The Elkhart County Republican Party wants you to know your candidates. Throughout the run toward the May 2026 Primary Election, we will be posting Q&As with your candidates to help introduce (and re-introduce) them to you – the Republican voter! All Republican candidates in the race are contacted. We begin this series with the contested race for Indiana State Senate, District 11. 

Candidate Bio: Linda Rogers – State Senator Linda Rogers has served Senate District 11 since her election in 2018. She represents the northern third of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties.

Rogers serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Pensions and Labor. She also serves as a member of the Senate Committees on Education and Career Development, Elections, Family and Children, and Tax and Fiscal Policy.

Rogers has spent over 40 years in the Michiana area as small business owner and leader, owning and operating numerous restaurants along with Juday Creek Golf Course and Nugent Builders, a custom home builder.

She has served as the first female President of numerous organizations on the local, state and national level. This includes the Homebuilders Association of St. Joseph Valley, the Indiana Builders Association, the Indiana Golf Course Owners Association and the National Golf Course Association.

Rogers is dedicated to improving the Education System, establishing sound tax and fiscal policy and establishing and supporting  policies that allows Hoosiers to achieve the American Dream of owning a home.  She has a Batchelor of Science degree in Math for Secondary Education and has received numerous legislator of the year awards.

Rogers resides in Granger with her husband Mike. They have one daughter Michelle Wittig and two grandchildren.

Why did you decide to seek election/re-election to this office? Serving in the Indiana Senate the last 2 terms has truly been an honor and I am excited to again be on the ballot. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to build upon relationships I have developed at the Statehouse and represent the people of St. Joe and Elkhart counties.

My decision to first run for office came from my belief that Hoosiers deserve principled leadership grounded in hard work, responsibility, faith, and service, not political trends or empty rhetoric. I was raised in a household where effort was expected, not optional. Chores came before school; you followed through, did the job right, and took responsibility.

Those lessons taught me accountability, discipline, and respect for others’ time, values I carry into public service.

I am running again because our community deserves leadership that is steady, experienced, and effective. The work we do in the Indiana Senate depends on relationships, trust, and the ability to turn good ideas into real results. With years of business experience and a proven conservative record in the Senate, I know how to listen carefully, craft common sense solutions, build consensus, and get things done. I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I hope you will support my continued service as I keep putting our community first.

What do you feel are the main issues facing this office heading into your next potential term? The issues facing our community are kitchen tables issues. The price of everything seems to keep rising with no end in sight. While the Indiana General Assembly can’t fix everything, we can continue to provide meaningful property tax relief and fixing the assessment system.  Over the last year, the cost of utilities has jumped exponentially, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to keep our utility providers in check.  We also have more work to do on medical costs that are hurting all Hoosiers.  Medicaid continues to be a large portion of the Indiana budget, and we want to provide benefits for those that truly need help, and work to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.  We need to continue our work on addressing the lack of affordable housing.

What are some elements of this job that the public may not know about? Indiana has a part-time legislature, which means we are in session for three or four months each year. However, the job itself is not part-time, it is very much a full-time responsibility. Even when we are not in session, I am at the Statehouse at least once a week. A large part of the job is also serving as a resource for the community by listening, advocating for and working with Hoosiers and their families for instance when they may have issues with state agencies or have an identified need for legislation. It takes months to prepare for session by meeting with constituents, community leaders and advocacy groups and to review the impact of legislation as it is being drafted. Many people may not realize how long and analyzed the process is for legislation. One of the final steps for a bill to become law, it must pass both chambers in exactly the same form, a procedure I believe is important. During my time in the Senate, I have worked hard to be one of the more effective legislators by developing relationships built on trust and working collaboratively to get things done.

Why have you decided to seek election as a Republican candidate and why are those values important to you? I grew up in a conservative Republican home. My grandfather, Howard Nugent, was Michigan’s longest-serving Speaker of the House, and he instilled in me the importance of principled leadership. I believe in limited government — that government should only do what people cannot do for themselves. I also believe in free markets and fewer regulations. Our businesses cannot thrive when they are burdened by excessive government rules. I strongly support the core principles of the Indiana Republican Party, and my voting record in the Indiana Senate reflects that commitment.

How can voters get in touch with you and stay updated on your campaign? Voters can log into my website, lindarogers.org You can reach out via email [email protected] or [email protected].  You can also find me on social media as well.

