Donnelly's nomination—state treasurer power rankings—meet Alex Burton
What does Donnelly's pick mean for 2024?
Once there was a boy in New York, the grandson of Irish immigrants.
His father was a Republican who owned a small business; his mother, a Kennedy Democrat. Their strong Catholic faith held the family together.
One day, the boy’s mother fell ill. Cancer. When the boy was only 10 years old, his mother died. The boy’s father put his arms around him and his siblings and told them they would get through this. Each day, the boy’s father went to work in the dark and came home in the dark.
The boy grew up and moved to Indiana. He went to the University of Notre Dame. He became a lawyer. He became a congressman. He became a senator. He lost re-election. He taught at the same university he attended. He didn’t register to be a lobbyist, turning down riches likely beyond his father's imagination.
On Friday, the Irish Catholic president of the United States of America—only the second Irish Catholic to hold that office—picked him to be his ambassador to the Holy See, the Catholic Church's central government led by the Pope.
This is the fairy-tale, real-life story of Joe Donnelly.
IMPORTANTVILLE TAKE: What a country.
Good Sunday afternoon. Welcome back to IMPORTANTVILLE. If confirmed, Donnelly would follow in the footsteps of Gov. Robert Orr, who served in Singapore, Rep. Tim Roemer, who served in India, and former Sen. Dan Coats, who served in Germany.
Donnelly’s nomination re-shuffled the potential Democratic gubernatorial field ahead of 2024. Before Friday, party insiders saw Donnelly—who barnstormed the state with the Indiana Democratic Party as part of its American Jobs Plan Tour—as its most likely nominee who could be competitive statewide.
Donnelly’s nomination—and likely eventual confirmation—opens the field. While Donnelly could and may still run, it seems much less likely. The post is a capstone for his career, and he’ll be in Rome for a while, a long way away from Indiana and building up a statewide brand.
In my June power rankings, I listed Donnelly as tied for first alongside Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. Hogsett is now best positioned to pursue the nomination, should he forego a third term in 2023. He will likely be sitting on $2 million—far more than any other Indiana Democrat not named Pete Buttigieg.
At the time, one Indiana Democrat told me: “One dynamic that will be interesting to watch is whether he continues to see a path of least resistance in a third term as mayor. He is enjoying the longest period of political success in his life, at what could be the end of his political career, and he may be hard-pressed to mortgage a legacy in Indianapolis in order to pursue a race that looks unwinnable.”
Now, Hogsett has to decide whether to run for re-election or to throw his hat in the ring for governor, a race in which he’d possibly face Republican Mike Braun or Suzanne Crouch. He could pass on his mayoralty to his ally and City-County Council President Vop Osili, who could become the city’s first Black mayor.
"There's no way that a moderate Democrat like Joe would want to run against a moderate Republican like Holcomb,” one Indiana Democrat told me. “But if their party veers hard to the right, that may well open up a path for someone with the Mayor's profile and fundraising machine."
INDIANA GOP STATE TREASURER PRIMARY POWER RANKINGS
A semi-regular feature in which I talk to party insiders on background and get them to assess the intra-party dynamics at play in a given race.
Overall, the race will likely come down to a second or third ballot at the Republican State Convention next year. The race is still fluid, and these rankings could change overnight.
The Indiana Republican and Democratic Parties will choose their respective nominees at state party conventions next year. No Democratic candidates have yet announced campaigns.
On the GOP side, the primary isn’t as much a battle of ideas or ideologies or platforms, but one of relationships. Who has them and who doesn’t?
“I simply cannot see how this is a one-ballot vote at convention,” a Republican insider told me.
4. Daniel Elliott. He’s the chairman of the Morgan County Republican Party, the Morgan County Redevelopment Commission president, and the owner of a software company in Martinsville. He was the first candidate to jump into the race. He has a website. One party insider told me his pros include being a “proven conservative for a convention race, took on Hupfer [and] state GOP in 2018, county chair”; Cons, meanwhile, include “lack of statewide travel” until recently and that he might be “viewed as too far right” by the establishment.
