Latest news with #IndianaDemocraticParty
Axios
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Indiana Democrats draw crowds for "empty chair" town halls
About 75 people packed into a windowless room inside the Greenwood Fieldhouse for a raucous Friday night last week. Driving the news: It wasn't sports or music bringing people together — it was politics. The Indiana Democratic Party hosted a town hall in the state's 6th Congressional District, a seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve. The freshman congressman has hosted a small-business roundtable and visited sites around his district but has yet to host a public forum like a town hall. He was invited to Friday night's event but did not attend. The big picture: Earlier this year, GOP leadership urged House Republicans to stop doing in-person town halls. In-person events were being "hijacked" by Democratic activists and liberal groups trying to bait lawmakers into confrontational moments, sources told Axios, so leadership encouraged members to switch to virtual events. Since then, most GOP lawmakers have complied, and Democrats and other groups have stepped in to host their own out-of-district or " empty chair" town halls. Zoom in: The Indiana Democratic Party has hosted seven "People's Town Hall" events so far, with plans to hold at least one in every GOP-held district in the state. Attendees in Greenwood wanted to know what the party was doing to push back against President Trump's policies that threaten Medicaid and SNAP benefits, how to get heard by their representatives, what can be done to reach out to get more minorities involved in the party, and how to make a difference in the next election cycle. What they're saying:"Our first People's Town Halls in Bloomington, Lafayette, Terre Haute, Culver and New Albany showed the anger and frustration Hoosiers are feeling," spokesperson Sam Barloga said in a statement. "They want to be heard, and their Republican representatives are hiding from them. "Rep. Shreve has pressing questions he still has not answered from Hoosiers — including his millions of dollars in personal stock trades as Trump announced tariffs last month. If Rep. Shreve refuses to hold a public, in-person town hall and answer to Hoosiers' pressing concerns, voters will look to leaders who will." Shreve told Axios met with "thousands of constituents" since being elected. "I'm on the ground, traveling across all eleven counties — and consistently hearing from our hardworking Hoosiers," he said. The other side: Rep. Victoria Spartz, a Republican representing Indiana's 5th Congressional District, didn't heed warnings from national GOP leaders and held several public town halls this year, and she was met with protests, booing and jeering. Republican Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith has also held several public events, including a town hall in Ellettsville last night. Indiana Democratic Party chair Karen Tallian, elected by the state central committee in March, told Axios that people statewide are frustrated by the current political situation at the national and state levels and are looking for change.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Clinton Mayor Jack Gilfoy Jr. dies over the weekend
Clinton Mayor Jack Gilfoy Jr. died over the weekend, according to the city's Facebook page. 'It is with deep regret and sadness, per the notification of Mayor Jack Gilfoy Jr.'s wife, that we are informing our community that Mayor Gilfoy passed away today [Saturday] at 2:10 p.m.,' the city's post said. 'We ask that you please respect the wishes of his wife and give them privacy during this difficult time. We appreciate your prayers and positive thoughts. Thank you.' Gilfoy was first elected mayor in 2011. 'A good mayor and a good man taken too soon. He was always focused on making Clinton a better a better place,' said Dave Crooks, Eighth District chairman for the Indiana Democratic Party. Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun also offered his condolences. 'Jack was a veteran and a true leader in west central Indiana. His impact will not be forgotten. On behalf of our community, I offer heartfelt condolences and prayers to our neighbors in Clinton during this difficult time,' Sakbun said. A graduate of Clinton High School and a Vietnam War veteran, he also oversaw the family-owned business, Model Cleaners, according to his biography on the city's website. Arrangements had not been announced Monday afternoon.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indiana Democrats hold People's Town Hall in Terre Haute
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— On Friday, the Indiana Democratic Party and local leaders are gathering at the Vigo County Public Library to host a People's Town Hall. According to the news release, this town hall is intended to discuss the real-world impacts of Republicans' cuts to Hoosier healthcare, nutrition benefits, and more. This event is in response to GOP Rep. Mark Messmer not holding his own in-person town hall due to the Republican mandate. According to Politico, this mandate was put in place after the backlash of in-person town halls with Republican lawmakers. Some members in attendance for the panel include State Representative Tonya Pfaff and Indiana Democratic Party Chair Karen Tallian. The former state representative Dave Crooks will be moderating the town hall. 'Extremists in D.C., including Rep. Messmer, voted to rip away health care coverage and food assistance from Hoosiers in order to fund tax cuts for their wealthy donors. Voters in Indiana are demanding to be heard,' said Indiana Democratic Party Spokesperson Sam Barloga. 'Rep. Messmer has been a cheerleader for Trump and Musk's dangerous tariff agenda. He is sitting idly while Hoosier jobs are at risk. Our first People's Town Halls in Bloomington, Lafayette, and New Albany showed the anger and frustration Hoosiers are feeling. They want to be heard, and their Republican representatives are hiding from them. If Rep. Messmer refuses to hold a public, in-person town hall and answer to Hoosiers' pressing concerns, voters will look to leaders who will.' The event for the voters in Indiana's 8th District will be held at the library's main branch located at 640 Poplar Street. It will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and those who wish to participate can RSVP at this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indiana Democrats are out of touch. They need a Hoosier family agenda.
