John Hostettler

John Nathan Hostettler (born July 19, 1961) is an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives for 12 years, representing IN's 8th congressional district as a Republican.

After graduating from North Posey High School in 1979, he enrolled in Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) in 1983.

Later that year, Hostettler married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth Ann Hamman.

They live in Blairsville, an unincorporated suburban community near Evansville, and have four children.

He is a longtime member and former deacon of Westwood General Baptist Church (formerly Twelfth Avenue General Baptist Church) in Evansville.

Prior to his service in Congress, Hostettler was a power plant performance engineer with Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Company (SIGECO, now part of Vectren); he received his PE license during his tenure.

He was one of 40 Republicans in the House to vote in March 1995 against a constitutional amendment to set 12-year term limits for Representatives.

In late 1995, Hostettler was the sponsor of a bill passed by the House to repeal a District of Columbia law that allowed city workers to register domestic partners for health benefits.

In January 1996, Hostettler was one of 17 Republicans who voted against a legislation supported by House Speaker Newt Gingrich that ended a federal government shutdown.

After the vote, Gingrich canceled plans to visit Evansville for a fund-raising event for Hostettler.

In 1999, Hostettler was appointed vice-chairman of the Armed Services Research and Development Subcommittee for the 106th Congress.

In 2002, Hostettler met in Washington with eleven breast cancer survivors from Indiana who were seeking support for more research funding.

According to the women, during the meeting Hostettler spent time "outlining possible links between abortion and breast cancer."

There is no 100% accepted link between breast cancer and abortion.

In 2003, Hostettler was appointed the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.

He previously served as chairman of the Congressional Family Caucus, and was a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee.

In June 2005, Democratic Representative David Obey introduced a measure to declare congressional opposition to "coercive proselytizing" at the United States Air Force Academy after cadets complained that some of their evangelical Christian superior officers had pressured them about their religious beliefs.

During debate on the measure on the House floor on June 20, 2005, Hostettler said: "Like a moth to a flame the Democrats can't help themselves when it comes to denigrating and demonizing Christians."

Democrats objected and threatened to censure Hostettler for his comment.

Debate did not resume until Hostettler withdrew his statement 20 minutes later.

He lost his reelection bid for a seventh term to Democratic challenger Brad Ellsworth in the 2006 midterm election by a landslide.

In the aftermath of the June 2006 arrests of 17 alleged terrorist bomb-plotters in and around Toronto, Hostettler warned that Toronto was a "breeding ground for Islamic terrorists and that the United States will be under threat as long as passports are not required of all Canadians crossing the border."

Hostettler served on the House Armed Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee.

In 2010, he was a Republican candidate for Indiana's open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Evan Bayh, but lost the primary to former U.S. Senator Dan Coats, denying Hostettler a rematch with Ellsworth in the general election for Senate.

In February 2024, Hostettler announced he was running for Indiana's 8th congressional district in 2024.

Hostettler was born in Evansville, Indiana, the eighth of ten children.

He is of Swiss German and Irish descent.

He grew up in rural Posey County near the Ohio and Wabash rivers.

Hostettler became part of the 104th Congress, the first Republican majority in the House in 40 years.

In subsequent years, Hostettler depended on his base of fellow social and fiscal conservatives to keep him in office.

While southern Indiana has been traditionally Democratic, the 8th has always had a strong social conservative tint.

Hostettler's campaign was distinctive in several respects.

One of Hostettler's assets in his run for Congress was his distinctive "Red Army" or "Army of Red Volunteers."

Parades and similar events would typically feature people of varying backgrounds wearing red t-shirts with white lettering that simply stated "Hostettler for Congress".

Hostettler family members were particularly involved in campaign efforts.

Karen Hammonds, Hostettler's sister, was also his office manager and a campaign coordinator.

Being one of ten children, his brothers and sisters have assisted in campaign efforts.

Media has attributed this as an area of success and influence that helped Hostettler achieve six straight victories.

Hostettler signed the Contract with America, but he told an Evansville Courier & Press reporter the day he signed it he did not support two provisions: a balanced budget amendment and term limits.