“I think Elliott does well because he is currently perceived as ‘the true conservative’ in the race,” one GOPer said. “And with delegates, that matters far more than most realize.
3. Lana Keesling. She’s the Fort Wayne City Clerk. One insider cited her “experience, conservative [credentials],” and noted that she’s from a part of “[north eastern] Indiana that features a large block of delegates; Cons: largely unknown, will have to travel to southern Indiana quite a bit to connect with delegates.”
“I know the competition is out there,” Keesling told me recently. “It does not bother me. My path is clear with my accomplishments and my resume. And my accomplishments say a lot for who I am and how I work. I've worked hard for years to build the qualifications for this position. As I stated earlier, I believe that I have very, very strong credentials to be the chief investment officer of the state of Indiana. I don't believe anyone else has the MBA, the education, the entrepreneurial experience, the CFO experience, as well as governmental experience on their resume. I believe that I'm the only one that has that basis on my resume.”
2. Suzanne Jaworowski, former chief of staff in the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy. She made a name for herself as the 2016 Indiana state director for the Trump campaign. She held her first fundraiser this summer—headlined by Fishers Mayor and possible 2024 gubernatorial candidate Scott Fadness and former State Sen. Jim Merritt—both of whom are expected to endorse her.
“The reason I think I'm the most qualified is I've been a chief executive,” she told me. “I was chief of staff in the Office of Nuclear Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy, where I was responsible to the White House for the $1.4 billion budget and the Office of Nuclear Energy and 175 employees. So this position is an important position and it requires senior leadership with experience and I think that I bring that to the table.”
Her ace in the hole is her connection to Trump. Rick Perry recently endorsed her. “Cons: unknown, name too hard to pronounce, doesn't have any differentiators from the field, personal bankruptcy, not willing to commit to solely working as Treasurer,” a GOP source told me.
1. Pete Seat. Seat is vice president at Bose Public Affairs Group, a former executive director of strategic communications and talent development for the Indiana GOP under Gov. Eric Holcomb, and state party chairman Kyle Hupfer. A former George W. Bush aide, Seat is making the argument that he is the only true statewide candidate in the race.
On Wednesday, three former Indiana Republican Party Chairs—Al Hubbard, Jim Kittle, and Mike McDaniel—will host a fundraiser for Seat at Meridian Hills Country Club. A host ticket is $2,500. A sponsor ticket is $1,000. You can get in the door for $500.
Here’s a look at his endorsements:
County Chair Endorsements
JD Beckley, Blackford County
Pat Brown, LaGrange County (also 3rd District Chair)
Mark Flint, Pike County
Shannon Mattix, White County
Kitty Merkley, Dubois County (also Dubois County Treasurer, incoming President of Indiana County Treasurers Association & Campaign Co-Chair)
Jon Myers, Whitley County
Jeff Phillips, Jasper County
Litany Pyle, Fountain County
Mike Ragan, Kosciusko County
Darren Reese, Grant County
Rick Ring, DeKalb County (also 3rd District Vice Chair)
Luke Thomas, Perry County
Shelly Williams, Noble County
Russ Willis, Madison County
Jon Winkler, Spencer County
Young / College Republican Endorsements
Adam Aasen, Hamilton County - Carmel City Council
Drake Abramson, Marion County - Past State Chairman, Indiana Federation of College Republicans
Jason Apple, Monroe County - Former Chair, Indiana University College Republicans
Matt Bludgeon, Former Chair, Indiana University College Republicans
Chase Braden, Floyd County
Jacob Buehrer, Hancock County
Adam Bujalski, Elkhart County - Elkhart County Council
Jeff Cummins, Marion County
Daniel Glass, Marion County - Lawrence Township GOP Chair
Theresa Green, Whitley County - Whitley County Commissioner
Victoria Herring, Grant County
Lavinia Herzog, Union County - Former Union County Chair and Former County Recorder
