State Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers, conceded his House District 88 seat Wednesday morning to Democrat Stephanie Jo Yocum. The loss ends a six-year Statehouse career that included chairing the House Judiciary Committee.
“Last night, the voters of House District 88 made a clear decision to take their representation in a different direction,” Jeter said in a written statement. “While this is certainly not the outcome we hoped for, I accept that decision with humility and respect.”
Unofficial Hamilton County results with all 234 precincts reporting show Yocum with 4,359 votes (53.07%) to Jeter’s 3,854 (46.93%), according to the Hamilton County Election Office. The district also includes parts of Hancock, Madison and Marion counties, and district-wide totals remain unofficial.
The result reverses 2024, when Jeter beat Yocum 57.8% to 42.2%. The district has usually been safe for Republicans. It includes parts of Fishers, the Geist area, Lawrence, McCordsville and Fortville. This year it became a battleground, with the Democratic and Republican House campaign committees each spending more than $40,000 on the race, The Daily Reporter in Greenfield reported.
Jeter’s loss was part of a wider Democratic surge in Hamilton County Tuesday. Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, appears to have lost House District 37 to Democrat Lauren Cole. Democrats also broke the Republican supermajority in the Indiana House, which the GOP had held since 2012.
In his statement, Jeter congratulated Yocum on “a hard-fought and successful campaign” but said the two still disagree on policy.
“I believe elements of the broader Democratic agenda represent a radical departure from the limited government, parental choice, and fiscal restraint that have guided my service,” he said. “But respecting the voters’ decision is a fundamental obligation of anyone privileged to hold public office.”
Jeter is a Hamilton Southeastern High School graduate, a Navy veteran and a Fishers attorney. He joined the House in August 2020 after winning a Republican caucus to finish the term of former House Speaker Brian Bosma. He won full terms in 2020, 2022 and 2024 and has chaired the Judiciary Committee since the 2024 session.
He pointed to his work on criminal justice laws, constitutional bail reform and tax relief. “Not every effort was successful, but every day I tried to approach this responsibility with conviction and purpose,” he said.
Jeter thanked his wife, Karen, and their three children. He said he will return his focus to his law firm and is not making any political announcements.
“What I do know is that my commitment to serving others did not begin with elected office, and it will not end with it,” he said.
Yocum chairs Serve Indiana, the governor-appointed commission on volunteerism and service, and is vice president of external affairs with a national youth nonprofit. She campaigned on protecting public schools and affordability.