Phil Goss

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Phil Goss
Elections and appointments
Last election
May 5, 2026
Education
Bachelor's
Wabash College
Graduate
University of Strathclyde
Personal
Birthplace
Oklahoma
Religion
Christian
Profession
President/CEO
Contact

Phil Goss (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Indiana's 5th Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026.

Goss (Democratic Party) also ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Indiana's 3rd Congressional District. He did not appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026.

Biography

Phil Goss was born in Oklahoma. Goss earned a bachelor's degree from the Wabash College and a graduate degree from the University of Strathclyde. His career experience includes working as a president and CEO. As of 2024, Goss was affiliated with the Farm Bureau of Indiana.[1]

Elections

2026

U.S. House Indiana District 5

See also: Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2026

Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2026 (May 5 Democratic primary)

Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2026 (May 5 Republican primary)

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House Indiana District 5

Incumbent Victoria Spartz (R) and J.D. Ford (D) are running in the general election for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Victoria Spartz
Victoria Spartz (R)
Image of J.D. Ford
J.D. Ford Candidate Connection (D)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on May 5, 2026.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of J.D. Ford
J.D. Ford Candidate Connection
 
42.5
 
17,608
Image of Jackson Franklin
Jackson Franklin Candidate Connection
 
17.0
 
7,023
Image of Deborah A. Pickett
Deborah A. Pickett
 
14.1
 
5,840
Image of Tara Nelson
Tara Nelson Candidate Connection
 
13.5
 
5,573
Image of Dylan McKenna
Dylan McKenna Candidate Connection
 
7.5
 
3,098
Image of Phil Goss
Phil Goss
 
3.0
 
1,240
Image of Steven Avit
Steven Avit Candidate Connection
 
2.5
 
1,022

Total votes: 41,404
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5

Incumbent Victoria Spartz (R) defeated Scott King (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on May 5, 2026.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Victoria Spartz
Victoria Spartz
 
59.9
 
33,695
Image of Scott King
Scott King Candidate Connection
 
40.1
 
22,526

Total votes: 56,221
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

See also: Our approach to covering endorsements

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U.S. House Indiana District 3

See also: Indiana's 3rd Congressional District election, 2026

Indiana's 3rd Congressional District election, 2026 (May 5 Democratic primary)

Indiana's 3rd Congressional District election, 2026 (May 5 Republican primary)

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House Indiana District 3

Incumbent Marlin A. Stutzman (R), Kelly Thompson (D), and Phillip Beachy (Independent) are running in the general election for U.S. House Indiana District 3 on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Marlin A. Stutzman
Marlin A. Stutzman (R)
Image of Kelly Thompson
Kelly Thompson Candidate Connection (D)
Image of Phillip Beachy
Phillip Beachy Candidate Connection (Independent) (Write-in)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 3

Kelly Thompson (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 3 on May 5, 2026.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kelly Thompson
Kelly Thompson Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
21,146

Total votes: 21,146
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 3

Incumbent Marlin A. Stutzman (R) defeated Jon Kenworthy (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 3 on May 5, 2026.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Marlin A. Stutzman
Marlin A. Stutzman
 
68.2
 
39,730
Image of Jon Kenworthy
Jon Kenworthy
 
31.8
 
18,543

Total votes: 58,273
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

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2024

State House

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election
General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 85

Incumbent David Heine defeated Phil Goss in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 85 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of David Heine
David Heine (R)
 
74.4
 
23,160
Image of Phil Goss
Phil Goss (D)
 
25.6
 
7,970

Total votes: 31,130
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 85

Incumbent David Heine advanced from the Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 85 on May 7, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of David Heine
David Heine
 
100.0
 
7,042

Total votes: 7,042
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

See also: Our approach to covering endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements or voter guide recommendations for Goss in this election.

Pledges

Goss signed the following pledges.

  • U.S. Term Limits Pledge

U.S. House

See also: Indiana's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024

Indiana's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (May 7 Republican primary)

Indiana's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (May 7 Democratic primary)

General election
General election for U.S. House Indiana District 3

Marlin A. Stutzman defeated Kiley Adolph and Jarrad Lancaster in the general election for U.S. House Indiana District 3 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Marlin A. Stutzman
Marlin A. Stutzman (R)
 
65.0
 
202,653
Image of Kiley Adolph
Kiley Adolph (D)
 
31.4
 
97,871
Image of Jarrad Lancaster
Jarrad Lancaster (L)
 
3.5
 
11,015

Total votes: 311,539
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 3

Kiley Adolph defeated Phil Goss in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 3 on May 7, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kiley Adolph
Kiley Adolph
 
62.8
 
10,286
Image of Phil Goss
Phil Goss Candidate Connection
 
37.2
 
6,095

Total votes: 16,381
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 3

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 3 on May 7, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Marlin A. Stutzman
Marlin A. Stutzman
 
24.2
 
19,507
Image of Tim Smith
Tim Smith
 
22.6
 
18,204
Image of Wendy W. Davis
Wendy W. Davis
 
19.5
 
15,660
Image of Andy Zay
Andy Zay
 
16.4
 
13,157
Image of Grant Bucher
Grant Bucher Candidate Connection
 
10.3
 
8,259
Image of Jon Kenworthy
Jon Kenworthy Candidate Connection
 
3.8
 
3,064
Image of Michael Felker
Michael Felker
 
1.8
 
1,417
Image of Eric Whalen
Eric Whalen
 
1.5
 
1,189

Total votes: 80,457
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for U.S. House Indiana District 3

Jarrad Lancaster advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Indiana District 3 on March 2, 2024.

