State Senator Mike Delph is a 7th generation Hoosier with his family coming from Kentland, Frankfort, and Wilkinson Indiana. Mike is a life-long resident of Carmel and is one of the first members of his family to graduate from college. In 2010 President Pro Tempore, Senator David Long named Mike to his leadership team as Assistant Majority Leader for Communications. First elected in a special election in December 2005 to serve the remainder of Murray Clark’s term, Mike was re-nominated in May of 2006 by the Republican Party, and was elected in November 2006 by the voters in Senate District 29 to his first full term. Although President Obama in 2008 carried Senate District 29 56%-44% over his Republican opponent, Senator John McCain; Senator Delph in 2010 won re-election to his second full term 59%-41% earning the trust of his constituents as a champion of their issues.

Hitting the ground running, Mike has led the fight in the Senate to make government more responsive to the wishes of the people he serves  He has fought efforts to increase state taxes in addition to making government more transparent and accountable. In 2006 Mike wrote a statewide opinion piece calling for the immediate elimination of lifetime healthcare benefits for legislators stating, “The public loses trust when they perceive we feather our own nests in our positions. We should start by admitting that lifetime health benefits for ourselves and loved ones is a bad idea and should be immediately repealed.”  These benefits were eliminated shortly thereafter.

Known as a tireless conservative, Mike has pushed to the front burner many issues of concern to his constituents.  Common Cause of Indiana named Mike as one of only two Legislators of the Year in 2010, awarding him its Mr. Clean Award for his leadership in the areas of ethics reform, lobbying reform, and redistricting reform. Additionally, Mike carried into law and helped establish the Indiana Military Relief Fund which helps families in financial need who have had a soldier mobilized in support of our nation's military operations.  This was funded in part by the new Support Our Troops license plate which was the idea of Mike's wife, Beth.

In 2006 Mike was named Legislator of the Year by the Disabled American Veterans in addition to being awarded the Distinguished Public Service Award by the American Legion. Known for outstanding constituent services, Mike holds regular town meetings and prides himself on taking up the cause of constituent concerns translating them into legislative initiatives. Most notably Mike has championed legislation cracking down on businesses who knowingly and willingly hire illegal immigrants and legislation to move the school start date well beyond the first weeks of August. Responding to a constituent concern in Wayne Township, Mike led the effort to add military recruiters to the Child Seduction statute. A Carmel constituent was precluded by his home owner's association from displaying political yard signs on his own property. That is now changed because of Mike's efforts to carry SEA 64 into law. A Vietnam Veteran and Purple Heart recipient asked Mike to consider tuition assistance for all Purple Heart recipients. Today, because of Mike, any service member wounded in combat can attend any in-state school tuition free. "This is a debt our state owes them," stated Senator Delph.

Former Vice President of the West 86th Street Homeowner's Association and current President of the Trader's Point Association of Neighborhoods (TPAN), Professor Steve Jones stated, "Senator Delph tirelessly works on behalf of our community.  Whether it's help for a sound wall, working with INDOT, or joining forces to fight IPL's ridiculous tree-trimming practices, he takes to heart the wishes of us all.  He cares as we do to keep the character of our community intact."

Mike has led the effort to make the legislative branch of government more independent from the lobbying community by carrying into law SEA 84.  And Mike was the Senate sponsor for HB 1362, one of the most dramatic reforms in Title 36 of Indiana Code. This allows local governments to reform, consolidate, share services, or really whatever type of arrangement can be conceived by the imagination. The Town of Zionsville was the first to successfully implement this statute by merging with Eagle and Union Townships.

Mike has served ten years in the United States Army Reserve earning two Army Commendation Medals, a Joint Service Achievement Medal, and an Army Achievement Medal for outstanding leadership in his capacity as a Medical Service Corps officer and Military Intelligence officer. Additionally, Mike has earned the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.  Professionally, Mike is the President and Founder of MA Advisory Group, Inc, a strategic planning organization that he intends to more rigorously launch in 2011. He served as a Senior Congressional Aide for 8 years both in Washington, DC and here in Indiana and then three years as an Executive with a Fortune 100 company handling local cable franchise negotiations. Mike was named a Sagamore of the Wabash in January of 2005.

Academically, Mike earned his BA from Indiana University in 1992 after graduation from Carmel High School in 1988. In 1996 he earned both his Master of Science in Environmental Science and Master of Public Affairs degrees from Indiana University. Mike worked his way through law school at night graduating almost a year ahead of schedule in December 2010 from the Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis where he was named the 2010-2011 Judge Cale J. Holder Merit Scholar and a member of the Order of the Barristers.

Mike has traveled extensively throughout the world serving as an Election Observer with the International Republican Institute and a senior staffer for the House Committee on Government Reform. Mike and his wife Beth are the proud parents of five girls: Abby, Evelyn, Anna, Emma, and Lilly. They are a home school family and attend Central Christian Church in Carmel, where they continue to seek a deeper understanding and relationship with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.