The Indiana Citizen

At their northernmost, Lake and Porter counties are densely populated, industrialized and consistently Democratic in their political preferences. But the further south you travel, they take on a more suburban and eventually rural character. It is that part of Lake and Porter counties that comprise House District 11, a rare Republican foothold in northwestern Indiana, represented since 2014 by Michael Aylesworth, a former Porter County officeholder who after a career in agribusiness became an official at Ivy Tech.

A 2018 campaign profile in The Times of Northwest Indiana reported Aylesworth’s priorities were to encourage “business growth and expansion, direct more state resources into preschool education and wellness checks for youngsters, and improve education as much as a balanced budget allows.’’ Among the bills he introduced in 2020 was one to increase the legal age for buying cigarettes and vaping products from 18 to 21, one of the legislative session’s most watched issues. Rather than act on Aylesworth’s legislation, the House passed a Senate bill with the same provision; it was signed into law. Aylesworth’s legislative offerings otherwise tend not to be on topics that grab headlines, for example, a bill passed and signed into law to increase the state subsidy for the salaries of county engineers.

The district has been seen as competitive; the House Republican Campaign Committee contributed nearly $90,000 to Aylesworth’s initial campaign and $48,000 to his second. But Aylesworth has won his four terms by comfortable margins, topped by a 14,000-vote win in 2020 over a first-time candidate whose occupations included stand-up comedian. – Kevin Morgan

Key Votes

SB 198-2019 (Sentencing, bias crimes). Allowed longer sentences in crimes based on personal characteristics, stripped of references to sexual orientation, gender identity and race. Yes

SB 516-2019 (Regulation of hemp). Allowed cultivation and regulation of hemp products in Indiana, did not change marijuana laws. Yes

HB 1001-2019 (State budget). Set funding for state agencies and services, including 2.5% annual increases for education, though not directly for teacher salaries. Yes

HB 1004-2019 (School safety). Increased access to funding for security systems and resource officers, was stripped of provisions for mental health screening. Yes

HB 1015-2019 (Various gaming matters). Allowed sports betting statewide and table games in more casinos, relocated a casino in Gary and authorizing a new one in Terre Haute. Yes

SB 1-2020 (Tobacco and vaping). Raised from 18 to 21 the legal age to buy tobacco or vaping products in Indiana. Yes

SB 148-2020 (Zoning and housing matters). Was amended to overrule local tenant protection measures like those in Indianapolis, Bloomington and Merrillville. Vetoed by governor. Yes

HB 1004-2020 (Health matters). Controlled surprise billing for out-of-network and other costs. Yes

HB 1070-2020 (Distracted driving). Made it an infraction to handle a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. Yes

HB 1414-2020 (Electric generation). Prohibited utilities from closing coal-fired generating plants without permission from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Yes

Group Ratings

Professional career

Co-founder of Iroquois Bio Energy Company

Education

• Graduated, History and Government, Indiana University at Bloomington, 1966
• BS, Education, Social Studies, Indiana University
• Masters, History in the Western Hemisphere, Valparaiso University

Top Contributors

Operating Engineers Local 150, $1,000

McMillan Stewart & Kathryn, $1000

Catalyst Public Affairs Group LLC, $526.62

Indiana Association of Realtors, $500

Indiana Beverage Alliance, $500

Committees

Environmental Affairs (Vice Chair), Local Government, Natural Resources

District

Population:  64,442

Race Ethnic Origin: 95.7% White, 0.7% Black, 0.6% Asian, 6% Hispanic, 91.9% White Non-Hispanic, 1.8% Other, 1.3% Two or More

Profession