Ethan Manning, Cass County - State Representative (also Campaign Co-Chair)
Isaac Miller, Delaware County - Former Chair, Ball State University College Republicans
Betsy Mills, Henry County - Henry County GOP Vice-Chair and County Council - At Large
Ashley Mull, Jennings County - Former Chair, Hanover College Republicans
Sam Pollock, Vigo County
Melody Quante, Johnson County
Rebecca Showalter, Elkhart County
Gaven Shultz, Delaware County - Former Chair, Ball State University College Republicans
Matt Stachler, Allen County
Jim Suess, Hamilton County
Jake Teshka, St. Joseph County - State Representative
Travis Tschaenn, Hendricks County - Brownsburg Town Council President
Additional Endorsements:
Mary (and Greg) Martin, Steuben County - Indiana Republican Party Secretary & former Steuben County Vice Chair
Rise Buzzard, Huntington County - Third District Secretary and Former Huntington County Chair
Jamesi Lemon, LaGrange County - LaGrange County Treasurer and County GOP Secretary
Seat has raised approximately $30,000 so far. His cons, one person said, include his lack of financial-specific experience that someone like Keesling has.
UNRANKED: President of Boone County Council Elise Nieshalla. The manager of a portfolio of residential real estate has been widely speculated to announce a bid but hasn’t. She has “experience on Boone County council which handles finances, good in front of a camera, very personable,” a GOPer told me. Unlike Seat, she has not traveled the state. Like Seat, she might be viewed as establishment: “she was in the intro video that launched Holcomb's re-election campaign,” this person said, adding she “might struggle to connect with deeply rural delegates.”
AROUND IMPORTANTVILLE
Rep. Jim Banks will hold a fundraiser with former 2016 presidential candidate and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Oct. 18.
Florida Sen. Rick Scott stumped for Todd Young1 in Fort Wayne at the Reagan Bean Dinner Friday.
“Rep. Greg Pence, who huddled in an office with his brother, then-Vice President Mike Pence, during the insurrection, declined repeated inquiries about whether he would talk to the panel,” writes POLITICO.
“Republican State Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem) released the results of an internal poll from her campaign which shows she has a commanding lead over potential opponents in the 2022 Republican primary for Senate District 47,” per campaign spokesman Mike Cross. “Houchin leads a hypothetical 3-way race with 55 percent of the vote over potential opponents Kevin Boehnlein and Shawn Carruthers. Boehnlein is in a distant second trailing by 46 points and Carruthers trails by 48 points. Houchin leads by 70 points in Washington County, and by 55 points in Harrison County. In Floyd County, which is new to District 47, Houchin leads with Carruthers in second and Boehnlein in last place…The poll, conducted October 4-5, 2021 by WPA Intelligence, surveyed 307 Republican primary voters in the new 47th District.”
IMPORTANTVILLE READS
Big stories about Hoosiers and Indiana issues that move the needle.
“Alter Ego: The president who drew his identity from a legendary figure in Notre Dame lore and used the myth to create a life story,” by Bob Schmuhl in Notre Dame Magazine
Throughout his youth a century ago, Ronald Reagan followed the life and career of a certain football coach. Then, after graduating from college in 1932 and working nearly five years in sports broadcasting, the Illinois native headed west to Hollywood. He carried with him a dream beyond acting.
“In weighing 2024 run, Pence tests whether there is political life after Trump,” by Ashley Parker and Josh Dawsey in the Washington Post
Nine months after the Jan. 6 insurrection and his subsequent departure from the White House, Pence’s friends and advisers say he is likely to run for president — especially if Trump does not. He is taking all the traditional steps to position himself for a 2024 presidential bid — hopscotching the country giving six-figure speeches, sitting down for interviews with friendly conservative media outlets and hosting fundraisers for Republican candidates and causes.
