House District 71 is one of the most competitive state house districts in Indiana. It encompasses Jeffersonville and Clarksville in Clark County and a portion of New Albany in Floyd County -- part of the Louisville metro area. The DLCC designated Indiana as one of its eight "Powerbuild" target states for 2026, and HD-71 is a key defensive priority.
The numbers tell the story. Trump carried this district by just 0.3 percentage points in 2024. In the 2024 state house race, Democrat Wendy Dant Chesser won 49.6% to 46.6%. In 2022, Democrat Rita Fleming won by just 226 votes. Republicans have not held this seat since 1990, but the margins have tightened dramatically.
Dant Chesser brings unusual strengths for a one-term incumbent. Her career in economic development -- running the regional chamber of commerce, facilitating thousands of jobs, earning national professional recognition -- gives her policy credibility that is difficult to attack. She has the advantage of not facing a primary, allowing her to spend the spring building resources while Republicans split their votes.
The Republican primary is expected to produce Bagshaw, a nine-year Floyd County Council member with practical government experience. The general election will be one of the handful of Indiana state house races decided by hundreds rather than thousands of votes.