September 3, 2025 • 29 mins
The folks at Fox 59 and CBS 4 have produced a map they claim could potentially be under consideration by Republican lawmakers for a special session regarding redistricting. But no one publicly claims to know where it has come from and many in the GOP appear to be distancing themselves from it being something they're reviewing. The map takes gerrymandering to a whole new level and has sparked fierce backlash. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt discuss the mysterious map and its potential impact on Indiana.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 3 (01:29):
Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, go will keep Shabaz.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
The program A State House Happening is your weekly look
at what's going on with Indiana politics and government. Before
we begin the program, let's meet the award winning panel.
You know him from thirty years in the Indiana Senate.
Jim Merritt, Hello, Robert, and you know him as the
owner operator of Indiepolitics dot org.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Doll keep Shabaz. Hello, it's a sunshine day, all right.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
So I don't even know how to segue into our
first topic today is I'll just hop right in, so.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Happy post Labor Day, gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Thanks you. What do I get some sort of.
Speaker 5 (02:01):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (02:02):
I see, well, speaking of the fall, there's the fall
of sanity going on here in central Indiana.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
And I kind of figured that was gonna be the
second one. Well, very good.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
It's a trained professional, right, So this I don't know
I've ever seen this before. So Hannah Adams and who
I know her. She's very nice. I've talked to her before.
She works for CBS Ford Fox efty nine, and she
put out a tweet. I'll just read the tweet that
we don't get accused of misinterpreting what was said.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
So it is an alleged.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Map of what the congressional districts could look like if
indeed the Republicans go forward in Indiana with redistricting, and
she says breaking member of the Indiana Republican Party has
given us this tentative redistricting plan. We're told several members
of the Indiana House up were given this map for
(02:53):
their consideration over the weekend. We're also told this map
did not come from the Indiana legislative leader ship. This
map would split Marion County three ways. It's unclear if
state House leaders will move forward with this specific plan.
A special session has not been called at this time. Okay,
so what you're saying is I got a map. Yes,
(03:13):
no one, no leaders gave us this. Man, I know
where the map came from, don't know if they're going
to use it. It didn't come from the state, but
a bunch of Republicans got it, and now we got it,
and now we're going to give it to you. That's
got a cheat sheet item. And look, I'm not trying
to dump on her or CBS four Fix eighty nine.
It's just very weird that like, right, you're right, like
(03:35):
that is something you would put out in the cheat
sheet where you're like, this is probably not true, but
here's something fun for you to look at. They're almost
presenting it like there's legitimacy to it, which.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Maybe there is.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
But it was just very weird.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
To see a television station put that out into the ether.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Yes with no and like I said, and I'll do fairness,
hand up, Hannah's good reporter doing it for a while.
And so I don't think they would put anything out
to you know, purposely, you know, mislead or misinform the public.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Which which tells you there must be some legitimacy to it.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
They know who they got it from, and it isn't
like somebody anonymously send it to them.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
It's a Gitmate says that it's a map.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well, I'm saying they must have got it from someone
who they believe has good information.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
But they wouldn't just put that out there.
Speaker 6 (04:24):
I mean, I'm I didn't map come from Republican from
Republican sources. I I don't see why it wouldn't, because
I don't think Democrats would do that. I do think
it's odd that they split up Marion kind into three
congressional districts and basically got rid of the basically limited
Andre Carson, which would just again be that horneous as
we've talked about for years and you for what seems
like years.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
But they seem to content they're gonna do that if
they go forward, that they're gonna intend. I'm sorry that
they're gonna do this. If they go forward like they're
going for both of them, Well, if they if they
do it, it's and here's where I get cynical. And Jim,
you've done this longer than I have, So tell me.
Tell me if my cynicism is worn it they do
the maps to make the Trump people happy, and that
they get sued then they lose, like well we tried,
(05:05):
it was the judges who did it. Yeah, now now
that's just me being cynical, but you know me, I'm
not cynical at all.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
Well, I think what we should do is celebrate that
we have content to talk about every week.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Man, every week, you know, every week there's something new
and some problems. Day.
Speaker 5 (05:23):
Yeah, well there will be a special session before or day.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Yeah, maybe will be the special You know, somebody sent me.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
A screenshot America First Insight and and I don't know.
It's some fast growing conservative organization focused on giving you
American for America first insight on what's happening in Washington, DC.
And that may have been where the intrepid reporter from
(05:52):
Fox fifty nine got this information. But it raises a
lot of questions, and it really it. It hits it
in the political game of tennis. It hits the ball
back over the net or pick a ball you will.
But it raises a lot of questions and the future
of Congressman Frank Mrvan Junior, which is limited at best
(06:18):
if everything goes forward, and it raises questions about uh
in this in this map that you all sent me yesterday,
Uh it it chops up Marion County, so that uh,
Congressman Carson really does not have a future. Uh it
it it it probably starts the Andre Carson from Mayor
(06:41):
of Indianapolis campaign.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Well that's a great point even think about that. Yeah,
it's not like he's gonna just go work at a Wendy's.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
No, no, no, Congressman Carson is not going away. And
uh and it probably starts his campaign Representative Haggard, which
is a favorite of our our our.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Program here favored in uh in print in uh in quotes.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
Yes, and and you know, uh, you don't have as
a member of Congress, you don't have to live in
your district. And so, uh what district is he gonna pick?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Oh? Well he got well he got drawn under this map.
By the way, real quick, let me just say this.
