Snow Wins 73% Of Vote Against Nisly For House District 22
By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — Craig Snow defeated fellow Republican Curt Nisly in a race between two state representatives vying for the redrawn House District 22 seat in the Indiana General Assembly.
In Kosciusko County, Snow captured 73% (6,516 votes) compared to Nisly, who received 2,375 votes. Results from Wabash County were not immediately available, but the size of victory in Kosciusko County assures Snow of the Republican nomination.
Snow said he did not have a good gauge of how well he would do Tuesday.
“I never dreamed it would be over 70%,” Snow said Tuesday night in a phone call.
Snow’s victory now sets the stage for a challenge in November from Democrat Dee Moore, of Wabash.
It was a stunning loss for Nisly, a four-term firebrand conservative who had won easily in all of his previous contests spanning the past eight years.
With redistricting, District 22 now encompasses almost all of Kosciusko County – including Warsaw and Winona Lake – except for two townships in the northeast corner.
Snow, 53, has lived much of his life in the Warsaw area and thinks redistricting helped his victory. He is a graduate of Grace College and works as the board chair of Silveus Insurance Group and CEO of Cedar Holdings Inc.
“I’m happy with the new district,” Snow said. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to serve what I would say is my home.”
As fate would have it, Snow and his wife, Sherri, moved from a home in Warsaw to a new residence in Winona Lake less than six weeks ago.
The race was much different than two years ago when he defeated Russ Reahard in the Republican primary.
That was during COVID-19 when some residents, he said, were a bit wary of talking to strangers at the front door.
But this year’s offered a better chance to engage voters.
He said the demand for hundreds of his campaign signs gave him some confidence during the campaign.
Snow said he knocked on upward of 700-800 doors and three of his supporters each knocked on another 500 doors.
He also made an effort to circle back with voters who talked with supporters during door-to-door campaigning and had lingering questions.
“I did a lot of phone calling and trying to meet with people and answer their questions – and there were a lot of questions – I’ll tell you,” Snow said.
Nisly angered Republican leadership and was a leading critic among conservatives upset with how Gov. Eric Holcomb handled the pandemic shutdown.
Nisly was outspoken about abortion and gun rights but was unable to move any legislation through the General Assembly because leadership would not work with him.
Unlike previous campaigns, the Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee stepped up this year and provided Snow’s campaign with more than $200,000. Former State Rep. David Wolkins, a Republican and former state lawmaker, was also openly critical of Nisly’s legislative tactics.
Nisly often talked about how he served constituents’ wishes rather than bowing to the whims of leaders in Indianapolis.
He could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
Moore, who has run previously as a state lawmaker, was unopposed in Tuesday’s primary.