Dubois County clerk Amy Kippenbrock enters GOP race for statehouse

Amy Kippenbrock filed paperwork Jan. 9 to seek the Republican nomination for the Indiana General Assembly, stepping from her role as Dubois County clerk into a contest for the seat being vacated by State Representative Shane Lindauer. The move formalizes a local campaign centered on election administration experience, fiscal restraint, and support for small businesses.

Kippenbrock has served as Dubois County clerk since her election in 2018. In that role she led the county’s transition to vote centers while maintaining election security standards, implemented digital record-keeping to speed service and efficiency, and earned recognition as Indiana’s Clerk of the Year in 2020 and again in 2024. She holds a Certificate in Election Administration, Technology, and Security from Ball State University and has served on the governor-appointed Oversight Committee on Public Documents.

"Serving the people of Dubois County has been the honor of my life," Kippenbrock said. "I’m running because I believe our district deserves steady, experienced leadership that understands how government works and is committed to conservative principles, local values, and putting Hoosiers first." She emphasized fiscal responsibility, backing for small businesses, and protecting election integrity as priorities she would bring to the Statehouse.

Kippenbrock first signaled intent to run after Representative Lindauer announced he would not seek reelection, creating an open-seat GOP primary that now carries heightened interest across the county. The Republican primary will be held on May 5, 2026, and the winner will compete in a district where local government performance and rural economic concerns often drive turnout and voter decisions.

Her supporters and political observers point to the clerk's hands-on experience with county operations—day-to-day interactions with taxpayers, local officials, and families—as a credential for state-level office. "I’ve spent my career working directly with taxpayers, local officials, and families," she said. "That experience matters, and I’m ready to bring it to the Statehouse." That background could influence how she approaches state budgets, regulatory questions affecting small businesses, and oversight of election procedures.

For Dubois County residents, the campaign shifts a familiar local official into a broader policy arena where decisions on education funding, infrastructure spending, and state regulatory frameworks can affect county services and local economies. The primary contest also offers voters an opportunity to weigh administrative experience against other policy proposals and priorities presented by competing candidates over the coming months.

The takeaway? If you care about who represents Dubois County at the Statehouse, track candidates’ records on local services and election oversight, attend town halls, and mark May 5, 2026 on your calendar so your voice is part of the decision.