Nikki Kelly from The Capital Chronicle took this tweet and
then retweeted it and said, this map has been floating
around for almost a month. It was created by an
anonymous x account that has now gone private. The person
who's posted this map repeatedly for weeks. Okay, So to
answer your question, I told you, well, she.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
Needs to be in an overlay off where everybody lives,
but you don't.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Have to live in yours. Moville's that's Morgan County. So
under this map, he's in district. No, he's in he's
well yeah, no, Well, because yeah, I think he is
as district.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
And I think we all heard Jim say recently that
it wouldn't it be funny if Haggard, who announces for
Congress uh purportedly to run against him Barrett he is
now in Congressman Shreeve's office, who is probably the only
member of Congressman India that does not have to raise money.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Yeah, so under this map, yeah, you're right.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
I mean it's like Marion County, so chopped up as
trying to remember like where exactly Shreve was at.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
But I think you're correct.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
So I imagine I never remember of Congress now is
it has their own district.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Okay, but this is why people are always like the
reasons I'm against the three districting one, I don't think
the Republicans offer me anything. I'm not very excited about
two more. Jefferson Shreeves in the Congress or one more
Jefferson Shreeve like, I'm not willing to give away my
integrity or what I think government should be. I'm also
not willing to use my tax money to facilitate Republican
Party functions. Right, but like my district, which is a
(08:46):
district of which you live in, I guess i'm the
I would go into the sixth district now, which is
a new district. I'm in the fourth which there will be.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Two new congressmen from Indiana and the Republican Party.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Under this Under this map, half of Marion County than
Hendricks County, than Putnam County, and it snakes southwest all
the way down to Gibson County. Okay, no offense. I'm
nothing in common with what's going on in Gibson County,
and that's what congressional districts are supposed to be about.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
Right, We've laid could work Kendall for Congress.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
No, it will not be.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
It'll be Kendall for this radio show until they carry
me out in either in a box or in a
pair of handcuffs.
Speaker 6 (09:25):
Look, look, look, Robert, I think you're missing the bigger
picture here. The bigger picture here is if the new
sixth district kind of wraps around the southern end of
Marion County and sort of on the west end and
into Brownsburg. You and I are in the same congression district.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Now, oh well, how exciting that a would be.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
I've never seen it look so excited.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
For Congress.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
No, it's not with a border.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
But what's interesting about that map? Robert is like Knox.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
County, Davies County. Nothing against these counties. I'm nothing in
common with them.
Speaker 5 (09:54):
But we all know this was just floated out there
for conversation. But we don't know if there's fire behind
in the smoke. Hamilon County is Sparts's district, touches Allen County,
which is increas you know. Elbridge Jury would be so
happy right now.
Speaker 6 (10:15):
He's the guy, that guy from my mother in law's
house in Noblesville to my when my father, my father
I used to live in and the Ford Wayne and
still be in the same congression district.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
It's exactly right, I mean, like they're like like this,
Like you're right.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Hamilton County is basically like a reverse L where it
goes sideways Madison, Henry all the way to the state border.
Wayne up to Randolph. Here's the point on all of
this though, up into part of Allen County. Actually that's
how high up it goes. Yeah, here's the point in
all this though. There's no way there whether this map
is legitimate or not, there's no way they're going to
be able to draw a map that isn't somewhat similarly
(10:50):
goofy to this map, because you got it, especially it,
especially if you're going to try to take out ondregards.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
What they are trying to do is dilute the Lake
County Democrats and shift that down south and also dilute
or take apart Carson's off really Marion County. Uh and
no one disapproved of this in the twenty one legislature,
(11:20):
no lawsuits that you you you combined everything into Marion
County and Andre Carson had a solid Democrat district.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
I'll tell you.
Speaker 6 (11:32):
I'll say that a four letter word in the room
here when Jim says Lake County Democrats and a Maria
County Democrats, that's really code word for you know, we
know exactly on top of its black post votes is
what it is. Because who is a majority of like
for Firston's voters, it's African Americans who with the seventh
districts African Americans. You cannot draw maps like this without
about admitting or least acknowledging the potential of Voter Rights
(11:53):
Act lawsuits and race being part of it.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Okay, so you on the Indie politics dot Org you
laid out how the whole thing might go down, right,
you did some legitimate work for like, how ay I did?
Oh yeah, somebody did on your behalf or something did
on your behalf. Me I was the architect, AI was
the builder.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Oh very good.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
So how would let's just say they go with something
similar to this or something similarly ridiculous as this. How
what would happen next?
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Well, what I did was.
Speaker 6 (12:25):
I was just sitting there minding my own business one
day in the backyard. I was, okay, you know what
if let's say Republicans did do did draw new maps,
obviously a lawsuit would be filed. So what would that
lossuit look like? So I just been put in the
parameters and here's what the maps, here's what the losses
look like, and like, hey, well know what, let's just
do the lawsuit. Let's do what this what the saint's
response would be? So we also craft the Saints response like, oh,
(12:45):
let's go the full forty five. How would a judge
probably rule? And I made it perfectly clear, this is
all just a scenario. This, this is not legit, This
is not real. There's just something that came on the
back of my mind. And it turns out Republicans would sue,
but they would lose, uh, basically because it's it's finally
in the Voting Rights Act, is what it would do.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
So you mean you mean a Democrat or Democratic line
group would sue and they would win. Yes, yeah, okay,
very good. So you like you actually think they could
win when under this because because there's there's a there's
a Louisiana case in front of the Supreme Court right now.
I would tend to agree with you right now, but
(13:24):
there's a Louisiana case in front of the Supreme Court
that would basically end the Voting Rights Act if it
is you know, I can't remember it's struct it. They
would be approving the Louisiana maps. So there's so many
moving parts right now, But the point is Voting Rights
Act or whatever, this is stupid and this is the
sort of thing they're wasting all this time on not
(13:46):
property taxes, not utility bills, not gas taxes, none of
that sort of stuff.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
It's it's this and then another words making people mad well.
I spend hundreds of thousand dollars to basically buy a lawsuit.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
And and Braun really stepped in it a couple of
weeks ago and he's like, it'll cost one hundred and
fifty thousand, and then he came out on Hammer and
Nigel last week. I was like, yeah, okay, maybe'll be
two hundred fifty or three hundred and fifty and once
they were like, that's gonna be like at least a
half a million that he.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
Doesn't even know, and he doesn't I don't think.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
I don't think anybody knows how much is it going
to cost? Because the ensuing legal costs, you know, the
whole issue is or do we actually have the money
to spend in Abdul when there is a When there
is they let's just say they do redraw their maps,
there'll be a lawsuit that will be filed. Is that
(14:36):
in federal court? And what federal court is that? And
where do we go?
Speaker 6 (14:40):
That would either be in the northern or southern district
Indana Federal Court District. So either you know up north
or here in probably here in Indianapolis is where what happened,
right right on the corner on Ohio Street.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
You know where we went, uh or what's his faces exactly?
Speaker 5 (14:53):
And so just fallowing the balancing ball on that what
kind of time frames. It's because you look at.
