The current political landscape has inspired people from all walks of life to run for public office in the 2026 midterm elections! One of those is Kate-Lynn Holley (she/her), a former WWE RAW wrestler and current real estate agent based in northwest Indiana. This mother of one and lover of pink says her Christian faith has inspired her to care for and about the downtrodden, needy, and those failed by the current Republican administration in Indiana, and is running to harness the power of the legislature to begin to work to empower the working class instead of corporations. Her campaign is centered around making community safety, education, healthcare, and the economy more accessible to everyday Hoosiers who are not being properly served by the Indiana legislature.

Where are you based?
I now live in Jasper County, but spent most my life growing up all over Lake County, Including Hammond, East Chicago, and Gary.

What position are you running for?
I’m running for Indiana State Senate in District 6, which includes all of Benton and Newton Counties, western Jasper County (Carpenter, Jordan, Keener, Marion, Newton, and Union townships), and southern Lake County (Cedar Creek, Eagle Creek, West Creek, and Winfield townships). That means I hope to represent communities like Fowler, Brook, Goodland, Kentland, Morocco, Mount Ayr, Rensselaer, Roselawn, Cedar Lake, Schererville, St. John, Lowell, DeMotte, Lake Village, Dyer, and Winfield - a mix of rural and suburban Hoosiers whose voices are often overlooked and deserve to be heard in state government.

How would you briefly summarize your platform?
My platform is simple: practical solutions that support families, protect our communities, and build a stronger future.
As a child who grew up in poverty utilizing many of the programs now being cut or eliminated, I know firsthand what is at stake for these children and families. I focus on the issues that get talked about every day at the kitchen table: keeping our communities safe, education robust, healthcare accessible, and economic opportunities that work for Hoosiers, not corporations or politicians’ pockets.
I am not a career politician or someone who grew up in the upper-middle or privileged class. I fought every day to capture the American Dream, and I recognize the fight is only getting harder. I’m running to make sure every Hoosier has a fair shot at a safe, healthy, and prosperous life because every child, every family, every Hoosier deserves a future they can count on.

What inspired you to run?
In all honesty… because I am tired of the bullshit. I’ve seen how disconnected state government can feel from real people’s lives. I want to bring leadership that listens first, acts second, and makes sure everyday Hoosiers feel represented and supported. The supermajority in Indiana has held a tight grip for far too long. As a former international professional wrestler, I recognize when we’re being worked. I also know I have the life experience, the resume, and the energy to take on the supermajority and bring the spark back to Hoosier politics that it so desperately needs.

What change are you hoping to bring to your district and country?
I want to bring accountability, transparency, and practical solutions back to government. That means policies that actually improve lives, protect families, and give everyone a fair shot at opportunity. And if nothing else, I want to show Hoosiers on both sides of the aisle that the long-lost art of true public service is still real — that elected officials exist to work for their constituents, not the other way around. I want to bring belief in government back.

What do you consider to be your major accomplishments so far?
This is my first run for elected office, but I’ve spent years serving my community and taking on leadership roles. I currently hold a position on the NIRA MLS Board, where I help guide policies and decisions that impact local real estate professionals and the communities they serve. My biggest accomplishment is building trust — showing people their concerns matter and that someone is paying attention. Most recently, I helped raise funds to save the Challenger Learning Center, which brings STEM enrichment to students across Indiana. And while the state is busy chasing the Chicago Bears, I’ve stayed ten toes down fighting for this invaluable educational resource. The center is still facing an uphill battle, but I’m keeping it on everyone’s radar until it’s secure and thriving because our kids’ futures can’t wait.

What do you feel are the most important issues right now, why, and how do you plan to tackle them?
Oh brother, what isn’t important right now? We’re in a season of crisis fatigue manufactured to keep us unfocused and divided… but I recognize I cannot help Hoosiers tackle the bigger issues when basic human necessities aren’t being met. That is why I’m focusing on access to quality education, affordable healthcare, fair economic opportunity, safe communities, and protecting our natural resources. Conserving our land, water, and air is not just about the environment, it’s about the health and future of our families. I plan to tackle these by listening to constituents, pushing for solutions that actually work, and building coalitions across party lines to get things done because Hoosiers deserve action, not DISTRaction

America is extremely divided these days. How would you hope to bridge that divide with your constituents to better unite Americans?
I believe the key is starting local. Talking with neighbors with empathy and focusing on shared values like family, opportunity, and safety is how we model cooperation and rebuild trust. I want to lead by listening, working together, and pushing for practical solutions instead of getting lost in partisan rhetoric and politician paydays.

How do you see your unique identity and background to be an asset to you in office?
I don’t come from a traditional political path. I never intended to run for public office.
I was raised by a single mom and grew up navigating a lot of instability. My dad passed away when I was in the fourth grade, and for a short time I was even in foster care. Those experiences meant learning early how to be resilient and resourceful.

I’m also a proud product of Indiana’s public education system, and I tried to take every opportunity that came my way. That path led me in some unexpected directions. I became a professional wrestler who appeared on WWE RAW, worked as a wedding planner and decorator where I learned how to stay calm under pressure, and spent time working at NorthShore Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center serving families who depend on accessible healthcare.

Today I’m a Realtor, which means every day I’m helping families navigate one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. That work keeps me grounded in the real economic challenges Hoosiers are facing, from housing affordability to rising costs.

My life is rooted in working with Hoosier communities. My husband is a proud member of the Local 150, so our household understands union labor, long hours, and the value of a fair paycheck. I grew up in a very strict and conservative religious household. Through actually studying the teachings of Jesus, I came to believe that the modern conservative political movement often falls short of the compassion, care for the poor, and responsibility to our neighbors that Christ actually called us to practice.

I’ve also been a theater nerd, a small business owner, and am the “Lemon Rice Realtor” some people recognize on TikTok. All of those experiences taught me how to communicate, solve problems, and connect with people from every walk of life. When I step into public service, I bring that full life resume with me. It keeps me grounded, keeps me practical, and keeps my focus exactly where it belongs: on the people I serve.

What is your motto in life?
That might actually be the hardest question you’ve asked. My life motto is probably a mix of “Be sweet to all you meet” and “Do no harm, but take no shit.” I also believe in hugging a tree once in a while and keeping life full of a whimsy. If our leaders practiced a little more of that balance, I think politics would look very different.

Where can we find out more about you?
You can find out more about me and follow my campaign at www.VoteKateForState.com or connect with me on social media @votekateforstate on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. I recently journeyed into the uncharted waters of Reddit as well and can be found under "Kate-Lynn Holley." If you are at all interested in what Lemon Rice Soup is or finding the best bowl of it in Northwest Indiana, my full reviews can be found on my TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook by searching "Lemon Rice Realtor."

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Kate-Lynn Holley, Indiana State Senate, District 6