Max Engling
Republican | Indiana
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI, Masters, 2017-2020
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, Bachelors, 2008-2010
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN / Noblesville, IN, General Education, 2006-2008
WORK & MILITARY
Senator Jim Banks, U.S. Senate, Senior Advisor, 2025-2026
Beck's Superior Hybrids, Agriculture Education, 2024-2024
Speaker Kevin McCarthy, U.S. House of Representatives, Director of Member Services, 2019-2023
Committee on House Administration, U.S. House of Representatives, Professional Staff, 2011-2018
Ruth's Chris (2nd job at night - simultaneous with the Committee on House Administration), Server, 2011-2014
Facilities Management LLC, Office Manager, 2009-2011
Summit Construction (Community Hospital North), Labor, 2007-2008
AFFILIATIONS
Indiana Right to Life / Safe Haven Baby Boxes / Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center, Member/Contributor/Volunteer
American Family Association of Indiana / Indiana Family Institute, Contributor
Harbour Shores Church - Adult / Young Adult / College / Youth / Children's / Sports / Theology / Men's Ministry, Leader/Member/Contributor
FishersOne / Carmel Excellence (Conservative School Board), Contributor/Volunteer
Jon Elrod for Congress / Darin LaHood for Congress / Dan Lungren for Congress / Mike Pence for Congress, Volunteer
IUPUI College Republicans, Vice President
GOP clubs across Hamilton, Tipton, Howard, Grant, Madison, and Delaware Counties, Member/Contributor/Volunteer
Mitch Daniels for Governor, Volunteer
Volunteer Fishers, Volunteer
Marion County Republican Central Committee, Intern
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
None
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Republican Convention Delegate, Cicero, IN, 2008, 2026
Representative, 5th Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives, 2023-2024
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (5)
Jim Banks
Turning Point Action
Rudy Yakym
Erin Houchin
Wells County Republican Party
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Senator Jim Banks, U.S. Senate
Todd Rokita, Indiana Attorney General
Daniel Elliott, Indiana Treasurer
Elise Nieshalla, Indiana Comptroller
Congressman Rudy Yakym, U.S. House of Representatives
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (4)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2026)
Elise Nieshalla (2024)
WinRed (2024)
Scott Parkinson (2023)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (29)
Erin Houchin (2026)
Be Victorious Over Democrats PAC (2024)
Brad Wenstrup (2024)
Chuck Edwards (2024)
Dependable Conservative Leadership PAC (2024)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
United Assoc of Journeymen & Apprentices - Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry (2024)
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate participated in the Indy Chamber SOS Debate on August 26, 2026.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Taxpayer funds should never be used for abortion.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
I agree with Indiana state law - one of the strongest pro-life protections in the country.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
Snowflake embryo adoption is becoming well recognized and should be encouraged.
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
Minimum wage should reflect an entry-level role in the economy.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
In the Secretary of State's office: Ensure a competitive bidding process for all contracts to maximize efficiency of taxpayer dollars - Streamline IT infrastructure to increase compatibility and reduce redundant systems - Fully implement modernized voter roll check system to eliminate unnecessary mailing expenses
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The government may not mandate a state religion on its citizens. This does not prohibit citizens with a religious worldview from participating in government and civic responsibilities. Reading Jefferson's original letter to the Danbury Baptists helps make this concept more clear. https://billofrightsinstitute.org/primary-sources/danburybaptists/
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. Additionally, the healthcare industry broadly should continue to move toward transparency and affordability.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
China is the biggest geopolitical adversary of the United States. I was proud to help establish the Congressional Select Committee on China.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes, relationships with our allies should be strategically maintained as part of an America-first agenda. Israel is a strong Judeo-Christian nation in a militarily important region of the world.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Agree
The goal should be to empower states, communities, and parents and give as many resources directly to states and schools as possible, and not paying for administration and overhead in Washington, DC.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
Good work has been done to close University Confucius Institutes.
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
My wife and I were original signers of the Parent's Bill of Rights.
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
Note - the other candidates in this race have either flip-flopped on this issue or refuse to answer at all.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Bible believing Christian - raised in a Christian household and I gave my life to Christ at a young age. My wife and I raise our four children in a Christian home and seek to lead and teach them to seek the Lord for themselves as well.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Indiana has done an excellent job of ensuring ID is mandatory to vote in our state. I am committed to building on this core principle of election security. In addition, I am proactively working to ensure only eligible citizens are able to register and vote in our elections and working to clean our voter rolls of any ineligible voters. Note, electing either of my opponents threatens to undue these commonsense protection in our elections. *More information at https://maxforindiana.com*
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
As a father of three girls, I will continue to hold the line and ensure that women and girls are protected, including in sports and private facilities. Note, my opponents have either flip-flopped on this issue or refuse to answer the question. Protecting women and girls is a common-sense issue and all candidates should be able to answer affirmatively as a matter of principle.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Currently coal and natural gas are the most reliable and cost-effective. The future answer to this question is almost certainly nuclear energy in the form of safe and water/waste efficient small modular reactors (SMRs).
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
I believe in upholding the principles of the United States Constitution and the Indiana Constitution.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
Punish convicted criminals, prevent future crimes through application of the law, and to rehabilitate previous bad actors where possible.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Parents, the government, schools, and private companies all share this responsibility.
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
"...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. "The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State." Article 1, Section 32 of the Indiana Constitution