The Indiana Democratic Party's new leadership team has a daunting task ahead, but also a unique opportunity to reshape its future. After years of setbacks, now is the time for a bold agenda that resonates with Hoosiers. I'm not a Democrat or a Republican. I try to evaluate issues on their own merits rather than the lens of Team Red or Team Blue. My motivation for wanting a strong Indiana Democratic Party is about healthy governance, not political preference. As former Gov. Mitch Daniels has argued, one-party rule for too long is not healthy for any state. Indiana's longstanding political imbalance stifles necessary debate, competition and progress. The last two election cycles have seen Indiana Democrats set shockingly modest goals — be competitive in a statewide race against weak candidates and chip away at the legislative supermajority — only to fall woefully short. The path forward isn't to shrink expectations further, but to take a bigger swing. Briggs: Indiana needs normal people to get political Many folks rightly focus on strategy, data and talent recruitment, which are critical components of a winning campaign. Others will want to talk about what not to do, and some of those points will be worth listening to. But the biggest problem remains: To the average Hoosier, Indiana Democrats don't stand for anything. The party needs an affirmative, clear, and compelling vision: an Agenda for Strong Hoosier Families. Life for the average Hoosier family is harder than it should be, and there is a real opportunity to champion policies that help children, families, and communities thrive. Call it 'care-mageddon,' the 'care-pocalypse,' or even 'care-gate' (a stretch, I know), but the crisis is undeniable. Indiana faces severe shortages in essential care professions — mental health professionals, disability care workers, nurses, elder care workers, and child care providers. Without decisive action, future Hoosiers seeking care for aging parents or child care to remain in the workforce will face growing obstacles. The economic and cognitive burden of this shortage on Hoosier families is reaching crisis levels, demanding a proportionate response. Small government rhetoric offers no real answers to this crisis, because care infrastructure doesn't magically materialize through tax cuts or deregulation. Indiana Democrats should propose activating the full apparatus of state government — with robust private, philanthropic, faith-based and education sector collaboration — to ensure every Hoosier family has access to the care they need across their lifespan. Caring for our most vulnerable isn't just the right thing to do — it's a critical quality of life issue and a driver of economic growth. The earliest years of life are the most consequential, yet they receive far too little attention in policymaking. Our failure to prioritize the needs of young children and their families during this critical window of development isn't just tragic — it's expensive for taxpayers, who could pay far less by investing in early support rather than later remediation. For a specific example, consider the growing epidemic of maternity care shortages throughout Indiana. It is hard to get a good start on life if you can't get good care in the womb. A growing national and bipartisan coalition is advancing policy solutions focused on ensuring children and families thrive in the first 1,000 days of life (including prenatal care). Indiana could put its unique stamp on this movement by leveraging our public, private, philanthropic, and faith-based resources to make our state the best place for young families. The First 1,000 Days framework offers a compelling package to rally around. A common theme here is the concept of cognitive load: the idea that people struggling to manage basic life responsibilities have little mental bandwidth left to thrive and grow as individuals or workers. Government can't and shouldn't solve every problem, but it can work to reduce the burden on families so they have the opportunity to flourish. Two targeted policies that would meaningfully reduce cognitive load are enhanced paid family leave and family tax credits. These aren't radical ideas — there are serious, conservative-coded versions of these proposals, particularly from groups like American Compass, that could be adapted for Indiana's political landscape. This agenda isn't about pushing a nationalized Democratic platform onto Indiana voters, but about meeting Hoosiers where they are and responding to their real, everyday struggles. By focusing on strong families, access to care, and reducing the burdens on working families, Indiana Democrats can offer a pragmatic vision for the state that is rooted in Hoosier values. Building a party that Hoosiers see as fighting for them starts with having something to fight for. The path back to relevance begins with a clear, affirmative vision, centered on the families who call Indiana home. Jay Chaudhary is the former director of the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction and chair of the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission. He writes the Substack, Favorable Thriving Conditions. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Democrats have new leaders. They need an agenda. | Opinion
