By Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, Indy Politics
At a “No Kings” rally this weekend, State Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, said Democrats see both opportunity and danger as Indiana heads into the midterm elections.
In an interview with Indy Politics, DeLaney said Democrats are running more candidates than at any time in his memory, fielding contenders in roughly 80 percent of contested seats, with many of them younger and new to politics. He called that a “very positive sign” for his party’s future.
But DeLaney argued that much of the political energy this cycle is being driven by concerns over democracy, voting access, and the continued influence of former President Donald Trump on the Republican Party. He described the GOP as a “one-man band,” saying Trump effectively decides “each day who’s going to play,” citing his shifting support in key races and the resulting tension between establishment figures and more hard-line conservatives.
DeLaney said he is less focused on Republican Party turmoil than on what he sees as a broader threat to the country. He warned that voting is becoming “harder and harder” and accused Republicans of working to further restrict ballot access. He said both parties have a duty to push voter registration and turnout, but argued that Democrats are increasingly motivated by worries about the Constitution being ignored and Congress “doing nothing.”
With early voting set to begin in less than a week, DeLaney predicted a strong turnout among voters who are alarmed by the current environment, while saying he remains unsure how energized Trump’s most loyal supporters will be.
At the state level, DeLaney criticized the Republican-controlled legislature as “dysfunctional,” saying lawmakers are more focused on federal and culture-war issues than on investing in schools, roads, and other local needs. He said the answer is to “replace the worst of them” and offer voters a clear alternative.
You can hear him in the audio above. It runs for about five minutes.
