Chris Cleveland
Republican | Indiana
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, A.B., 1980-1984
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, MBA, 1988-1990
WORK & MILITARY
Many software startups, CEO, 1990-
AFFILIATIONS
Chicago Republican Party, Chairman, 2015-2020
Ted Cruz for President, State Chairman, Illinois, 2015-2016
Trump for President, District Director, Indiana, 2023-2024
Republican National Convention, Delegate, Indiana, 2024-2024
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State Representative, House District 9, 2026-2026
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
Republican Steelworkers PAC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Most county-level elected officials in La Porte County
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2026)
State Republican Party Organizations (2024)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate signed the 2026 U.S. Term Limits Pledge.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
To save the life of the mother, and in cases of rape or incest when the mother is herself a child and would suffer irreparable harm in giving birth.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Disagree
Disagree, except in cases where the person cannot care for themselves, due to age or disability or other circumstances.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree. Public education should be guaranteed through high school.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Indiana has a balanced budget. At the federal level, most government agencies should be strongly scrutinized on a periodic basis. Healthcare spending has risen beyond all reason, and should be subject to particular scrutiny.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Agree
Civil unions should suffice.
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
It means that, per the establishment clause, government may not establish or promote a particular religion. It does not mean that the government must be hostile to religion, or abolish it from the public square. On the contrary, it requires that government treat religion in a neutral manner. In particular, government may not place religious expression at a disadvantage versus other types of expression, for example, prohibiting a nativity scene on public property or a church group in a school.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
As Reagan said, if we want healthcare delivered with the efficiency of the post office and the compassion of the IRS, then we should have socialized medicine.
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Through free-market principles, requiring full health care price transparency and prohibiting restrictive insurance company limits on how patients can spend health care dollars. Anti-competitive practices by PBMs and large healthcare practices should be subject to strong anti-trust enforcement actions.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
IMMIGRATION
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Neutral
Illegal immigration has largely stopped under the Trump administration. I would support incurring the expense of building a wall only if it became necessary in the future.
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone, subject to reasonable quotas imposed on each county of origin. Immigration policy should focus on bringing the best and the brightest here, and allow for a reasonable number of guest workers for agriculture.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was raised Presbyterian, my wife was raised Catholic, and we are raising our son Catholic.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
In general, it is not, except to the degree that it spawns extremist ideologies. Leftists are becoming increasingly violent, have sparked race riots, and are promoting anti-semitism, which has led to violence against Jewish communities.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
The "Volunteering" section of my LinkedIn profile shows my efforts on behalf of conservative causes over many years. https://www.linkedin.com/in/clevelandchris/ Googling my name will turn up quite a bit more.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
35 years as an entrepreneur starting and running a number of businesses.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Only that I'm a life-long conservative.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
No
Security guards and designated, well-trained persons should be allowed to carry.
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Violent felons should be restricted.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Strongly Disagree
Strongly, strongly disagree. Over time, cannabis causes brain damage. Why would we want that?
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
1. I will introduce the "No Secrets and No Lies in Healthcare Pricing Act", forcing full price transparency. 2. Data privacy legislation. 3. Full audit and review of utility company price hikes. Additional areas: strengthening FOIA/APRA, transparency and parental control over the classroom, property tax limitations, general reduction of the cost of government.
