Revitalizing Democracy in Indiana:
Who is needed in this moment? Or rather what leadership is needed in this moment?
This Saturday, March 15th the Indiana Democratic Party will select a new leader. The question at hand, who should lead the party for the next four years?
You do have a voice - reach out to the newly elected District Chairs, Vice Chairs, and Caucus leaders to share your thoughts.
INDIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERSHIP
Indiana's historic low voter turnout is a stark reminder of the state's deepening democratic crisis. With a ranking of 50th in the country, it is clear that something needs to change. The decline in voter engagement is not due to voters switching political affiliations, but rather to widespread voter apathy, lack of viable candidates, and structural barriers within the Democratic Party's support system. To address these issues, Indiana needs a new state party chair who can bring about transformative change. While Mike Schmuhl brought much needed funds to Indiana, strengthened our relationship with the DNC, and laid the groundwork to build off strong mayoral successes, it's time to take a new approach to increase voter turnout.
The Challenges Ahead
As I mentioned in my first issue voter apathy and disempowerment are pervasive in Indiana. Many voters feel that their vote won't make a difference in a "rigged" state, leading to a lack of engagement until maybe the final weeks before an election. This perception is reinforced by the belief that politicians do not serve the people's interests. Furthermore, many state and local races go uncontested, leaving Democratic voters without a reason to show up at the polls.
It is natural to focus on "winnable" races when resources are limited. But that strategy creates a scarcity mindset and as a result has neglected a broader, bottom-up strategy that could increase engagement over time - playing the long game. Local Democratic infrastructure is weak, with inactive or underfunded county parties. Unlike other states, Indiana lacks sustained financial backing and strategic candidate development. Cultural and psychological barriers also exist, with many Democrats feeling socially isolated, especially in rural areas, and lacking permission structures to participate in political activism.
“All hope is not lost when we know what needs to be fixed, we call out the challenges and address them head on.”
The Qualities of a New State Party Chair
To address these challenges, the new state party chair must possess certain qualities. Firstly, they must be able to inspire and motivate voters, particularly in rural areas where Democrats feel socially isolated. At the same time they must be able to address the lack of voter engagement in our largest counties which represent our black and brown communities. This is not an and or this is and both. In order for democrats to rebuild political power, we need a strategy that addresses voter apathy in all areas across Indiana. If you recall, our largest countries in the 2024 election saw a decrease in voter turnout. The new party chair must model bold action and provide clear pathways for disengaged voters to take meaningful action. Which candidate has offered clear concrete plans to achieve these goals?
Secondly, the new chair must prioritize a bottom-up strategy that recruits, trains, and funds candidates in every district. This requires a commitment to building strong local infrastructure, including active and well-funded county parties. They must also develop sustained financial backing and strategic candidate development models, similar to those found in other states. Keep in mind, the challenges we face will not be solved by fundraising alone. The new state party chair must be able to quickly implement a clear working strategy to demonstrate to the community at large a clear path to change - then and only then will people step up to donate.
Thirdly, the new chair must be able to bridge the cultural and psychological barriers that exist within the party. They must create permission structures for political activism and provide support for local leaders to step up and take action. By doing so, they can ensure that Democratic messaging resonates at the community level, rather than being seen as distant and irrelevant. Indiana is a news desert overrun by the Fox News megaphone, but who has a strategy to break through the noise?
They must have the ability to identify gaps, locate leaders already active on the ground, build relationships, collaborate effectively, and demonstrate commitment to shared goals. With new talent and emerging leaders elected to county chairs positions and new members on the state central committee due to reorganization, the crucial question is: who also possesses the capacity to step back and allow them the space to lead?
“While the new state party leader is accountable for the daily operations of the party, leadership is about leading self and leading others. We need a leader who can provide a vision for not only what is needed today, but to realize what is needed for 2026, 2028 and beyond. We need a leader who can build new capabilities within the organization and in others to drive a strategy and achieve results. They need to be able to navigate rough waters, provide a knowing calm wisdom, have the ability to shift gears when necessary, and rally those around them. And finally we need a leader who can live in possibility so we can create a future for Hoosiers that otherwise would not exist, allowing the past to inform, but not direct.”
A New Era for Indiana Democrats
The election of a new state party chair is an opportunity for Indiana Democrats to reset their approach and address the deep-seated issues that have led to historic low voter turnout. By prioritizing a bottom-up strategy, building strong local infrastructure, and bridging cultural and psychological barriers, the new chair can help revitalize democracy in Indiana.
It will not be easy, but with the right leadership, Indiana Democrats can begin to rebuild trust with voters and create a more inclusive and participatory political system. The future of democracy in Indiana depends on it.
Who will be that leader?
The Candidates running for Chair are:
Derek Camp
Dr. Valerie McCray
Karen Tallian
Darren Washington
Destiny Wells
📰 IN THE NEWS ➡️ and HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:
Stephanie’s conversation below is very much needed in this moment.
Podcast: How to Talk to Your Son About Fascism with Dr. Craig Johnson
What’s the best way to fight fascism? Lead with empathy, joy, and community, according to Dr. Craig Johnson, who is this week’s podcast guest. It sounds counterintuitive, but coming together offline in community is the best defense against fascism. It’s that human-ing thing again.
Craig is the author of the brand new book How to Talk to Your Son About Fascism published by Routledge press. We talk about how easily young men can fall down the internet rabbit hole into fascism, how they're targeted, how to see the signs of this radicalization, and how you can talk with them empathetically if you catch it early enough in the radicalization process.
In the next Issue: 🗳️
I am excited to share the results from our Case Study - Civitech Data Drive Voter Registration Program which included several Indiana House Districts across the state.
Sadly we didn’t meet the moment but I enjoyed reading this article and feel it was spot on. Maybe one day….