By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
SYRACUSE — An energized collection of Democratic supporters packed the SS Lillypad Sunday afternoon for a fundraiser that included many of the state party’s top candidates 100 days until Election Day.
Democrats sounded energized over various issues from reproductive rights, Project 2025 and even comments by Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, who has criticized “childless cat ladies.”
Gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick, a former state superintendent of education who faces US Sen. Mike Braun in the race for governor, led the call for change, saying issues are lining up on their side.
“I promise you I am going to get in there and work hard because this is our time,” she said.
She ticked off a list of hot-button state issues including education spending, curriculum concerns, and the need to better funding for early education and child care.
She also addressed quality of life rankings, which have Indiana near the bottom compared to other states.
“They’ve been in charge for 20 years and they have to own it. Democrats have to clean it up,” she said to a rousing round of cheers.
McCormick was critical of Braun’s plan, which was unveiled on Friday and calls for tax bills to be rolled back to 2021 levels.
“The towns and cities would still need to operate, so that plan would really negatively impact our communities, but also too, would benefit very wealthy people,” she said.
McCormick was one of many top state candidates participating in Sunday’s event — and they’re all female.
Others include Lori Camp, who is running against Rudy Yakym for the 2nd District, Kylie Adolph who will face former Congressman Marlin Stutzman for the Third District seat and Valerie McCray who is running against U.S. Rep. Jim Banks for the open U.S. Senate seat vacated by Braun.
All four candidates on Sunday mentioned the enthusiasm that surfaced a week ago after Vice President Kamala Harris stepped into the election limelight after the President pulled out of the campaign and quickly endorsed her.
The quick ascension of Harris ahead of the Democratic National Convention next month has led to an outpouring of new campaign cash and a slight shift in poll numbers in some states, according to various reports in recent days.
“We’re definitely feeling this sense of energy,” Adolph said. “Over the past week, we’ve been talking to voters from the ages of 28 to 98 and just this renewed sense of hope.”
The fallout from the Roe V. Wade abortion ruling and a crackdown in abortion rights has led to a rallying cry for many voters.
“I think some of us got complacent thinking this wouldn’t happen and now that it did, we’re in a fight, we’re in it to win it and I think we will,” Camp said after the board ride.
McCray said she is invigorated by Harris’s new role in the campaign. She said Banks is too busy worrying about issues outside of Indiana such as protests on college campuses.