Speaker 6 (14:59):
It, well they file uh, then the then the state
would have so many tight stays respond. But I can
also see I want to say, in the in the
scenario I drew out, the defendants asked for an injunction
or no, the plans asked for an injunction, basically stop
everything from going.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Yeah, yeah, because part of what they would look at
I would think, I don't know, you're a lawyer, I'm
not would be the intent of what people were trying
to do. And it's one thing to draw, you know,
take all the public input like they did the last time,
come with the map, and then somebody says no, no,
I think that's unfair.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
But they're very clear here.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
We're just I mean, Andrew Ireland was on our show
State rep and at Kendle in case show and he
just said no. Totally political, I'll say it out loud.
I want to do it for politics. Well, the judge
is going to factor that in. Right, you tried to
screw these people and you screwed up, and we're not
gonna let this go forward. Like we're not gonna let
you enact the political You can, you can jerrymander for
(15:53):
political reasons. Actually that's that's considered. Fine, that's what Jerry
mandarin is. Question right, But you can't do it to
to disenfranchise black voter.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
That's my point.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
They know what there.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
It's not like somebody just made a mistake or reasonable
people can disagree. We know what you're doing here. Yeah, okay,
very good.
Speaker 6 (16:09):
You cannot use Jerry Mannue as a pretext for diluting
minority of voting authority, which is what the argument that
the defendants are going with. What argument the plants are
going to make, because that's the arugment I'd make.
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fine friends at Freedom Foods Indiana. Farmer Ryan Schleiman and
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Speaker 3 (17:47):
Rob Kendall will do keep you your Baz.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Jim Merrin at the program a State House Happening as
your weekly look at what's going on with Indiana politics
and government. All right, Sydy at a Capitol Chronicle had
this story. Nikki Kelly wrote it, and I'm curious. I'm
gonna get to get your guys reaction on if this
is something or this is nothing or just a weird
from earning to remember these people. So, there is a
new group who has been formed. It's called Independent Indiana
(18:13):
and their whole goal is to try to get independent candidates,
non part people not declaring Republican or Democrat affiliation elected
to public office in the state of Indiana. And well,
I certainly think that's a great idea. I think that's
so much easier said than done. And in a world
(18:35):
where everybody's looking for dollars, I'm not sure how this
is going to go over merit.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
What say you, It's a noble effort, but you put
your thumb on it. It's all about money. It's always
comes back to money on all issues in politics. And
we've seen libertarians who can be a little crazy, but
we've seen you know, independent parties and efforts and people
(19:01):
that have come through and they just can't get any
traction whatsoever. And it just it if we know who
the donors are and we know how much money they have,
and and can they stick with it for the next
five years, maybe five or six years from now possibly,
but it's just very difficult to kind of walk that
(19:26):
guy wire of independence.
Speaker 6 (19:28):
Actually, I think and fundamentally Jim I greathrough. I think
this time actually may be a little different because if
you look at the so the tony atmosphere of our
politics today, particularly here in Indiana, like my good friend
Robert Kendall Hill, who was used to be like no
stnge Republican, now says, I'm basically done with these people.
You got folks on the Democrats side, like now, you
used to be a strong Democrat and I'm done with
these people. So they may be actually tapping in however,
(19:50):
for voting purposes, Republican in good standing, Yes you are,
that's the problem.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Yeah, yeah, right, that is the problem.
Speaker 5 (20:00):
And as well as the fact that there is still
a bedrock Republican party, there's still is bedrock Democrat party.
And for all practical pursons purposes, there are a lot
of people that just don't care about politics and government anymore.
Speaker 6 (20:18):
Because they they realize that it's an insider's game. The
system's rigged, has all been fixed. It's Donald Trump and
Bertie Sanders all over again, is what it is. Yeah, well,
oh yeah, okay, So that's an interesting point. And there's
an interesting stat in this story, and that is they
go through what it would cost and indep so Libertarians
(20:41):
have ballid access. Now they don't do primaries, they nominate convention,
but they have state wide ballot access. The Republicans obviously
state wide ballid access. The Democrats have state wide ballot access.
Independence who not.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
So they got to go through the signature requirement and
they laid out in the Capitol Chronicle article what would
cost to run for state wide off of say governor
as an independent, and they did a you know, this
is not an exact science, but they said Basically, you
got to get about thirty seven thousand signatures and most
paid there are people who do this for a living.
(21:13):
They'll go get signatures for you. Most paid people charge
about fifteen dollars per signature. That means you'd have to
spend seven hundred grand if you did it through the pros,
which you really do need to try to do it
through the pros because so many of the signatures will
get tossed out if you don't have people who know
what they're doing. Doesn't mean you can't, obviously, but seven
hundred grand is to get on the ballot. That's a
(21:34):
ton of tv ads. You're not going to be able
to run that the Republicans and Democrats are because you
guys spend all this money just to get on the ballot.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
But I think that once again, though, the nature and
the political environment has changed so much that do I
any TV ads to run into war or can I
just do targeted ads on because everybody's on their phone.
I do target ads on your telephone in your particular district,
in your particular area. So I think I think that
the nature of the warfare has changed to make it
more palatble for an independent to get on the ballot
(22:02):
state Why it's still still it uphill.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
That's a lot of crowdsourcing. And you know, when Elon
Musk made his dramatic exit from from trumpworl if you will,
he vowed that he was going to start another party,
and we saw about two weeks a month ago or
so that he is ceasing efforts. And he really likes
jd Vance and so knowing the billions of dollars that
(22:30):
he could put into it, and he wouldn't and he
wouldn't necessarily pick Indiana, but Indiana would be a good
place to pick if he wanted to start this nascent
you know, effort. It would be very difficult to start
another party in Indiana or anywhere else. And it's just
it's hard to get bat access, it's hard to get
(22:51):
people's attention. And you know, you saw it in your
mayor run. In my mayor run in twenty nineteen, I
spent one hundred and four twenty thousand dollars on digital
advertising and it didn't move the needle one bit. Now
that was six years ago. Maybe it's changed some, but
target advertising, we haven't really seen a candidate succeed in
(23:15):
target advertising yet Barack Obama.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
What there wasn't even there was barely social media when
Barack Obama ran a duel, they were still they were targeting.
