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Indiana Democrats focus on flipping state House seats, breaking GOP supermajority

Josh Lowry, who ran for state Senate in 2022, is the Democratic candidate in a suburban Indianapolis state House district being vacated by retiring Rep. Donna Schaibley (R-Carmel).
Brandon Smith / IPB News
Josh Lowry, who ran for state Senate in 2022, is the Democratic candidate in a suburban Indianapolis state House district being vacated by retiring Rep. Donna Schaibley (R-Carmel).

The Indiana Democratic Party is focused on flipping at least four seats in the state House this year, which would break the supermajority Republicans have had for more than a decade.

Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl said breaking the supermajority gives Democrats a greater ability to stop, slow or change what he calls “harmful” legislation.

And Schmuhl said his party can flip seats by providing voters with quality choices — candidates that are focused on solutions to real problems.

“I feel like you can only go so far as a political party before you kind of tip over. And I think that the Republican Party is very, very close to tipping over,” Schmuhl said.

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A focus of the party’s strategy is suburban districts around Indianapolis. Candidates like Josh Lowry said a key message is the need for greater accountability and transparency.

“Breaking the supermajority is healthy for democracy,” Lowry said.

Republicans have had a supermajority in the state Senate since 2010 and in the House since 2012.
 

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at  bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5 .

Copyright 2024 IPB News.

Brandon Smith has covered the Statehouse for Indiana Public Broadcasting for more than a decade, spanning three governors and a dozen legislative sessions. He's also the host of Indiana Week in Review, a weekly political and policy discussion program seen and heard across the state.
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