Now that the primary election is behind them, November looks a lot closer to candidates and party leaders in Porter County.
Porter County Democratic Party Chair Don Craft and his Republican counterpart, Nate Uldricks, reflected Friday on lessons learned from the primary and the task ahead of them for the general election.
Tuesday’s primary election saw voter turnout at 14% in Porter County, less than the 16% in LaPorte County and 17% in Lake County.
“Overall turnout, it was low,” Uldricks said. “We don’t have a president, a governor, or a senator or even really anyone statewide on the ballot, so that is a major reason.”
“At least in Porter County, a lot of our really top vote-getters didn’t have challengers, so that drives it as well,” he said.
While she acknowledged that voter turnout this year was lower at 14.49% than in the 2022 midterm, which saw 16.53% of the county’s voters casting ballots, Porter County Director of Elections and Registration Sundae Schoon said her department’s focus remains on providing voters accessible opportunities, clear information and a smooth election process.
“We are always encouraged to see strong civic participation and hope turnout increases in the fall,” she said in an emailed statement Friday.
Schoon also encouraged voters to follow the Elections Department on Facebook and Instagram for up-to-date voting information.
There were over 1,000 more Democratic ballots than Republican ballots submitted in the primary, according to unofficial vote tallies from Tuesday’s primary. The county’s election board will certify the results at a Friday meeting.
“I think the turnout was good for Democrats. We actually have a good showing, and for whatever reason the Republican turnout went down this time,” Craft said.
“I expected the Republicans to turn out more than we did,” he said.
In the Democratic primary, County Councilman Greg Simms, who has represented District 3 for two terms, lost his re-election bid following allegations about inappropriate conduct with female students when he was a social studies teacher at Washington Township High School. He has denied the allegations in a video he posted on Facebook and in an interview with the Post-Tribune.
Uldricks pointed to counties elsewhere that had intense primary campaigns that played out on social media. “Some of them were really bitter fights,” he said.
“Even our people who did have primaries, I’ve really worked over the last year to keep things civil between our people,” Uldricks said.
National politics seemed to be a factor in Porter County’s primary, Craft said.
“We’ve seen across the country large Democratic turnouts and a lot of Democratic reaction to national politics,” he said.
“I think there’s a good possibility” of national angst translating into Democratic campaigns, he said.
“We had a lot of women in our precinct and delegate races,” indicating high female turnout.
“Women are still active from the Dobbs decision and the state action to place limits on abortion,” he said.
The Dobbs decision overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling that had guaranteed the right to abortion, and some states began tightening restrictions on abortion immediately afterward, including Indiana.
Having a “rapist president” makes a difference, too, Craft said. Trump was found liable in May 2023 for sexually abusing and defaming author E. Jean Carroll. He wasn’t found liable for rape, but the judge later said Trump’s conduct met the modern definition of rape.
Uldricks said Republicans will need to motivate former Democrats who became Trump supporters to vote in the general election.
“That is something we’re going to have to work hard at.”
The challenge will be to get Trump voters excited for local and state candidates. Across Indiana, Trump’s influence was felt in Indiana legislative races after the Indiana Senate balked at redistricting to give Trump an edge in the midterm elections. In the past, Indiana has drawn new districts only when new census data is provided.
“My sense with President Trump, he’s been the same kind of guy since 2016. I think there are very few surprises in his public speaking persona. He’s tackled real problems,” Uldricks said.
The Trump administration has identified “hundreds of billions, if not trillions, in fraud.”
“We always assumed there was some of it, but the magnitude of it is crazy,” Uldricks said.
Trump is well known for posting mean comments on social media, but he’s getting tough things done, Uldricks said.
Craft sees Trump’s influence as improving the Democratic candidates’ chances in the fall election.
Uldricks likes Republican candidates’ prospects – including his own, running against incumbent state Sen. Rodney Pol Jr. in District 4 – in the fall.
“We’re going to have to really get in the same boat, row in the same direction, and row hard for sure,” he said.
Despite the lower Republican turnout in the primary, “the trends are undeniably in our favor,” Uldricks said.
In 2024, Republicans in Porter County saw their best election results since President Ronald Reagan’s landslide victory in 1980, Uldricks said. In 2016, Republicans lost by probably 12 points, but in 2018 they won by 2, so that’s a 14-point swing, he added.
Voters’ mood swings were felt Tuesday in the Porter County Council races.
Simms, a Democrat, and Council President Andy Vasquez, a Republican representing District 4, lost their races.
Republican Mike Brickner, an at-large member of the county council, will leave that seat next year if he’s successful in his bid for Center District commissioner. He bested Coroner Cyndi Dykes in the primary and will face Democrat Kyle Nelson in November.
Councilman Jeremy Rivas, who represents District 2, has said if he runs for re-election, it would be as an independent rather than a Democrat.
How will the dynamics of the council change next year?
“That is a good to-be-determined question,” Uldricks said.
“I’m sad to see Andy Vasquez go. He’s a quality, classy guy,” Craft said.
Craft expects council Vice President Red Stone, a Republican representing District 1, to have a Democratic challenger, although no one was on the ballot Tuesday.
“I think we’ll have four strong candidates in the district races, so maybe we’ll actually win back one seat this time,” Craft said.
Craft and Uldricks plan to announce candidates for vacant seats soon. Craft already has all but one of them. Party chairs have until the end of June to slate candidates for open ballot spots for the general election.
“I really like all of our candidates a lot,” Craft said.
Uldricks said even as he campaigns for himself, he’s concerned about getting people involved in civic life.
“You can’t assume that everyone knows that there’s an election going on,” he said.
“Even driving around, Porter County, you have to look through the lens of the average voter,” Uldricks said.
Republicans and Democrats alike need to focus on increasing voter turnout, reaching people one by one and reminding them, “Hey, there’s an election. You should exercise your constitutional right to go vote.”
“We have to continually drum that message,” Uldricks said.
If potential voters say they’re disgusted with government, Uldricks said, “What do you do about it? Do you just throw your hands up and say it’s out of my hands, it’s out of my control, or do you be the change yourself?”
“You’d be surprised how quickly things can change by having one motivated person.”
“Keep yourself informed, then go vote,” Uldricks said. “Find things that grind your gears, then put yourself in there. Volunteer, and make a change.”
“There’s a million nonprofits. There are boards — plan commission, stormwater. Everyone has expertise,” he said.
Uldricks is on the county parks foundation, raising money for the county’s parks.
“There’s nothing better, I think, than being involved, helping shape your community.”
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Freelance reporter Shelley Jones contributed.
