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Candidate profile · Indiana Senate District 21

Kirsten Root

Democratic

KR

About

Kirsten Root is a social worker with a Master of Social Work from IU Indianapolis, and the Democratic nominee for District 21. She has worked in child safety and frontline social work roles connecting families to care and resources.

Positions on the issues

Healthcare

Supports universal healthcare; her most specific first-year proposal is expanding the Healthy Indiana Plan into a public option for people who do not qualify for Medicaid but struggle to afford private insurance (per Jejune Magazine and Hoosier Ballot Breakdown).

Cannabis

Supports legalization of marijuana (per Jejune Magazine).

Labor

Supports strengthening labor unions (per Jejune Magazine).

Criminal justice

Favors prevention and rehabilitation over punitive treatment (per Jejune Magazine).

Energy and data centers

Would push for a moratorium on new data centers and other large high-energy projects until consumer protections ensure residential customers do not subsidize corporate energy costs (per her 2026 Top Needs candidate survey response).

Housing

Supports state investment in affordable housing, stronger renter protections, and restoring local authority over housing policy (per her 2026 Top Needs candidate survey response).

Education

Would make breakfast and lunch free for every public-school student in Indiana (per her 2026 Top Needs candidate survey response).

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Research sources (6)
  1. indianacitizen.org
  2. en.wikipedia.org
  3. jejunemagazine.com
  4. hoosierpoliticsnow.wordpress.com
  5. institute.incap.org
  6. indianaruralsummit.org