It wasn't what he's talking about. Okay, yeah, and you
need a dude, right because if you and the with money, well,
when you've had a dude like Jesse Ventura in Minnesota
or Ross Parro when he ran for president, the problem
(23:41):
is you can't spin that then into some sort of movement.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
Right. It's always them and they get elected.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
But there's never hey, now we're getting all these state
house people, or now we're getting these congress people. It's
always like one person that everybody can kind of get
behind their named person or in the case of Ross
Proo had a good jillion dollars, but it never it's
so hard without the party structure to organize that maybe
you get locked.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
The Publican party is going to struggle in twenty twenty
six because Trump is not on the ballot.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
The Democrats are crazy people, Jim.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
They are crazy people. But people revert back to you
know what, they're their their their rock.
Speaker 6 (24:20):
And here and here's something else to think about too,
is let's say there's a billionaire Democrat out there, because
it's not just Republican billionaires like, hey, you know what,
there are a lot of a lot of Democrats.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
I about we do this.
Speaker 6 (24:30):
How about we spend the seven ye thousand dollars to
pu an independent candidate on the ballot.
Speaker 5 (24:33):
Uh Republican.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
Yeah exactly. That's why I love this man.
Speaker 6 (24:38):
Like my brother, I'll invested seven and grand to create
an independent party, get independence on the ballot. Will they win, No,
but they'll delude. Take enough of those enough of those
disenfranchised take off. Republicans knocked out because of other will
stay like you said, they'll stay home. They're mad, they're
ticked off. It gives an opening for Democrats in the
sixty to forty state.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
We gotta move that. You have to move the needle
all that much.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
It's back to the bull Moose party of ten years.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah, okay, So everybody, everybody is putting all their hopes
on the Democrat side in Evan Bye's son Bo Bye,
and everybody nobody knows is well. Okay, So let's talk
about that real quick, because that's interesting to me that
so bo Evan By, former governor of Indiana, former miss
last election with you senator. He was a senator, Jim,
(25:25):
We'll get to the bad part. Hold on, he was
a senator after that, his old man was a famous
senator Birch Bye.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
And then you're right, Jim.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
He I think spent some years as a lobbyist or
whatever he was after he stopped running and being a senator,
and then in twenty sixteen tried to make a comeback
and he didn't run a great campaign. They beat the
hell out of him over not living here and Todd
Young won that race, and what I think a lot
of people viewed as sort of an upset, although not
(25:56):
really when you look at the tenth of the state, right,
but but it was viewed at the time as an upset.
And now his son Bo, who has spent time as
a as a what I believe he's in the military
for a while and then was a clerk for a
federal judge. He is now done with that and is
started the speaker circuit for Democrats. He's been doing podcast
(26:21):
interviews and now as guessing what he's going to run
for in the big rumor is that he may run
for Secretary of State against Diego Morales next year, and
everybody start up penning their hopes on Bobo, who, by
the way, is twenty nine years old. They're pending your
entire party. I mean, I'm not saying he seems like
a very nice guy, but the Democrats in the state
have major structural problems. Then in a close race, they're
(26:44):
not gonna be able to lift him over the finish line.
I just think it's interesting that this is the whole
hopes now been on this gay one running. He may
go on these speakers ricans and go, y'all are nuts,
No thanks, I'm going to make some money. But it's
a very interesting time for the Democrats, it is.
Speaker 6 (26:57):
And also in the sense too it's no it's what's
old is new all over again. Because what was Evan
By's first job in state government? It was six Secretary
sec State and I want to say was a youngest
secretary of State on thirty one, early thirties. So there
there there, There is a pattern here. And you also
got a number two who's he rented against.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Well, that would be why he would pull the trigger
is because while Daniel Elliott and Alisa Shall, unless they
do something weird, are probably shoe ins.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
Diego is.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
I mean, if any they were ever going to get
a Republican, it would be Diego. And I don't think
there's gonna be a ton of people eager to save Diego.
Speaker 5 (27:35):
Now.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
They may try because they don't want a Democrat to
have that office, but if you're ever going to strike,
now would be the time.
Speaker 6 (27:41):
And another thing to just keep in mind is Nestie Wells,
for all her faults, is not evan by and because
not bir not not not not by, not by the third.
Because here's the thing. You have that legacy that the
case that takes you of your traditional Democrats, you also
got a newer face that kind of sort of energizes
those younger Democrats. So once again the buy you come
to the rescue to save the Indiana Democratic Party ten seconds, Jimmy.
Speaker 5 (28:04):
If you're gonna put a twenty nine year old bo
Bye who's we don't remember, people don't remember his father,
and you're gonna put all your effort into a twenty
nine year old running for secretary of state in a
very republican state, it is a it's a fool's.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
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Speaker 2 (28:42):
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The Honeysuckle Hill Bestro in Cottage is open five to
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one two four four three three zero zero three. State
House Happenings also wants to thank our fine friends at
Freedom Foods Indiana. Farmer Ryan Schleiman and the folks at
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right to people's doors for years, and Freedom Foods Indiana
is a big supporter of State House happenings. Now Freedom
Foods Indiana has some big things coming. We can't wait
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Right now, though, we just want to say thanks to
our friends at Freedom Foods Indiana for supporting State House happenings.
That is going to do it for us this week,
(29:46):
for ab Dulaquim Shabaz, for Jim Merritt. I'm Rob Kendall.
You've been listening to State House happenings.
Where you work and who you work with matters. I'm
doctor Jim Dalton, President and CEO of Daymark. We're dedicated
to helping vulnerable kids and adults with disabilities. Right now,
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Speaker 2 (00:24):
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Cottage is open five to eight Friday and Saturday and Sunday,
featuring their incredible breakfast buffet from eleven to two. More
information call eight one, two, four four three three zero
zero three Staatehouse Happenings also wants to thank our fine
friends at Freedom Foods Indiana. Former Ryan Schleiman and the
(01:08):
folks at Freedom Foods Indiana have been delivering fresh fruits
and vegetables right to people's doors for years, and Freedom
Foods Indiana is a big supporter of State House Happenings.
Now Freedom Foods Indiana has some big things coming. We
can't wait to tell you all about it in the
near future. Right now, though, we just want to say
thanks to our friends at Freedom Foods Indiana for supporting
State House Happenings.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, go will keep Shabaz.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
The program A State House Happening is your weekly look
at what's going on with Indiana politics and government. Before
we begin the program, let's meet the award winning panel.
You know him from thirty years in the Indiana Senate.
