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First things first, we should appreciate everyone that works hard to move our state forward.
The reality is it’s hard to be a Democrat in Indiana which has been long been lurching further to the right. Our failures—and our successes—do not belong to any one person. https://twitter.com/adamwren/status/1324755567764754432
First things first, we should appreciate everyone that works hard to move our state forward.
The reality is it’s hard to be a Democrat in Indiana which has been long been lurching further to the right. Our failures—and our successes—do not belong to any one person. https://twitter.com/adamwren/status/1324755567764754432
But here’s another reality.
* We don’t have a clear vision.
* Our infrastructure is lacking.
* The bench is weak.
And they’re all interrelated.
* We don’t have a clear vision.
* Our infrastructure is lacking.
* The bench is weak.
And they’re all interrelated.
Vision
We battle Republicans to maintain what we have, but what are we proactively fighting for?
The national party brand is not helpful to Hoosier Democrats. But to separate ourselves from it, we need a vision around a few priorities.
Marijuana legalization should be one.
We battle Republicans to maintain what we have, but what are we proactively fighting for?
The national party brand is not helpful to Hoosier Democrats. But to separate ourselves from it, we need a vision around a few priorities.
Marijuana legalization should be one.
Infrastructure
Our infrastructure is weak primarily because we lack:
* A clear vision for folks to rally around and invest resources in; and
* A statewide elected as the face of the party.
But constituency caucuses like @IndianaYoungDem, @INLatinoDems, etc. are bright spots.
Our infrastructure is weak primarily because we lack:
* A clear vision for folks to rally around and invest resources in; and
* A statewide elected as the face of the party.
But constituency caucuses like @IndianaYoungDem, @INLatinoDems, etc. are bright spots.
Bench
It’s hard to build a strong bench when we:
* Don’t have a clear vision;
* Lack the infrastructure; and
* Recycle candidates and pine for the past.
We need to hand over the keys to new leaders.
It’s hard to build a strong bench when we:
* Don’t have a clear vision;
* Lack the infrastructure; and
* Recycle candidates and pine for the past.
We need to hand over the keys to new leaders.
As we rebuild, the role of Chair is an important piece of the puzzle.
Different moments require a different type of Chair. As a baseline, the role is:
* Managerial b/c you run an org;
* Ceremonial b/c you represent Dems; and
* Development-oriented b/c a vision needs funds.
Different moments require a different type of Chair. As a baseline, the role is:
* Managerial b/c you run an org;
* Ceremonial b/c you represent Dems; and
* Development-oriented b/c a vision needs funds.
But that’s not enough right now.
* We don’t have a statewide elected official.
* Voters don’t know the General Assembly leadership.
* The focus of future statewide candidates is to win their race in a given year.
We need a new model.
* We don’t have a statewide elected official.
* Voters don’t know the General Assembly leadership.
* The focus of future statewide candidates is to win their race in a given year.
We need a new model.
With Hoosier Democrats in the wilderness, the next Chair should be someone who is:
* Independent and not placed there by existing power structures;
* Willing to take risks in an attempt to expand the electorate; and
* Thinking 10+ years out rather than cycle by cycle.
* Independent and not placed there by existing power structures;
* Willing to take risks in an attempt to expand the electorate; and
* Thinking 10+ years out rather than cycle by cycle.
There is a path back to relevancy.
It will be hard.
It will take time.
It will require boldness.
But it can be done.
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It will be hard.
It will take time.
It will require boldness.
But it can be done.
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