Meet Nick McKinley
Nick McKinley is a father, husband, business owner, and lifelong conservative Republican running for Indiana Senate District 17.
Born and raised in northern Indiana, Nick is an Eagle Scout and graduate of Warsaw Community High School. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Bethel University in Mishawaka.
Nick began his professional career while still in high school as a co-op student in PC technology, later managing the global IT department at Paragon Medical in Pierceton, Indiana. His background in technology and business operations gave him firsthand experience solving problems, managing people, and keeping organizations running efficiently.
Answering a call to serve his community, Nick became a reserve police officer for the Town of Winona Lake before pursuing his lifelong goal of full-time law enforcement. He graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Class 08-173, and served as a police officer with the South Bend Police Department. During his service, Nick earned School Resource Officer certification, became a Certified Drug Recognition Expert, received Officer of the Month recognition, and received two Life Saving Awards for heroic actions in the line of duty.
More than a decade ago, Nick and his family moved to Marion, where he opened and continues to operate a local insurance and financial services business serving families, farmers, and employers throughout Grant County and surrounding communities. As a small business owner, Nick understands the challenges facing working families, job creators, and local communities.
Nick currently serves as an At-Large City Councilman for the City of Marion and is the immediate past Council President. He also serves as Vice President of the Marion Redevelopment Corporation and is an Executive Board Member on the Grant County Economic Growth Council. He remains active throughout the community including being an active member of the Rotary of Grant County. He has served on many boards ranging from member all the way up to past president with the Grant County Crime Stoppers, Junior Achievement of Grant County, the Boys and Girls Club of Grant County, and Project Leadership as a youth mentor.
In addition to his public service, Nick serves as the football stadium announcer for Indiana Wesleyan University and the public address announcer for Marion High School football and boys basketball.
Nick is Chairman of the Grant County Republican Party, a multiple-time State Delegate to the Indiana Republican Party Convention, and was honored to serve as a 2024 Republican National Committee Delegate from Indiana in support of President Donald J. Trump. Nick and his wife, Stephanie, live in Marion and together they have six children, Quinn, Elijah, Keller, Sara, Gunner, and Abby (angel baby). They are also proud grandparents to Lennon, Ledger, and Maxine. In Nick’s free time, he enjoys spending it with his family at their CoCoJos campsite in the summer, coaching his youngest son’s little league baseball team, traveling, and renovating his 143-year-old home in Marion.
Issues
Public Safety and Law Enforcement
Public safety is not negotiable. As a former police officer, Nick McKinley believes communities are safest when law enforcement has the tools, training, and resources needed to do their jobs effectively. He supports tough-on-crime policies, competitive pay for officers, and a justice system that holds criminals accountable and prioritizes victims and public safety over politics.
Limited Government and Property Rights
Nick believes in limited government, local control, and protecting private property rights. Government should stay in its lane, respect individual freedom, and avoid unnecessary interference in people’s lives, businesses, and land. Decisions about land use and development should be driven by local communities and property owners, not top-down mandates or politically driven projects imposed on rural communities.
Lower Taxes and Fiscal Responsibility
Nick supports lower, fair taxes, especially property tax relief for homeowners, farmers, and small businesses. Government must live within its means, cut wasteful spending, and pass fiscally responsible budgets that respect taxpayers rather than expanding government or shifting the burden onto working families.
Second Amendment and Constitutional Rights
Nick is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and constitutional carry. Law-abiding Hoosiers have the right to protect themselves, their families, and their property. He is also a defender of the First Amendment, religious freedom, and the constitutional rights that safeguard individual liberty and protect faith-based institutions from government overreach.
Pro-Life and Family Values
Nick McKinley is pro-life and believes strong families are the foundation of strong communities. He supports Indiana’s current pro-life laws, among the strongest in the nation, and believes public policy should reflect the sanctity of life and respect for family values.
Economic Growth and Small Business
As a small business owner, Nick understands the challenges facing employers and workers. He supports free-market principles, cutting red tape, and pro-growth policies that encourage entrepreneurship, attract investment, and create good-paying jobs. Economic development should strengthen local communities and businesses, not reward politically connected special interests or out-of-state developers.
Education and Parental Rights
Nick supports school choice and believes parents should have a meaningful voice in their children’s education. As a parent, and with his wife serving as a teacher, he sees firsthand how education decisions affect both families and educators. Schools should focus on core academics and preparing students for the real world, not political agendas. He supports teachers, believes great educators should be rewarded, and favors transparency so parents know what is being taught and can choose what is best for their children.
Energy Independence and Agriculture
Nick supports American energy independence and reliable, affordable energy while standing with Indiana farmers. He will protect property rights, support agriculture as a cornerstone of Indiana’s economy, and oppose unnecessary regulations or development schemes that drive up costs or threaten farmland and rural communities.
Strong Borders and Rule of Law
Nick believes the rule of law matters. He opposes sanctuary city policies, supports cooperation with federal immigration authorities, and believes immigration laws should be enforced consistently and firmly. Strong enforcement protects public safety and ensures Hoosier workers are not undercut by illegal labor, while keeping communities secure.