Jim Merritt, Hello, Robert, and you know him as the
owner operator of Indiepolitics dot org.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Doll keep Shabaz. Hello, it's a sunshine day, all right.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
So I don't even know how to segue into our
first topic today is I'll just hop right in, so.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Happy post Labor Day, gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Thanks you. What do I get some sort of.
Speaker 5 (02:01):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (02:02):
I see, well, speaking of the fall, there's the fall
of sanity going on here in central Indiana.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
And I kind of figured that was gonna be the
second one. Well, very good.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
It's a trained professional, right, So this I don't know
I've ever seen this before. So Hannah Adams and who
I know her. She's very nice. I've talked to her before.
She works for CBS Ford Fox efty nine, and she
put out a tweet. I'll just read the tweet that
we don't get accused of misinterpreting what was said.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
So it is an alleged.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Map of what the congressional districts could look like if
indeed the Republicans go forward in Indiana with redistricting, and
she says breaking member of the Indiana Republican Party has
given us this tentative redistricting plan. We're told several members
of the Indiana House up were given this map for
(02:53):
their consideration over the weekend. We're also told this map
did not come from the Indiana legislative leader ship. This
map would split Marion County three ways. It's unclear if
state House leaders will move forward with this specific plan.
A special session has not been called at this time. Okay,
so what you're saying is I got a map. Yes,
(03:13):
no one, no leaders gave us this. Man, I know
where the map came from, don't know if they're going
to use it. It didn't come from the state, but
a bunch of Republicans got it, and now we got it,
and now we're going to give it to you. That's
got a cheat sheet item. And look, I'm not trying
to dump on her or CBS four Fix eighty nine.
It's just very weird that like, right, you're right, like
(03:35):
that is something you would put out in the cheat
sheet where you're like, this is probably not true, but
here's something fun for you to look at. They're almost
presenting it like there's legitimacy to it, which.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Maybe there is.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
But it was just very weird.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
To see a television station put that out into the ether.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Yes with no and like I said, and I'll do fairness,
hand up, Hannah's good reporter doing it for a while.
And so I don't think they would put anything out
to you know, purposely, you know, mislead or misinform the public.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Which which tells you there must be some legitimacy to it.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
They know who they got it from, and it isn't
like somebody anonymously send it to them.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
It's a Gitmate says that it's a map.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well, I'm saying they must have got it from someone
who they believe has good information.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
But they wouldn't just put that out there.
Speaker 6 (04:24):
I mean, I'm I didn't map come from Republican from
Republican sources. I I don't see why it wouldn't, because
I don't think Democrats would do that. I do think
it's odd that they split up Marion kind into three
congressional districts and basically got rid of the basically limited
Andre Carson, which would just again be that horneous as
we've talked about for years and you for what seems
like years.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
But they seem to content they're gonna do that if
they go forward, that they're gonna intend. I'm sorry that
they're gonna do this. If they go forward like they're
going for both of them, Well, if they if they
do it, it's and here's where I get cynical. And Jim,
you've done this longer than I have, So tell me.
Tell me if my cynicism is worn it they do
the maps to make the Trump people happy, and that
they get sued then they lose, like well we tried,
(05:05):
it was the judges who did it. Yeah, now now
that's just me being cynical, but you know me, I'm
not cynical at all.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
Well, I think what we should do is celebrate that
we have content to talk about every week.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Man, every week, you know, every week there's something new
and some problems. Day.
Speaker 5 (05:23):
Yeah, well there will be a special session before or day.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Yeah, maybe will be the special You know, somebody sent me.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
A screenshot America First Insight and and I don't know.
It's some fast growing conservative organization focused on giving you
American for America first insight on what's happening in Washington, DC.
And that may have been where the intrepid reporter from
(05:52):
Fox fifty nine got this information. But it raises a
lot of questions, and it really it. It hits it
in the political game of tennis. It hits the ball
back over the net or pick a ball you will.
But it raises a lot of questions and the future
of Congressman Frank Mrvan Junior, which is limited at best
(06:18):
if everything goes forward, and it raises questions about uh
in this in this map that you all sent me yesterday,
Uh it it chops up Marion County, so that uh,
Congressman Carson really does not have a future. Uh it
it it it probably starts the Andre Carson from Mayor
(06:41):
of Indianapolis campaign.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Well that's a great point even think about that. Yeah,
it's not like he's gonna just go work at a Wendy's.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
No, no, no, Congressman Carson is not going away. And
uh and it probably starts his campaign Representative Haggard, which
is a favorite of our our our.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Program here favored in uh in print in uh in quotes.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
Yes, and and you know, uh, you don't have as
a member of Congress, you don't have to live in
your district. And so, uh what district is he gonna pick?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Oh? Well he got well he got drawn under this map.
By the way, real quick, let me just say this.
Nikki Kelly from The Capital Chronicle took this tweet and
then retweeted it and said, this map has been floating
around for almost a month. It was created by an
anonymous x account that has now gone private. The person
who's posted this map repeatedly for weeks. Okay, So to
answer your question, I told you, well, she.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
Needs to be in an overlay off where everybody lives,
but you don't.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Have to live in yours. Moville's that's Morgan County. So
under this map, he's in district. No, he's in he's
well yeah, no, Well, because yeah, I think he is
as district.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
And I think we all heard Jim say recently that
it wouldn't it be funny if Haggard, who announces for
Congress uh purportedly to run against him Barrett he is
now in Congressman Shreeve's office, who is probably the only
member of Congressman India that does not have to raise money.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Yeah, so under this map, yeah, you're right.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
I mean it's like Marion County, so chopped up as
trying to remember like where exactly Shreve was at.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
But I think you're correct.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
So I imagine I never remember of Congress now is
it has their own district.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Okay, but this is why people are always like the
reasons I'm against the three districting one, I don't think
the Republicans offer me anything. I'm not very excited about
two more. Jefferson Shreeves in the Congress or one more
Jefferson Shreeve like, I'm not willing to give away my
integrity or what I think government should be. I'm also
not willing to use my tax money to facilitate Republican
Party functions. Right, but like my district, which is a
(08:46):
district of which you live in, I guess i'm the
I would go into the sixth district now, which is
a new district. I'm in the fourth which there will be.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Two new congressmen from Indiana and the Republican Party.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Under this Under this map, half of Marion County than
Hendricks County, than Putnam County, and it snakes southwest all
the way down to Gibson County. Okay, no offense. I'm
nothing in common with what's going on in Gibson County,
and that's what congressional districts are supposed to be about.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
Right, We've laid could work Kendall for Congress.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
No, it will not be.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
It'll be Kendall for this radio show until they carry
me out in either in a box or in a
pair of handcuffs.
