Importantville: The vanishing Southern IN Democrat—Silent Mike—Donnelly on SCOTUS deliberations
What's happening—and what's next—at the intersection of politics and business in Indiana.
Days to Election Day: 70
Days to First Senate Debate: 41
One of the most fascinating stories in Indiana politics over the last decade has been the vanishing Southern Indiana Democrat.
Consider this: In 2010, Democrats held nine House seats and four Senate seats south of Indy; they held four of 11 House seats and one of six Senate seats on Ohio River; Democrats lost a net of 11 seats in the House, 10 of which came south of Indy. Meanwhile, Democrats lost a net of four seats in the Senate, but none were from south of Indy. Redistricting in 2012—and a leftward lurch from the national party—seemed to swallow other Democrats.
By 2016, Democrats held only 5 House seats and 1 Senate seat (Bloomington) south of Indy; they held 3 of 10 House seats and 0 of 7 Senate seats on Ohio River.
Check out this revealing gif, courtesy of Trevor Foughty of Capitol and Washington.
Good Monday morning. Welcome to Importantville. It’s the last week before Labor Day, after which races up and down the ballot will go into overdrive. If you enjoy this email, forward to a colleague, and tell them to subscribe. We’ll be all over the midterms.
WHERE’S VEEP? He has lunch with President Trump. At 2:15 p.m., he and the president will have a bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Kenya. Tonight, he and Karen Pence will join the president and the first lady for a dinner celebrating Evangelical leadership.
THE WEEK AHEAD: On Tuesday, “The Shadow President: The Truth About Mike Pence,” by journalists Michael D’Antonio and Peter Eisner, releases. Interim Study Committees gather on Tuesday and Friday. On Thursday, Trump rallies in Evansville.
#INSen State of Play
SUNDAY SHOW REVIEW: BRAUN, asked by FOX 59’s Dan Spehler on Sunday’s IN Focus whether he’ll be framing his race around protecting Trump from impeachment:
I think that’s what maybe some of the media will want to have us do. To me, from talking to Hoosiers, I just don’t have that many folks in the field—I’ve been out everyday—and the things I’m hearing about are healthcare and issues that are a little closer to home. When it comes to whatever is happening with Manafort and the other stuff, I really don’t believe that’s going to weigh-in on Hoosiers.
BRAUN also did not deny his campaign had been notified by Chevron to take its “Doer” ad off the air and offline, due to similarities with a long-running Chevron ad campaign.
Asked by Spehler if Chevron contacted his campaign and urged them to pull the ad: “I really don’t know.”
At Indy Politics, Donnelly gives Abdul Hakim-Shabazz his latest thoughts on SCOTUS nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh:
We talked about precedent, which is so important. Talked about healthcare, his writings, his speeches that he gave. I wanted to make sure he could be impartial. His judicial temperament. His qualifications. In this preparation that I’m doing, the next step is the committee hearings. They start September 4. Approximately 21 or so of my colleagues will have a chance to ask him questions and the nation will get to see it as well. I had a chance to spend time with him, to check his views on a lot of this, to tell him how important healthcare is to me in terms of what’s important to Hoosiers. I want to make sure we continue to have that. He said, ‘you know, I understand how critical that is.’ And I’m going to look forward to the committee hearings now.
HOW DESPERATE ARE PEOPLE FOR POLLING IN #INSEN RACE? GoFundMe desperate. Rasmussen Reports, the polling outfit, is trying to raise money for a “state survey” in Indiana, among other states. The bid has raised $80 of $2,000 goal.
IMPORTANTVILLE INBOX
Indiana Democrats: Five questions Rep. Braun needs to answer about his relationship with supplier that shipped American jobs to China
The questions for Rep. Braun about his company continue to pile up after another Associated Press article about his business revealed one of his biggest suppliers began laying off its American workers and outsourced jobs to China the same year Rep. Braun’s company began to work with them.
On Thursday, the Associated Press reported that one of Rep. Braun’s biggest suppliers, Westin Automotive, laid off over 200 workers from its Minnesota plant in 2008 and began to shift production to low-wage factories in China and Taiwan. That’s the same year that Meyer Distributing, Rep. Braun’s company, began to do business with them. Westin has became one of Rep. Braun’s biggest suppliers while importing more than 700 shipments of parts from China. The AP also reported earlier this month that Promaxx Automotive, a brand of Rep. Braun’s company with its own line of auto parts, has many of its parts made in China.
Mike Braun: Donnelly on the Tough Questions: “Give My Office a Call”
Career politician Joe Donnelly may be willing to say anything to Hoosiers to get re-elected, but when it comes to tough questions from reporters, he’d rather you talk to an intern in his office about it.
Last week, Donnelly was asked if he agrees with his Democrat colleagues' calls to delay Judge Kavanaugh's nomination, presumably until after they can impeach President Trump. Donnelly's response? "No comment" and "give my office a call."
Hoosier politicos remember McCain
Sen. Joe Donnelly:
I deeply mourn the loss of my dear friend and mentor, John McCain, an American hero of the truest kind. His example will always inspire me. I will remember John as representing the very best of what makes America the greatest nation in the world. May God bless his family, friends, and our nation just as John blessed us with his life.
Sen. Todd Young:
“John McCain was a patriot and hero who served our country in uniform and in the Senate with extraordinary courage, passion, sacrifice, and integrity. I join with his family, his friends, our colleagues in the Senate, and all Americans in mourning the passing of one of the finest leaders our nation has produced. We can honor his life and legacy by ensuring America continues to lead from a position of strength and principle – standing up for freedom, the oppressed, the dispossessed, and the rule of law.”
