Marlin Stutzman Bio
Marlin Andrew Stutzman is an American politician and fourth-generation farmer who has represented Indiana’s 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. A Republican, he first served in the seat from 2010 to 2017 before winning a return to Congress in 2025. Beyond his legislative work, Stutzman co-owns and operates Stutzman Farms and Stutzman Farms Trucking in the Michiana area of northern Indiana and southern Michigan. He is widely recognized for his conservative positions on fiscal policy, regulatory issues, and government spending.
Early Life and Background
Marlin Andrew Stutzman was born on August 31, 1976, in Sturgis, Michigan. He grew up on a family farm that sat in both St. Joseph County, Michigan, and LaGrange County, Indiana, giving him an early and direct connection to the agricultural life of the Michiana region. As a fourth-generation farmer, he learned the rhythms of farm work and small-business management at a young age alongside his father, Albert, with whom he later co-owned the family operation.
Stutzman graduated from Lake Area Christian High School in Sturgis, Michigan, in 1994. He went on to attend Glen Oaks Community College in 1999 and later Tri-State University, now known as Trine University, from 2005 to 2007. These educational experiences, combined with years of hands-on work on the farm, helped shape his views on rural economics, land use, and the role of agriculture in the broader American economy.
Path to US Politics
Stutzman’s entry into public life began at the state level. He was first elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2002 at the age of 26, becoming the youngest member of the legislature until 2006. During his time in the state House, he co-authored legislation in 2003 that established the Hoosier Grace Commission, an effort designed to bring more accountability to state operations and to root out wasteful spending.
In 2009, Stutzman moved to the Indiana Senate, where he represented the 13th district and served as the ranking member of the Utilities and Technology Committee. He helped pass alternative energy incentive legislation in the state. Earlier, in 2006, he had served as chairman of the Indiana Public Policy Committee, taking strong conservative positions on controversial issues. In 2010, he sought the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Evan Bayh but lost the primary to former U.S. Senator Dan Coats, setting the stage for his later run for Congress.
Marlin Stutzman Career
Early Career (2002–2010)
Stutzman’s political career began with his election to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2002. As the youngest member of the chamber, he focused on issues such as government efficiency, fiscal discipline, and rural economic development. His work on the Hoosier Grace Commission and on energy policy helped him build a reputation as a reform-minded conservative.
After winning election to the Indiana Senate in 2009, Stutzman served the 13th district until 2010. His brief Senate tenure included leadership on the Utilities and Technology Committee and a campaign for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination. Although he did not win that primary, the experience strengthened his profile across northeastern Indiana and prepared him for his next opportunity in federal office.
U.S. House of Representatives Debut (2010–2017)
Stutzman entered the U.S. House in unusual fashion. After incumbent Representative Mark Souder resigned following a personal scandal in 2010, Stutzman won the Republican nomination to replace him at a district convention in Columbia City, prevailing decisively on the second ballot. On November 2, 2010, he won both a special election to complete Souder’s term and a separate election to a full two-year term.
In Congress, Stutzman quickly aligned himself with the most conservative members of the House. He opposed the Affordable Care Act and, in September 2013, advocated attaching a measure to defund the law to must-pass government funding legislation. During the resulting government shutdown, he argued that Republicans would need a meaningful concession in order to reopen the government. He also signed a 2010 Americans for Prosperity pledge to vote against any global warming legislation that would raise taxes.
U.S. Senate Bids (2010 and 2016)
Stutzman returned to the U.S. Senate race in 2015, announcing a campaign for the 2016 Republican nomination. He secured endorsements from groups and figures including the Club for Growth and Senator Rand Paul, but he was ultimately defeated in the primary by fellow Republican Todd Young. The experience did not end his career in elected office.
Return to Congress (2025–Present)
On April 18, 2023, Stutzman announced he would seek a return to Indiana’s 3rd congressional district after his successor Jim Banks launched a U.S. Senate campaign. In a closer-than-expected primary, Stutzman narrowly defeated 2019 Fort Wayne mayoral candidate Tim Smith by a margin of 1,307 votes. He went on to win the 2024 general election and resumed representing the district in January 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Stutzman’s signature moments are his 2010 simultaneous victories in a special and general election, his work establishing the Hoosier Grace Commission, and his role in the 2013 fight over defunding the Affordable Care Act. His successful return to Congress in 2025, more than seven years after leaving the House, stands as a defining comeback in his political career.
Marlin Stutzman Family
Family Background and Farming Lineage
Stutzman comes from a multi-generational farming family. He grew up working alongside his father, Albert, on a farm that crossed the Michigan-Indiana border. Today, as co-owner with his father, he runs Stutzman Farms, which cultivates roughly 4,000 acres in the Michiana area, and he also owns Stutzman Farms Trucking.
Personal Life
Stutzman and his wife, Christy Stutzman, have two sons, Payton and Preston. Christy Stutzman continued the family’s tradition of public service, winning the Republican primary in May 2018 for Indiana’s 49th State House district and being elected to the State House in November 2018. The family attends a Baptist church, and Stutzman has often described his faith and his rural roots as central guides in both his farming and his political work.