Tim Peck speaking with WFIU/WTIU News leading up to the 2024 general election. He's running for Indiana’s 9th Congressional District after 2024 loss to Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN9).
Two years after a decisive loss to Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN9), Democrat Tim Peck is running again for Indiana’s 9th Congressional District.
Peck says this run continues a strategy he began before the 2024 election. Over the past 18 months, he says he’s been laying the groundwork — building a campaign, a movement, and a sense of momentum.
“This was a four-year race for me when looking at the horizon of what needed to be done to win, to be able to make the change that's necessary,” Peck said. “The message that we're trying to give is that the world needs some love right now, there's a lot of hate and division going on, and how can we lead from a place of compassion.”
Houchin defeated Peck in 2024 by a wide margin. But he says the loss wasn’t due to lack of effort, pointing instead to a gerrymandered district, low engagement, and what he calls “straight-ticket riding” by Republican candidates.
“My opponent didn’t debate, barely showed up, and still won — because of the national Republican turnout,” Peck said. “We had a big post-mortem after the election, to look at things. It took us months to look through it.”
Read more: Indiana Democrats ask ‘Where’s Houchin?’ at Bloomington town hall
One change is investing in alternative media platforms to reach voters across the district, which spans parts of the Louisville, Cincinnati and Indianapolis markets — making traditional media coverage difficult.
Through a live digital show and podcast series called Project Next, Peck says he’s focused on elevating local issues often overlooked in broader media coverage. The show, which recently surpassed one million views, streams across 11 platforms and features long-form interviews on hyperlocal concerns.
One recent example: an interview with a representative from a Floyd County children’s shelter facing leadership losses — an issue Peck says would likely go unnoticed due to the fractured nature of the 9th District’s media landscape.
Peck says the campaign has gained momentum thanks to growing volunteer interest. He notes a recent op-ed in the News and Tribune led to a surge of sign-ups within hours of publication.
To build on that energy, Peck is hosting 12 kickoff parties across the district—events he says are open to Republicans, independents, and Democrats alike.
Q&A: Tim Peck runs for Indiana's 9th House
As part of his bipartisan outreach, Peck recently attended the campaign launch of a Republican sheriff candidate in Floyd County. While the visit drew criticism from some political insiders, he says it was welcomed by community members.
“I’ve had Republicans show up to our events and say, ‘This might not be for me, but we made a safe space for them to listen to that message,’” Peck said. “And that’s the point, to represent everybody—represent all Hoosiers.”
The district includes a broad stretch of southern Indiana, encompassing Bloomington, Jeffersonville, New Albany and surrounding counties.