THE IMPORTANTVILLE GREEN ROOM: Alex Burton, Evansville City Councillor
A new semi-regular section, featuring an elected official, staffer, or lobbyist you should know.
How did you get into politics?
I was formally introduced to politics while I was a Senior in high school. I was appointed by the Athletic Director of my high school to serve on Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel’s Aquatics Task Force. We studied, discussed, and planned the future of the city pools. It led to the construction of two city pools and closed one pool that was underutilized. This formal experience positioned me well to serve in the ISU Student Government Association. I was active in SGA all four years of my time at Indiana State. From those experiences, I knew I wanted to learn as much as I could in the government realm to be effective and truly solve problems. It is why interned for Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel and two Members of Congress.
Why are you a Democrat?
I am a Democrat because I believe in helping people, strengthening the middle class, treating people fairly, and ensuring that government is used to solve problems that threaten our well-being. I come from a family of educators and laborers who have worked hard to provide and build wealth. The Democratic Party has fought for families like mine and I’m proud to consistently vote for like-minded individuals.
You're the only Black member on the Evansville City Council. What's that experience been like, and what types of issues do you deal with on a day-to-day basis?
One of the unique things about the Evansville City Council is that our leadership changes every year. I was the President my first year on Council during my first term. I credit the happening to my colleagues not only believing in me, but to also send a clear message to our veteran colleagues. Currently, I serve as vice president and am still very much committed to the same issues/concerns that I had as President. Housing, neighborhood revitalization, food access, and economic development are my top focuses and they are also the things I deal with the most. As an elected official, my focus is simple—whatever I don’t accomplish is only harming the very people I’m trying to help the most. This keeps me focused and determined to have as much of an impact as I can.
You introduced Pete Buttigieg at an Indianapolis fundraiser in 2020. How did you get involved in that campaign?
Seeing Pete, a fellow Hoosier and Millennial, run for the highest office was not only inspiring, but it was encouraging to see. The State Director of Indiana for Pete for America, Arielle Brandy asked me who I was supporting in the Primary and I told her without hesitation. I became a Surrogate for his campaign, told them I was interested in traveling (if needed), and was invited to the fundraiser to be a part of the day. It was a memorable experience that I will never forget!
You've interned for two members of Congress. What did you take away from that experience?
I interned for Jim Cooper (TN-05) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-9).
Both experiences were mind-blowing. Congressman Cooper is one of the smartest people I know. His approach to solving problems and standing firm what he believes was remarkable to see firsthand and it really shaped what I was able to learn while on the Hill. Congressman Cooper keeps 10 interns on hand at a time, which added to my experience. I was able to interact with 9 other interns which led to in-depth policy discussions ranging from the Department of Defense to Public Education. My time with Rep. Clarke was different because I was treated like a member of her staff. I was trusted to do more and the responsibilities were exactly what I aspired to do immediately after graduation. However, the scare and actual government shutdown of 2013 forced me back to Evansville.
How would you rate the job performance of Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Mike Schmuhl right now in terms of getting Democrats in places like Evansville engaged?
Mike has hit the ground running. I think he brings new energy and is up for the task at hand. If Democrats are going to win statewide, it is going to take a solid blue Vanderburgh County and I am in to do whatever is necessary to engage voters and increase turnout. I’m confident about what can happen, however, it must become our reality. I’m looking forward to 2022 through 2024 to see exactly how well our strategy will play out. I’m confident in the direction that our Party is headed.
What's your favorite thing about Indiana?
My favorite thing about Indiana is the weather. It’s unpredictable most times and there’s nothing we can do, but adjust to what we’re given.
What's a recent book or show you couldn't put down/stop?
“The Hill We Climb,” by Amanda Gorman is a weekly reminder of what must be done!
That’s all for today. Thanks for reading and subscribing.
An earlier version of this post mentioned that Rick Scott stumped for Todd Rokita. In fact, it was Todd Young. Too many Todds! IMPORTANTVILLE regrets the error.