By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Kosciusko County Democrats don’t have any county-level candidates in the upcoming election, but that doesn’t mean they are lacking in energy and enthusiasm.
Democrats recently erected six billboards promoting the presidential ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz and a slate of female candidates on the state level.
Four more billboards touting the campaigns of gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick and Indiana Attorney General candidate Destiny Wells will also be up shortly.
The first six billboards, some of which are located on Ind. 15, Ind. 13 and Old Road 30 West, were developed by the local party and take a playful approach, reminding voters that they can vote for Democrat candidates up and down the ballot and that “no one will know.”
Democratic Party Chair Vickie Morton said she’s enthused about having so many women at the top of the ticket, a development that has likely never been seen in northern Indiana.
In addition to Harris, McCormick and Wells, other candidates mentioned in the billboards include Valerie McCray, a candidate for the US Senate, Lori Camp, a candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, and Kiley Adolph, who is running for the open seat in the 3rd Congressional District.
She said she thinks changes in the national abortion laws across the country, including Indiana, have energized herself and others.
She also thinks Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and rhetoric from his running mate, JD Vance have some Republican voters looking at options.
She pointed to two recent issues that have possibly resonated with voters — Vance’s “cat lady” comments and suggestions that Haitian immigrants have been eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
She and other Democrats have been going door-to-door in some parts of the county distributing campaign literature.
She said she believes some local Republicans are rethinking their voting choices this fall.
“I’ve been out finding a lot of voters and I’ve talked to people who identify themselves as Republicans but they are not going to be voting for Republicans this year,” Morton said.
Morton said she’s enthused about having six female candidates at the top of the ticket and thinks the abortion issue and a dislike for Trump and running mate JD Vance are fueling interest.
Morton said candidate Lori Camp will join other Democrats tonight at Third Friday. Yard signs will be available then and can also be ordered online through the local Democrat Party website.
Kosciusko County Republican Party Chair Mike Ragan was asked about the Democrat party billboards. He said he hasn’t noticed them and that Republicans are enthused with the Trump campaign.
He said their downtown headquarters has plenty of campaign signs for various races.
“We’re seeing probably as much enthusiasm as we have in the last two presidential elections,” Ragan said. “We have lots of people coming in wanting Trump materials every day.”
Voter registration ends Oct. 7 and early voting begins the next day.