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indiana needs normal people to get political
The two major political parties have new leaders in Indiana, Lana Keesling on the Republican side and Karen Tallian for Democrats. If you don't know who they are or care about political party org charts, that's great. Because what the parties really need is you. Political parties are insular by nature and leadership battles are inside baseball. The race for Indiana Democratic Party chair was especially contentious, as Tallian defeated two-time statewide candidate Destiny Wells. Tallian succeeds Mike Schmuhl, inheriting longstanding factional battles between Democrats who held slices of power back when Evan Bayh was winning statewide and people who have no idea what it feels like to win. The loudest voices keep pushing Democrats left toward a nonexistent statewide base of progressive voters. Tallian, a 74-year-old former state senator, represents the party's old guard, reliant on unions and working-class voters who, incidentally, have been flocking to Republicans. Briggs: The Braun-Beckwith plan to abolish Carmel While Republicans are mocking Democrats' ineptitude, they should remember they're feckless by choice. The sitting governor couldn't choose his own running mate and now has to stump at a property tax rally to avoid being outshone by his lieutenant governor. Meanwhile, Republicans all know their delinquent secretary of state is running a grift, yet they accommodate it out of tribal loyalty. That's all because the most committed Republican insiders assemble at state conventions every couple years and choose candidates for offices, including secretary of state and lieutenant governor, based on who is best at trolling and attracting attention without regard for job qualifications. The state of politics in Indiana is sad and pathetic. Insiders have incentive to keep it that way because they steep their identities in having seats at the tables, where they get to help make big, important-feeling decisions in private silos. The system is working for them. I don't think parties set out to lose touch. But the party structures offer tantalizing tastes of power to many, creating big, exclusive social clubs. Below the state chairs, political parties have central state committees, precinct committee members and county and district chairs, in addition to all the elected offices that party members either hold or hope to hold some day. There are many, many jobs. While I've offered a cynical view of parties so far, I want to make the case for getting involved. The most common question I've received from readers in recent weeks is some version of: "What can I do?" Many people feel anxious over current events and want to do something, but don't know where to start. If that's you, then you might be the right person to help bring sanity to politics. Indiana's political parties are going through resets, with long runways until the next major elections. There's room for new voices. No one person is going to show up and change the dynamics. But you can start volunteering with a county political party (it's best to start local), identify candidates you can support and help them get elected in future cycles. Over time, you can build relationships with the insiders and press for the kinds of changes you want to see. Eventually, you might be able to work your way into one of the many positions I mentioned above, which offer some influence (as well as pressure to assimilate). Change is a tedious, laborious project, but you can start today at the bottom floor by contacting a local party leader and saying you want to get involved. They almost certainly won't turn you down. They need your labor and you, a normal person anchored in the real world, need the party to broaden its perspective. I realize this message might appeal more to people on the left, who are hungry for change, but I'm talking to Republicans, too. I entered adulthood identifying as Republican and feel a personal stake in seeing the GOP reject amoral performative politics in favor of substantive policy ideas that can help people. Conservatives are right about a lot of things and we need more of them to act like adults. Maybe you can be the adult in the room. Most of all, what we need is for more average, sensible people to bring underrepresented perspectives into the political tents. Both political parties are failing the people of Indiana. That will keep happening until the normie majorities rise up, get to work and make their voices heard. Contact James Briggs at 317-444-4732 or Follow him on X and Bluesky at @JamesEBriggs. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: What to do about Trump? Volunteer for your county party. | Opinion
