Voters in Indiana House District 89 will choose between two candidates this November to represent them in the Indiana House of Representatives. The district covers a portion of eastern Marion County and includes a portion of southeast Indianapolis, including Beech Grove and East Warren.
There are 100 members of the Indiana House of Representatives. Their job is to work alongside the governor and the Indiana State Senate to create laws and set the state budget. Their seats go up for election every two years, and in Indiana there is no limit on the number of terms a representative can serve.
WFYI opened an ongoing voter survey in May, and the most common voting issues were data center policy, affordability, and feeling disempowered.
WFYI contacted each campaign and sent a survey based on voter questions — it asked candidates for their top priorities and their positions on civic health, data centers and affordability. For candidates who did not respond, information was gathered from websites and social media for a "Top priorities" note. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Mitch Gore
Personal information provided by candidate.
Incumbent
Party: Democrat
Website: mitchgore.com
Age: 34
Occupation: Indiana State Representative, District 89; Major, Marion County Sheriff's Office
Residence: Indianapolis
Top donors (via Transparency USA):
- United Association of Journeymen Plumbers Steamfitters & HVAC Service Technicians Local 440 PAC
- IBEW PAC Federal
- Teamster Educational PAC
- Ironworkers Local 295 Ipal
- Iron Workers Local 22 PAC Fund
Gore accepted WFYI's invitation to take a survey. WFYI fact checked statements about publicly available data.
If elected, what are your top policy priorities?
I have only one overarching goal; to ensure that government begins working for the people, and only for the people, again. I will introduce efforts to get money out of politics as much as possible, dramatically strengthen ethics laws, and increase transparency and disclosure requirements for elected officials and powerful government bureaucrats.
Many voters told us they don't think today's politicians listen to their constituents. Why do you think that is, and how would you address the concern?
Voters feel that way because it is that way. Those in power in Indiana have had absolute control for close to two decades. They have and can raise enormous sums of money. They can twist and bend the government's power to support their personal goals and enrich their friends and associates (who then turn around and contribute to their campaigns). And nowhere along the way did the average citizen have a say in what transpired.
More and more, this power and money is used so that politicians can tell voters what issues they ought to be concerned about, instead of the other way around.
We have to get money out of politics, institute term limits, allow for public referenda/ballot questions, and institute a series of publicly funded town hall meetings where state legislators must attend or forfeit their per diem.
What is your position on data center development in Indiana?
Hoosiers shouldn't pay one single cent more on their utility bills so billion-dollar companies can run AI servers. We shouldn't use a small town's worth of water to cool our new digital overlords. Hoosiers should be able to go outside to a quiet, comfortable neighborhood regardless of what was built next door. Hoosiers shouldn't' have to pay sales tax on their utilities.
Many voters told us they struggle to afford food, housing and healthcare. If elected, how would you help them address those needs?
I've authored bills to cap what hospitals can charge, crack down on grocery chains price gouging, and make it easier and cheaper to build more housing (while maintaining safety standards). We have a lot more work to do. Every good idea in these areas ultimately gets defeated or watered down until it's ineffective because there are powerful stakeholders with lots of money pushing back. Until we put other people in power and address the fundamental issues in our political system, we'll continue to bang our heads against the wall.
Drew Weingarten
Candidate did not fill out WFYI's survey.
Party: Libertarian
Website: None found
Age: Not verified
Occupation: Not verified
Residence: Not verified
Top donors (via Transparency USA):
- (No records)
Top priorities: WFYI could not find information online about this candidate's top priorities.
