twelve House Republicans to do so.
Siddharth Mahant is a first-generation immigrant who came to America with approximately $850 and built Mahant Transportation from one truck to approximately 80. He has deposited $500,000 into his campaign -- unusual for a state house race. But his political record is checkered: a 2024 disqualification from the IN-06 congressional race raised questions about residency and party affiliation, and the Hendricks County GOP chair filed a good-standing complaint against him in this race (dismissed).
The core question is whether Mahant's $500,000 can buy enough voter contact to overcome the institutional advantages of a Majority Caucus Chair. In a low-turnout May primary, money matters more than in a general election -- and $500,000 in a state house race is a lot of mail, digital ads, and door-knocking. This is a race worth watching.