Rep. Mike Braun:
Maureen and I are praying for Cindy and the McCain family to find peace in this difficult time.
August 26, 2018
.@FLJanetHolcomb and I are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Sen. John McCain. He lived a model life of service and heroism. A real-life hero, who always worked for causes greater than himself. Fair winds and following seas, O Captain! My Captain!
August 26, 2018John McCain was an American hero and a patriot. He left an indelible mark on the country he loved with his unwavering dedication to the defense of freedom, the security of our nation, and the protection of our brave men and women in uniform. I am praying for his family as they, and all Americans, mourn his passing.
Former Gov. Evan Bayh:
Deeply saddened by passing of @SenJohnMcCain. Susan, Beau, and Nick join me in sending our deepest condolences to @cindymccain and the McCain family.
August 26, 2018Business
COOL NEW VENTURE: THE MICROCHIP ACADEMY, via TechPoint’s Sara Croft
Would you be more likely to say yes to a career in tech if the company recognized the need and offered options for child care?
It’s an issue that women have raised since we’ve had babies, and one Indianapolis entrepreneur and mother is speaking up with bold ideas for change. “If women don’t have access to basic services, they don’t have a seat at the table,” says Jillian Walker.
Jillian is no stranger to advocating for her community. You may know her from her work as Director of Operations with Open for Service, a nonprofit that spun out as a response to RFRA, or her work at High Alpha, a venture capital and tech portfolio studio in Indianapolis.
“As a woman in tech, I heard from moms who said ‘I want to have a kid, but I don’t think I can do it right now.’ Even just the thought of having a child meant we had to get on every daycare waiting list. It became too much, and I wanted to help,” says Jillian.
Indianapolis’ emerging tech ecosystem is on the brink of a potential win for Amazon’s second headquarters. Salesforce has expanded their operations with apprentice programs, and Infosys is reaching their goal of adding 3,000 jobs to Indy’s workforce. The question is whether Indy can keep up with these three things: the incoming demand for child care, quality and creative child care options that fit the needs of tech workers, and an ethos that respects and supports women and families who want to have children.
For those reasons and more, Jillian and her co-founder Eric Tobias are launching The Microchip Academy, a child-centered children’s academy for infants and kids through the age of five that will serve Indy’s tech and downtown community. Both are currently pursuing a curriculum, educators, and a location of roughly 20,000 square feet near Mile Square with grand goals of opening up access for more families who live or work downtown, but especially those in the tech community.
IMPORTANTVILLE READS:
Mike Pence stays silent for another explosive news week, via CNN
Vice President Mike Pence is keeping quiet during yet another raucous news week for the Trump administration.
During a brief media availability on Wednesday in Rockport, Texas, Pence shook his head with a nonverbal nonresponse to a question about Paul Manafort's conviction and Michael Cohen's plea deal.
Could This 36-Year-Old Indiana Mayor Topple Trumpism? via Rolling Stone
Pete Buttigieg is perpetually on the move. When the South Bend, Indiana, mayor spoke to Rolling Stone last Wednesday, he was en route to a local speaking gig while sorting out his thoughts for a big speech the next day that had just come up at the last minute. “Just got a call today from [Sen.] Dick Durbin, asking me to fill in for Joe Biden at Democrat Day at the Illinois State Fair,” he says. “Talk about some shoes to fill!”
The symbolism could not be missed: The septuagenarian Democratic eminence, under doctor’s orders, was handing the mic to the 36-year-old upstart he might be squaring off against in the 2020 presidential primaries. If Buttigieg tries to make the oceans-wide leap from running a small Rust Belt city to running the United States, as many expect, he will offer a vivid contrast to not only the former vice president but the rest of a sure-to-be-crowded Democratic field — and not just because he’d likely be the lone representative of the millennial generation.
“Did you hear the one about Hamilton County Democrats? They’re no joke this year,” via Indy Star
Hamilton County is such a Republican stronghold that few people can remember the last time a Democrat held a countywide elected office.
In fact, Democrats usually don’t even bother to run candidates in off-year elections. When they do, it's often a lone contender for county council who proceeds to get trounced with less than 30 percent of the vote.
But this year is different: Democrats are fielding a challenger in seven of 11 countywide races, the most for such offices in a single election in at least 40 years — and maybe ever, according to election records and political observers.
MAJOR MOVES
Rachel Hoffmeyer will replace Stephanie Wilson as Gov. Eric Holcomb's new press secretary. Hoffmeyer was previously director of digital communications. Wilson writes of Hoffmeyer:
Prior to joining the Holcomb Administration in November 2017, Rachel was the executive editor of Franklin College’s student journalism program and publication, The Statehouse File, where she led a full-time team of student reporters at the Indiana Statehouse. Between 2010 and 2015, Rachel worked as a television news producer for KARK and KATV in Little Rock, Arkansas as well as WISH-TV in Indianapolis.
Rachel is from Indianapolis, graduated from Franklin Central High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in electronic media production from Harding University in Arkansas. She and her husband, Evan, live in Indianapolis with their miniature schnauzer, Chloe.
NEW: IMPORTANTVILLE TRIVIA
Denizen of Importantville Joel Riethmiller has our first weekly Importantville trivia question. First person with the correct answer in the comments gets to ask the next week’s question.
Democrats have controlled the Fort Wayne Mayor’s office since 2000. Before that, that current IU Professor Paul Helmke was Mayor for 12 years. Due to campaign finance violations, who was the Mayor of FW for 11 days in 1985?
That’s all for today. What did I miss? Email me tips at cadamwren@gmail.com
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Cosy Simon.