Speaker 6 (09:25):
Look, look, look, Robert, I think you're missing the bigger
picture here. The bigger picture here is if the new
sixth district kind of wraps around the southern end of
Marion County and sort of on the west end and
into Brownsburg. You and I are in the same congression district.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Now, oh well, how exciting that a would be.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
I've never seen it look so excited.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
For Congress.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
No, it's not with a border.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
But what's interesting about that map? Robert is like Knox.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
County, Davies County. Nothing against these counties. I'm nothing in
common with them.
Speaker 5 (09:54):
But we all know this was just floated out there
for conversation. But we don't know if there's fire behind
in the smoke. Hamilon County is Sparts's district, touches Allen County,
which is increas you know. Elbridge Jury would be so
happy right now.
Speaker 6 (10:15):
He's the guy, that guy from my mother in law's
house in Noblesville to my when my father, my father
I used to live in and the Ford Wayne and
still be in the same congression district.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
It's exactly right, I mean, like they're like like this,
Like you're right.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Hamilton County is basically like a reverse L where it
goes sideways Madison, Henry all the way to the state border.
Wayne up to Randolph. Here's the point on all of
this though, up into part of Allen County. Actually that's
how high up it goes. Yeah, here's the point in
all this though. There's no way there whether this map
is legitimate or not, there's no way they're going to
be able to draw a map that isn't somewhat similarly
(10:50):
goofy to this map, because you got it, especially it,
especially if you're going to try to take out ondregards.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
What they are trying to do is dilute the Lake
County Democrats and shift that down south and also dilute
or take apart Carson's off really Marion County. Uh and
no one disapproved of this in the twenty one legislature,
(11:20):
no lawsuits that you you you combined everything into Marion
County and Andre Carson had a solid Democrat district.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
I'll tell you.
Speaker 6 (11:32):
I'll say that a four letter word in the room
here when Jim says Lake County Democrats and a Maria
County Democrats, that's really code word for you know, we
know exactly on top of its black post votes is
what it is. Because who is a majority of like
for Firston's voters, it's African Americans who with the seventh
districts African Americans. You cannot draw maps like this without
about admitting or least acknowledging the potential of Voter Rights
(11:53):
Act lawsuits and race being part of it.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Okay, so you on the Indie politics dot Org you
laid out how the whole thing might go down, right,
you did some legitimate work for like, how ay I did?
Oh yeah, somebody did on your behalf or something did
on your behalf. Me I was the architect, AI was
the builder.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Oh very good.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
So how would let's just say they go with something
similar to this or something similarly ridiculous as this. How
what would happen next?
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Well, what I did was.
Speaker 6 (12:25):
I was just sitting there minding my own business one
day in the backyard. I was, okay, you know what
if let's say Republicans did do did draw new maps,
obviously a lawsuit would be filed. So what would that
lossuit look like? So I just been put in the
parameters and here's what the maps, here's what the losses
look like, and like, hey, well know what, let's just
do the lawsuit. Let's do what this what the saint's
response would be? So we also craft the Saints response like, oh,
(12:45):
let's go the full forty five. How would a judge
probably rule? And I made it perfectly clear, this is
all just a scenario. This, this is not legit, This
is not real. There's just something that came on the
back of my mind. And it turns out Republicans would sue,
but they would lose, uh, basically because it's it's finally
in the Voting Rights Act, is what it would do.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
So you mean you mean a Democrat or Democratic line
group would sue and they would win. Yes, yeah, okay,
very good. So you like you actually think they could
win when under this because because there's there's a there's
a Louisiana case in front of the Supreme Court right now.
I would tend to agree with you right now, but
(13:24):
there's a Louisiana case in front of the Supreme Court
that would basically end the Voting Rights Act if it
is you know, I can't remember it's struct it. They
would be approving the Louisiana maps. So there's so many
moving parts right now, But the point is Voting Rights
Act or whatever, this is stupid and this is the
sort of thing they're wasting all this time on not
(13:46):
property taxes, not utility bills, not gas taxes, none of
that sort of stuff.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
It's it's this and then another words making people mad well.
I spend hundreds of thousand dollars to basically buy a lawsuit.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
And and Braun really stepped in it a couple of
weeks ago and he's like, it'll cost one hundred and
fifty thousand, and then he came out on Hammer and
Nigel last week. I was like, yeah, okay, maybe'll be
two hundred fifty or three hundred and fifty and once
they were like, that's gonna be like at least a
half a million that he.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
Doesn't even know, and he doesn't I don't think.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
I don't think anybody knows how much is it going
to cost? Because the ensuing legal costs, you know, the
whole issue is or do we actually have the money
to spend in Abdul when there is a When there
is they let's just say they do redraw their maps,
there'll be a lawsuit that will be filed. Is that
(14:36):
in federal court? And what federal court is that? And
where do we go?
Speaker 6 (14:40):
That would either be in the northern or southern district
Indana Federal Court District. So either you know up north
or here in probably here in Indianapolis is where what happened,
right right on the corner on Ohio Street.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
You know where we went, uh or what's his faces exactly?
Speaker 5 (14:53):
And so just fallowing the balancing ball on that what
kind of time frames. It's because you look at.
Speaker 6 (14:59):
It, well they file uh, then the then the state
would have so many tight stays respond. But I can
also see I want to say, in the in the
scenario I drew out, the defendants asked for an injunction
or no, the plans asked for an injunction, basically stop
everything from going.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Yeah, yeah, because part of what they would look at
I would think, I don't know, you're a lawyer, I'm
not would be the intent of what people were trying
to do. And it's one thing to draw, you know,
take all the public input like they did the last time,
come with the map, and then somebody says no, no,
I think that's unfair.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
But they're very clear here.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
We're just I mean, Andrew Ireland was on our show
State rep and at Kendle in case show and he
just said no. Totally political, I'll say it out loud.
