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Indiana Democrats Tour State Touting Biden's COVID-19 Relief Package

Democrats made more than two dozen stops statewide to tout the American Rescue Plan, including this event in Montgomery County. (@AndersonDrew/Twitter)

The Indiana Democratic Party spent the last month “on offense,” touring the state to promote the Biden administration’s COVID-19 relief package, the American Rescue Plan.

The events signal a shift in strategy from a party struggling to gain statewide relevance.

Democrats held more than two dozen events across the state. Some were in traditional Democratic strongholds, while others were in rural Indiana, where Republicans have dominated.

Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl said that was intentional.

“We were able to organize with counties across the state, counties that wanted to kind of get out, knock the rust off and start to organize in their communities and reach out to volunteers and strong Democrats,” Schmuhl said.

Schmuhl said the message he heard most often: how are you going to help rebuild the party?

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“What resources, what tools, what infrastructure, what vision, what message – you know, what can you do to help us jumpstart activity in our county?” Schmuhl said.

Democrats are also starting another statewide tour, this time focused on the Biden administration’s proposed infrastructure bill.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.