A renewed call by Democrats for an increase to Indiana's minimum wage isn't winning over Republicans who control the Statehouse, with the governor saying his goal is to prepare workers for advancing beyond low-paying jobs.

Democratic incumbent Joe Hogsett and Republican challenger Jim Merritt's first face to face mayoral debate focused on fighting poverty and raising the minimum wage.

Mayor Joe Hogsett introduced the policy recommendations by noting that while the city has seen significant growth in the last ten years, poverty has gone up by 80%.

Indiana Senate Democrats will push for several ideas in the 2018 legislative session they've tried to advance before.

The new baseline salary will go into effect on January 1.

The minimum wage rate at Indiana University Health previously matched the national and state minimum of $7.25 per hour.

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg wants to raise the minimum wage for city employees to $10.10 per hour by 2018. The city currently adheres to the state and federal minimum wages of $7.25 per hour.

Despite recent news that Indiana's unemployment rate is at a 7-year low, activists say too many newly created jobs in the state are low paying.