Candidate Bio: Brian Schmutzler – Dr. Brian Schmutzler is a physician, husband, father, and conservative leader running for Indiana State Senate in District 11.

Brian is a practicing anesthesiologist and healthcare entrepreneur who has spent his career solving complex problems and building organizations that serve communities across the Midwest. Through his work in healthcare, he has helped develop medical programs and services used by hospitals and surgery centers across multiple states.
 
Brian and his wife Alicia have been married nearly 20 years and are raising their children with the values that guide his campaign — faith, family, responsibility, and service to others.
 
Brian often says he is a Christian first, a conservative second, and a Republican when the party is aligned with those values. He believes government should protect freedom, strengthen families, and empower local communities rather than control them.
 
He also believes the America First principles championed by President Donald Trump — strong borders, American energy independence, support for law enforcement, and putting working families first — reflect the priorities of many Hoosiers here in northern Indiana.
 
Brian is running for State Senate because he believes Senate District 11 deserves active, principled leadership that listens to voters and represents the district every single day.

Why did you decide to seek election/re-election to this office? I decided to run because I believe Senate District 11 deserves leadership that is present, engaged, and accountable to the people who live here.

Over the past several months I have knocked on hundreds of doors and spoken directly with voters across St. Joseph and Elkhart counties. Those conversations reinforced something I believe deeply: people want leaders who are visible in their communities and who listen before making decisions that affect their families.
 
Too often in politics, elected officials become disconnected from the voters they represent. I believe representation means being in the district, listening to constituents, and making decisions based on their interests rather than political relationships in Indianapolis.
 
I’m running as a strong conservative who believes government should serve the people — not the other way around. I support policies that protect our borders, defend law enforcement, strengthen American energy independence, and put working families first.
 
I’m proud to stand with President Donald Trump and the America First movement because it reminded the country that government must answer to the people, not to political insiders.
 
As a physician, business leader, husband, and father raising a family here, I want to ensure that the decisions made in Indianapolis reflect the priorities of the people who actually live and work in Senate District 11.
 
Public office should be about service, not comfort — and Senate District 11 deserves a senator who is visible in the community, grounded in conservative principles, and willing to stand up for the voters of this district every single day.

What do you feel are the main issues facing this office heading into your next potential term? Several important issues will shape the future of Indiana and Senate District 11.

Fair representation through redistricting is critical. Voters deserve a process that reflects the will of the people and protects the integrity of our elections. When voters clearly support reforms, their voices should be heard rather than ignored.
 
Public safety and secure communities remain a top priority. Hoosiers expect strong support for law enforcement and policies that protect families and neighborhoods.
 
Education and local control are also essential. Parents and communities should have a meaningful voice in education decisions, and the state must respect the role of local leadership while maintaining strong standards.
 
Finally, Indiana must continue to promote economic growth, fiscal responsibility, and policies that allow businesses and families to succeed.
 
These issues require leaders who stay closely connected to their district and who make decisions based on the interests of the people they represent.

What are some elements of this job that the public may not know about? My values begin with my Christian faith, which emphasizes responsibility, service to others, and the importance of strong families and communities.

Those principles align closely with the core ideals of the Republican Party — limited government, personal responsibility, economic freedom, and respect for the Constitution.
 
I am proud to stand with the conservative movement that believes in strong borders, energy independence, law and order, and putting American citizens first. I believe the leadership of President Donald Trump helped bring those priorities back to the center of American politics, and those same principles should guide public policy here in Indiana.
 
I believe government should protect liberty rather than control it, empower families rather than replace them, and allow communities to shape their own future.
 
Those values are why I am proud to run as a Republican.

Why have you decided to seek election as a Republican candidate and why are those values important to you? I am running as a Republican because I believe government should be limited, accountable, and fiscally disciplined.

Taxpayer dollars come from hardworking families and small businesses. Responsible governance means living within our means, prioritizing core services, and ensuring transparency in financial decisions.

Republican principles emphasize individual responsibility, public safety, and creating an environment where families and businesses can thrive. Those values guide my approach to public service.

How can voters get in touch with you and stay updated on your campaign? One of the most important parts of this campaign has been meeting voters directly across the district, and I look forward to continuing those conversations.

Voters can stay connected and learn more about the campaign at:
 
Facebook: Dr Brian for Senate
 
I encourage anyone with questions or concerns to reach out. Representation works best when elected officials remain accessible and accountable to the people they serve.