Candidate
✔
Image of Jarrad Lancaster
Jarrad Lancaster (L)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Endorsements

See also: Our approach to covering endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements or voter guide recommendations for Goss in this election.

Campaign themes

2026

U.S. House Indiana District 5

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Phil Goss did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Goss' campaign website stated the following:

Farm Support

Family farms are disappearing because federal policy has prioritized size and profit over people and stewardship. I support expanding direct farm support for small and mid-sized producers, protecting crop insurance, strengthening disaster relief, and expanding access to low-interest credit.


Conservation programs should pay farmers for responsible land management — not punish them. If we want to preserve rural America, we must design farm policy around farmers, not corporations. I support reforming USDA programs to ensure that subsidies and support reach working farmers rather than being captured by the largest operations.


Farm support must also include mental health resources, succession planning assistance, and support for young and first-generation farmers. Strong farm policy keeps rural communities alive, protects our food supply, and ensures farmers can pass their land on to the next generation.


Raising the Minimum Wage

Working full time should mean earning enough to live with dignity. Today, the federal minimum wage is nowhere near a living wage, forcing millions of workers to work multiple jobs just to get by while corporate profits reach record highs.


I support raising the federal minimum wage to at least $15 an hour and indexing it to inflation over time and relative cost of living index by location.  This way, workers will not fall behind every time costs rise. No one working full time should live in poverty or depend on government handouts.


Raising the minimum wage is not just good for workers, it is good for the economy. When people earn more, they spend more in their local communities, supporting small businesses and strengthening local economies. I support gradually phasing in a higher minimum wage to give small businesses time to adjust, while providing targeted tax relief and support for truly small, locally owned businesses during the transition.


A higher minimum wage reduces reliance on public assistance programs by ensuring employers, not taxpayers, compensate workers fairly. Raising wages is about fairness, respect, and opportunity. I will fight for a minimum wage that reflects the value of work and allows every worker a fair shot at a stable life


Tax Policy

The tax code is rigged in favor of the wealthy and well-connected. Our current tax policy has left working families to pick up the tab. I support cutting taxes for working and middle-class families by expanding refundable credits, lowering payroll tax burdens, and ending loopholes that allow billionaires and corporations to avoid paying their fair share. Tax policy should reward work, reduce inequality, and invest in the common good.


We must restore a tax system where wealth is taxed more fairly than wages. This includes taxing capital gains like ordinary income and ensuring large corporations pay a minimum effective tax rate.


Tax relief should be targeted to ensure Americans are not taxed out of housing, healthcare, and education. A fair tax system allows us to invest in infrastructure, education, healthcare without shifting the burden onto working people.


Healthcare

Healthcare is a human right. No one in Indiana’s 5th District—or anywhere in America—should have to worry about losing their home or their savings because they get sick. I support Medicare for All: a universal, publicly funded healthcare system that guarantees comprehensive coverage for every American, including primary care, mental health, reproductive care, vision, dental, and prescription drugs. Medicare for All will reduce costs by eliminating private insurance middlemen and allowing the federal government to negotiate fair drug prices.

Until Medicare for All is fully implemented, I will fight to expand coverage, protect reproductive freedom, and strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure. Our healthcare system should put patient outcome ahead of corporate profits.


Medicare for All will also free workers to change jobs, start businesses, or retire without fear of losing healthcare. Employers will no longer be burdened by spiraling insurance costs, thus strengthening small businesses and local economies.

I support fully funding community health centers, expanding telehealth, and increasing the rural healthcare workforce so that geography never determines health outcomes. Mental health and substance-use treatment must be fully integrated into primary care.


I will oppose efforts to privatize Medicare, cut Medicaid, or restrict access to reproductive healthcare. Healthcare policy must be measured by outcomes—longer lives, lower costs, and healthier communities.


The 2nd Amendment

I am a proud and responsible gun owner, and I strongly support the Second Amendment. The rights of law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms is a fundamental Constitutional freedom rooted in self-defense and personal liberty. 


Protecting the Second Amendment and promoting public safety are not opposing goals. I support universal background checks, closing loopholes that allow gun sales without oversight, red flag laws with strong due process protections, and investments in community violence prevention and mental health care. Responsible gun ownership and sensible safety measures go hand in hand. 