I want to do it for politics. Well, the judge
is going to factor that in. Right, you tried to
screw these people and you screwed up, and we're not
gonna let this go forward. Like we're not gonna let
you enact the political You can, you can jerrymander for
(15:53):
political reasons. Actually that's that's considered. Fine, that's what Jerry
mandarin is. Question right, But you can't do it to
to disenfranchise black voter.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
That's my point.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
They know what there.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
It's not like somebody just made a mistake or reasonable
people can disagree. We know what you're doing here. Yeah, okay,
very good.
Speaker 6 (16:09):
You cannot use Jerry Mannue as a pretext for diluting
minority of voting authority, which is what the argument that
the defendants are going with. What argument the plants are
going to make, because that's the arugment I'd make.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
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Speaker 2 (16:42):
Not only does the Honeysuckle Hill bestro In Cottage, located
less than an hour from downtown Indianapolis off Interstate seventeen
Beautiful Brazil, feature some of the best made from scratch
food in the state, including chicken and pork raised right
here in Indiana, but they also offer catering for small
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(17:05):
Reservations preferred, but not required. The Honeysuckle Hill bestro In
Cottages open five to eight Friday and Saturday and Sunday,
featuring their incredible breakfast buffet from eleven to two. More
information called eight one two four four three three zero
zero three. State House Happenings also wants to thank our
fine friends at Freedom Foods Indiana. Farmer Ryan Schleiman and
(17:26):
the folks at Freedom Foods Indiana have been delivering fresh
fruits and vegetables right to people's doors for years, and
Freedom Foods Indiana is a big supporter of State House Happenings. Now,
Freedom Foods Indiana has some big things coming. We can't
wait to tell you all about it in the near future.
Right now, though, we just want to say thanks to
our friends at Freedom Foods Indiana for supporting State House Happenings.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Rob Kendall will do keep you your Baz.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Jim Merrin at the program a State House Happening as
your weekly look at what's going on with Indiana politics
and government. All right, Sydy at a Capitol Chronicle had
this story. Nikki Kelly wrote it, and I'm curious. I'm
gonna get to get your guys reaction on if this
is something or this is nothing or just a weird
from earning to remember these people. So, there is a
new group who has been formed. It's called Independent Indiana
(18:13):
and their whole goal is to try to get independent candidates,
non part people not declaring Republican or Democrat affiliation elected
to public office in the state of Indiana. And well,
I certainly think that's a great idea. I think that's
so much easier said than done. And in a world
(18:35):
where everybody's looking for dollars, I'm not sure how this
is going to go over merit.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
What say you, It's a noble effort, but you put
your thumb on it. It's all about money. It's always
comes back to money on all issues in politics. And
we've seen libertarians who can be a little crazy, but
we've seen you know, independent parties and efforts and people
(19:01):
that have come through and they just can't get any
traction whatsoever. And it just it if we know who
the donors are and we know how much money they have,
and and can they stick with it for the next
five years, maybe five or six years from now possibly,
but it's just very difficult to kind of walk that
(19:26):
guy wire of independence.
Speaker 6 (19:28):
Actually, I think and fundamentally Jim I greathrough. I think
this time actually may be a little different because if
you look at the so the tony atmosphere of our
politics today, particularly here in Indiana, like my good friend
Robert Kendall Hill, who was used to be like no
stnge Republican, now says, I'm basically done with these people.
You got folks on the Democrats side, like now, you
used to be a strong Democrat and I'm done with
these people. So they may be actually tapping in however,
(19:50):
for voting purposes, Republican in good standing, Yes you are,
that's the problem.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Yeah, yeah, right, that is the problem.
Speaker 5 (20:00):
And as well as the fact that there is still
a bedrock Republican party, there's still is bedrock Democrat party.
And for all practical pursons purposes, there are a lot
of people that just don't care about politics and government anymore.
Speaker 6 (20:18):
Because they they realize that it's an insider's game. The
system's rigged, has all been fixed. It's Donald Trump and
Bertie Sanders all over again, is what it is. Yeah, well,
oh yeah, okay, So that's an interesting point. And there's
an interesting stat in this story, and that is they
go through what it would cost and indep so Libertarians
(20:41):
have ballid access. Now they don't do primaries, they nominate convention,
but they have state wide ballot access. The Republicans obviously
state wide ballid access. The Democrats have state wide ballot access.
Independence who not.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
So they got to go through the signature requirement and
they laid out in the Capitol Chronicle article what would
cost to run for state wide off of say governor
as an independent, and they did a you know, this
is not an exact science, but they said Basically, you
got to get about thirty seven thousand signatures and most
paid there are people who do this for a living.
(21:13):
They'll go get signatures for you. Most paid people charge
about fifteen dollars per signature. That means you'd have to
spend seven hundred grand if you did it through the pros,
which you really do need to try to do it
through the pros because so many of the signatures will
get tossed out if you don't have people who know
what they're doing. Doesn't mean you can't, obviously, but seven
hundred grand is to get on the ballot. That's a
(21:34):
ton of tv ads. You're not going to be able
to run that the Republicans and Democrats are because you
guys spend all this money just to get on the ballot.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
But I think that once again, though, the nature and
the political environment has changed so much that do I
any TV ads to run into war or can I
just do targeted ads on because everybody's on their phone.
I do target ads on your telephone in your particular district,
in your particular area. So I think I think that
the nature of the warfare has changed to make it
more palatble for an independent to get on the ballot
(22:02):
state Why it's still still it uphill.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
That's a lot of crowdsourcing. And you know, when Elon
Musk made his dramatic exit from from trumpworl if you will,
he vowed that he was going to start another party,
and we saw about two weeks a month ago or
so that he is ceasing efforts. And he really likes
jd Vance and so knowing the billions of dollars that
(22:30):
he could put into it, and he wouldn't and he
wouldn't necessarily pick Indiana, but Indiana would be a good
place to pick if he wanted to start this nascent
you know, effort. It would be very difficult to start
another party in Indiana or anywhere else. And it's just
it's hard to get bat access, it's hard to get
(22:51):
people's attention. And you know, you saw it in your
mayor run. In my mayor run in twenty nineteen, I
spent one hundred and four twenty thousand dollars on digital
advertising and it didn't move the needle one bit. Now
that was six years ago. Maybe it's changed some, but
target advertising, we haven't really seen a candidate succeed in
(23:15):
target advertising yet Barack Obama.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
What there wasn't even there was barely social media when
Barack Obama ran a duel, they were still they were targeting.
