Know Your Vote
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After accepting thousands of dollars from corporate mine owners, Messmer celebrated emergency orders that drove up electric bills and padded mining executives' profits. He even celebrated DOGE cuts that struck agencies like the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program, kneecapping efforts to detect and prevent Black Lung.
In 2024, the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) issued 94,000 citations nationwide. In 2025, that number was reduced to between 7000 and 8000 citations. At a Congressional field hearing in Ft. Branch, that Mary attended alongside miners, Messmer stated that MSHA regulations were too expensive for coal companies. He also joined in a letter asking MSHA to put a hold on their rule limiting coal miner’s exposure to silica dust, while research shows that rates of black lung have reached a 50- year high after years of decline.
Mary knows that you have the right to a job that doesn’t threaten your health. That's why the United Mine Workers of America support Mary Allen for the 8th District. They know she’s fighting to protect mine worker safety and health and is a friend to miners, not mine executives.
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Coal miners' healthcare hit hard in cuts to CDC
Messmer Applauds Emergency Action to Keep Indiana Coal Plants Open, Protect Grid Reliability
Utilities warn of soaring costs related to Trump order for Indiana coal plants to stay open
UMWA: Our Lives are not a Cost of Doing Business
West Virginia Watch: UMWA calls for Immediate Enforcement of Silica Rule
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The Mid-States Corridor project would cover 54 miles in southwest Indiana and cost over $46 million dollars per mile. Current estimates suggest the total project cost would be over $3.4 billion and save drivers approximately three minutes on their drive from Jasper to Indianapolis. At the same time, changes to traffic patterns could cost local drivers up to 10 minutes extra on local travel.
Messmer and then State Rep Mike Braun authored SEA 128 in 2017, creating the Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority, a regional infrastructure agency formed to kick off the project.
The Mid-States Corridor project raises questions about eminent domain, public-private partnerships, and who makes decisions about the future of a community. Property Rights Alliance, an anti- Mid-States Corridor group commissioned a poll that found that 81% of the Dubois County voters polled oppose the project.
Mary believes that when we’re making infrastructure decisions that will affect our neighbors for generations to come, we should actually listen to our neighbors.
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Road funding legislation leads to INDOT, Mid State Regional Development Authority partnership
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Messmer first introduced data center tax exemption proposals in the Indiana House in 2013, but he wasn’t successful in getting it passed until 2019, when he sponsored HB1405 in the Senate, which extended the state sales tax exemption from 25 years to 50 years for qualifying projects. That has cost Indiana over 600 Million in tax revenue.
When asked about the lack of jobs in data center creation, Messmer said that data center job creation would be more indirect, such as air conditioning contract work to cool servers. At the time, he owned and operated Messmer Mechanical, a heating and air conditioning company.
Mary has called for a moratorium on new data center projects until we can agree on common sense protections to protect your utility bills, your air and water, and your community - and make sure they pay their own way!
We also need to ensure that AI adoption protects your ability to make a living, not take it away.
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IN HB1405 | 2019 | Regular Session | LegiScan
Indiana’s Data Center Tax Break Bill Clears Both Houses
This State’s 50-Year Bet on Big Tech Could Cost Hundreds of Millions of Dollars
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In 2025, Messmer voted with President Trump 99% of the time while refusing to hold in-person town halls.
Mary has spent the last year traveling the district and listening to your needs and your concerns. She will continue to be an independent voice who listens to you.
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The majority of Americans oppose Trump’s war in Iran.
When presented with the opportunity to limit President Trump’s actions in Iran, Messmer voted against the War Powers Resolution Act – three times.
When asked about the Iran war in an interview, he said that this war would last a long time — and he didn’t seem concerned. At the first hearing after Trump's Iran war began, Messmer skipped the chance to question Secretary Hegseth and General Caine about the conflict and instead focused on expanding military spending.
Mary believes war should be a last resort, not our first instinct. She knows working families and service members are the ones who bear the cost of Washington's wars. That's why she swore an oath to defend our Constitution, which gives only Congress – not the President – the power to declare war.
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Your representative should be making decisions in your best interests.
Mark Messmer has taken more than 240 donations from corporate PACs and then turned around to vote in ways that benefit his donors.
Insurance companies donate to Messmer, then get protection to keep denying your coverage. Defense contractor PACs donate to Messmer, then get votes in support of the Iran War, which forces the military to buy more weapons from these contractors. Duke Energy and CenterPoint have donated to Messmer, while they continue to raise prices on Hoosier families and rake in massive profits.
Most of Mary’s money comes from donations of $200 or less. Mary relies on small-dollar donations instead of corporate PACs because she promises to be accountable only to you – not the mega-corporations. Mary is not afraid to take on those corporations and require them to pay their fair share.
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Indiana Electricity Costs (August 2026)
Messmer corporate money FEC report
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You deserve a representative who will actually give you the time of day, who will listen to your needs and concerns.
During his first term, Messmer has held zero in-person town halls and one “telephone town hall.” His appearances in the 8th district are rarely announced publicly and when he does appear, he does not take questions or comments from constituents. After word got out that he would attend the Knox Co Ag breakfast at the Knights of Columbus in Vincennes on August 17, the event was cancelled.
At the same time Messmer’s been hiding, Mary has visited all 21 counties in the district multiple times, appearing at public events and taking questions and comments from attendees. She believes that in order to represent people, you need to be accessible and know the people. She’s running to bring this kind of representation to you.
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Impact of the Big “Beautiful” Bill
Here’s the true impact of the Not-So Beautiful Bill for households in each county in the 8th district. The following graphics show the effect on households with the highest incomes, lowest incomes, and those in the middle.
Why such an unfair difference?
It’s the net effect of the bill’s devastating cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which hits people with lower incomes the hardest. There’s nothing beautiful about taking food and healthcare away from people in our community. Mark Messmer voted for this.
You deserve a representative who works for EVERYONE in the 8th district.
Remember that when you vote on or before Nov. 3.
POLITICAL INTEGRITY
Let’s talk about political integrity.
A big reason Mary is running for Congress is because our system of government is corrupted by money from special interests. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Mary hasn’t accepted one dime from corporate PACs, and has built her campaign on small donations from individuals. The Political Integrity Project gave Mary an “A.” They gave her opponent a “D-.”
Your representative should work for you — not special interests with deep pockets.