Recent actions by federal immigration enforcement raise serious Constitutional concerns. If federal agents can use deadly force against individuals who are legally carrying firearms, then the Second Amendment is not being meaningfully respected. A Constitutional right that disappears during an encounter with the federal government is not a right at all. 


The Second Amendment cannot be separated from the rest of the Constitution. The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable seizures, and the Fifth Amendment guarantees due process of law. Law abiding gun owners must never be treated as criminals or threats simply for exercising a legal right. 


I will defend the Second Amendment, hold federal agents accountable to the Constitution, and ensure that Constitutional rights are enforced consistently—without fear, discrimination, or abuse of power.


Education

Education is a public good and the foundation of a fair economy, yet schools are underfunded while students and teachers are asked to carry the burden.


I support fully funding public education, universal pre-K, tuition-free community college, strong vocational pathways, and student debt relief. Teachers deserve professional pay and respect, and students deserve opportunity—not lifelong debt.


Education policy must expand opportunity and prepare every student for the future they deserve. I support reducing class sizes, modernizing school facilities, and ensuring students have access to counselors, special education services, and mental health support.


Higher education should be accessible without crushing debt. I support refinancing student loans at lower rates and targeted debt cancellation for borrowers who were misled or underserved.


Education policy should respect educators, empower parents, and prepare students for a democratic society and a rapidly changing economy.


Cannabis

Cannabis prohibition has failed. It has not reduced use, it has fueled mass incarceration, and it has disproportionately harmed vulnerable communities while wasting public resources.

I support the full legalization of cannabis at the federal and states level, including removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act. Legalization must be paired with strong, commonsense regulation to ensure product safety, restrict youth access, and prevent monopolization by large corporations.


Legal cannabis should be taxed responsibly, with revenues reinvested in communities

harmed by the War on Drugs. I support directing these funds toward public education,

substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and local infrastructure.


Legalization must also include justice. I support automatic expungement of prior non-violent

cannabis convictions and resentencing for those still incarcerated for cannabis-related

offenses. No one should carry a lifelong criminal record for conduct that is now legal.

Farmers and small businesses must have a fair shot in the legal cannabis market. I support

licensing structures that prioritize small producers, prevent corporate consolidation, and allow family farmers to diversify their operations.


Cannabis policy should be grounded in public health, economic opportunity, and personal

freedom, not outdated stigma. I will work to end prohibition, repair the harm it has caused, and build a legal cannabis framework that works for everyone.


Agriculture


Agriculture is the backbone of Indiana’s economy and culture.


Washington has allowed corporate consolidation to hollow out rural America. I will fight for aggressive antitrust enforcement in agriculture, an end to monopolistic control by agribusiness giants, and trade policies that put family farmers, not multinational corporations, first.


Farmland should belong to those who work it, not private equity firms treating it as a speculative asset. Federal agriculture policy must reward sustainability, fair pricing, and local ownership while protecting our soil, water, and rural communities. I support restoring policies for farmers to receive fair prices and real choices.


Agricultural policy must promote climate-smart practices that protect soil health, reduce runoff, and ensure long-term productivity without imposing one-size-fits-all mandates. A strong agricultural system is essential to food security, environmental stewardship, and economic stability across Indiana’s 5th District, and the Heartland as a whole.




— Phil Goss' campaign website (April 15, 2026)

Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

U.S. House Indiana District 3

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Phil Goss did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

2024

State House

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Phil Goss did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

U.S. House

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Phil Goss completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Goss' responses.

Expand All
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
What legacy would you like to leave?
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
What is your favorite book? Why?
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?
What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?
What are your thoughts on term limits?
Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?
The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?
How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?
What committees interest you?
What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Goss' campaign website stated the following:

“

I believe that the American Dream has been stolen from us by a single political party that claims to believe in freedom, but then spends all of their time telling us the things we shall, and shall not, be allowed to do. That isn't freedom. True freedom is believing in the American Dream of every American.

Join us in reclaiming that American Dream.

Donate. Volunteer. Share our website with your friends.

Together, we're going to give you the representation you deserve in Congress.

Infrastructure

A rising tide does not lift those who don’t have a boat. We must build it for them.

A small business does not succeed without the internet. We must build it for them.

Rebuilding the Middle Class

The middle class does not exist with unfair tax policy. We must fix the policy.

The middle class does not exist without unions. We must support them.

Government Overreach

The exam room is too small for the government and the people. People should only be with their doctor.

You shouldn’t have to ask John Deere to fix your tractor. We should have Right to Repair laws.[2]

”
—Phil Goss’s campaign website (2024)[3]

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Phil Goss campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2026* U.S. House Indiana District 3Withdrew primary$134,771 $138,102
2026* U.S. House Indiana District 5Lost primary$134,771 $138,102
2024Indiana House of Representatives District 85Lost general$0 $0
2024U.S. House Indiana District 3Lost primary$260,099 $256,768
Grand total$529,640 $532,971
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 8, 2024
  2. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  3. ↑ Phil Goss' campaign website, “Issues,” accessed April 17, 2024


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