Demetrius Hicks, a Democratic candidate for Indiana State Senate District 29, is pushing back on what he is calling political attacks on his personal finances.
Court records show that in July 2025, a Marion Superior Court judge entered a default judgment against Hicks in the amount of $7,085.50 in a credit card collection case filed by Capital One, as successor to Discover Bank (Cause No. 49D05-2411-CC-053731). Records indicate Hicks was served but did not respond to the lawsuit, which was originally filed in November 2024.
In a recent social media video, Hicks acknowledged carrying credit card debt but said it stemmed from caring for his grandmother, who suffered from cancer and dementia. He described becoming her primary caregiver in his 20s and using available resources, including credit cards, to ensure she received necessary care.
“I will gladly max out my credit cards… for this beautiful woman who raised me,” Hicks said, adding that he stands by those decisions and is proud to have since brought those accounts into good standing.
Hicks did not specify when his grandmother passed away. Public records indicate she died in October 2024.
He also criticized what he described as personal and racial attacks, arguing that campaigns should focus on policy differences rather than personal circumstances.
“Politics is about the positions we take and the policies we support,” Hicks said. “It should never be normalized to call someone the N-word, body shame, or attack someone’s personal life.”
The timing is notable: the lawsuit was filed shortly after the death of Hicks’ grandmother, whose care he cites as the primary reason for the debt.
Hicks also said he became his grandmother’s primary caregiver in his 20s. At 33 years old, that would place those events roughly a decade ago, raising additional questions about how that timeframe connects to a lawsuit filed in late 2024.
At the same time, Hicks stated in his video that he had paid off or brought his credit card debt into good standing. The court record, however, reflects a lawsuit filed in November 2024 and a default judgment entered in July 2025, creating a timeline that does not clearly align with that explanation.
Indy Politics contacted Hicks with detailed questions about the case, including the origin of the debt, why no response was filed in court, and whether the account referenced in the lawsuit is the same debt he discussed publicly.
Those questions were not answered.
Instead, Hicks addressed the issue in general terms through his public statement, emphasizing the financial realities many Americans face and framing the attacks as personal rather than substantive.
That leaves a gap between the broader story Hicks is telling voters and the specific facts contained in the court record.
The primary is May 5
Full Disclosure: The author is a Pike Township resident and is involved in litigation involving the Pike Township Board.