It wasn't what he's talking about. Okay, yeah, and you
need a dude, right because if you and the with money, well,
when you've had a dude like Jesse Ventura in Minnesota
or Ross Parro when he ran for president, the problem
(23:41):
is you can't spin that then into some sort of movement.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
Right. It's always them and they get elected.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
But there's never hey, now we're getting all these state
house people, or now we're getting these congress people. It's
always like one person that everybody can kind of get
behind their named person or in the case of Ross
Proo had a good jillion dollars, but it never it's
so hard without the party structure to organize that maybe
you get locked.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
The Publican party is going to struggle in twenty twenty
six because Trump is not on the ballot.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
The Democrats are crazy people, Jim.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
They are crazy people. But people revert back to you
know what, they're their their their rock.
Speaker 6 (24:20):
And here and here's something else to think about too,
is let's say there's a billionaire Democrat out there, because
it's not just Republican billionaires like, hey, you know what,
there are a lot of a lot of Democrats.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
I about we do this.
Speaker 6 (24:30):
How about we spend the seven ye thousand dollars to
pu an independent candidate on the ballot.
Speaker 5 (24:33):
Uh Republican.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
Yeah exactly. That's why I love this man.
Speaker 6 (24:38):
Like my brother, I'll invested seven and grand to create
an independent party, get independence on the ballot. Will they win, No,
but they'll delude. Take enough of those enough of those
disenfranchised take off. Republicans knocked out because of other will
stay like you said, they'll stay home. They're mad, they're
ticked off. It gives an opening for Democrats in the
sixty to forty state.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
We gotta move that. You have to move the needle
all that much.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
It's back to the bull Moose party of ten years.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah, okay, So everybody, everybody is putting all their hopes
on the Democrat side in Evan Bye's son Bo Bye,
and everybody nobody knows is well. Okay, So let's talk
about that real quick, because that's interesting to me that
so bo Evan By, former governor of Indiana, former miss
last election with you senator. He was a senator, Jim,
(25:25):
We'll get to the bad part. Hold on, he was
a senator after that, his old man was a famous
senator Birch Bye.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
And then you're right, Jim.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
He I think spent some years as a lobbyist or
whatever he was after he stopped running and being a senator,
and then in twenty sixteen tried to make a comeback
and he didn't run a great campaign. They beat the
hell out of him over not living here and Todd
Young won that race, and what I think a lot
of people viewed as sort of an upset, although not
(25:56):
really when you look at the tenth of the state, right,
but but it was viewed at the time as an upset.
And now his son Bo, who has spent time as
a as a what I believe he's in the military
for a while and then was a clerk for a
federal judge. He is now done with that and is
started the speaker circuit for Democrats. He's been doing podcast
(26:21):
interviews and now as guessing what he's going to run
for in the big rumor is that he may run
for Secretary of State against Diego Morales next year, and
everybody start up penning their hopes on Bobo, who, by
the way, is twenty nine years old. They're pending your
entire party. I mean, I'm not saying he seems like
a very nice guy, but the Democrats in the state
have major structural problems. Then in a close race, they're
(26:44):
not gonna be able to lift him over the finish line.
I just think it's interesting that this is the whole
hopes now been on this gay one running. He may
go on these speakers ricans and go, y'all are nuts,
No thanks, I'm going to make some money. But it's
a very interesting time for the Democrats, it is.
Speaker 6 (26:57):
And also in the sense too it's no it's what's
old is new all over again. Because what was Evan
By's first job in state government? It was six Secretary
sec State and I want to say was a youngest
secretary of State on thirty one, early thirties. So there
there there, There is a pattern here. And you also
got a number two who's he rented against.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Well, that would be why he would pull the trigger
is because while Daniel Elliott and Alisa Shall, unless they
do something weird, are probably shoe ins.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
Diego is.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
I mean, if any they were ever going to get
a Republican, it would be Diego. And I don't think
there's gonna be a ton of people eager to save Diego.
Speaker 5 (27:35):
Now.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
They may try because they don't want a Democrat to
have that office, but if you're ever going to strike,
now would be the time.
Speaker 6 (27:41):
And another thing to just keep in mind is Nestie Wells,
for all her faults, is not evan by and because
not bir not not not not by, not by the third.
Because here's the thing. You have that legacy that the
case that takes you of your traditional Democrats, you also
got a newer face that kind of sort of energizes
those younger Democrats. So once again the buy you come
to the rescue to save the Indiana Democratic Party ten seconds, Jimmy.
Speaker 5 (28:04):
If you're gonna put a twenty nine year old bo
Bye who's we don't remember, people don't remember his father,
and you're gonna put all your effort into a twenty
nine year old running for secretary of state in a
very republican state, it is a it's a fool's.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Errand I'm doctor Jim Dalton, President and CEO of Daymar.
Daymar is a critical resource for thousands of people in
Central Indiana, and it takes people like you to give
them hope. With over thirteen hundred employees and hundreds of volunteers,
Daymar is always looking for people to come aboard. Whether
it's a career or simply donating your time, there's a
place for you here at Daymar. Learn more about our
(28:41):
mission at daymark dot org.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
At the Honeysuckle Hill Bestro in Cottage located off I
seventy and Beautiful Brazil, less than an hour from downtown Indianapolis,
their specialty is Hoo's your comfort food like Grandma used
to make and just like Grandma's house. Their goal is
for you to leave more at peace than when he
came in. The Honeysuckle Hill Bestro and featured some of
the best made from scratch food in the state, and
(29:03):
their chicken and pork is raised right here in Indiana.
The Honeysuckle Hill Bestro in Cottage is open five to
eight Friday and Saturday and Sunday, featuring their incredible breakfast
buffet from eleven to two. For more information, call eight
one two four four three three zero zero three. State
House Happenings also wants to thank our fine friends at
Freedom Foods Indiana. Farmer Ryan Schleiman and the folks at
(29:24):
Freedom Foods Indiana have been delivering fresh fruits and vegetables
right to people's doors for years, and Freedom Foods Indiana
is a big supporter of State House happenings. Now Freedom
Foods Indiana has some big things coming. We can't wait
to tell you all about it in the near future.
Right now, though, we just want to say thanks to
our friends at Freedom Foods Indiana for supporting State House happenings.
That is going to do it for us this week,
(29:46):
for ab Dulaquim Shabaz, for Jim Merritt. I'm Rob Kendall.
You've been listening to State House happenings.
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