SOUTH BEND — St. Joseph County Democratic candidates and residents gathered at M.R. Falcons on Monday, April 6, to celebrate South Bend’s annual Dyngus Day.
Secretary of State Democratic candidate Beau Bayh’s message to voters had a few themes: togetherness, the importance of voter participation and “reigning in corruption,” as well as building a better future in Indiana.
“This movement is for you,” Bayh said in an interview with The Tribune. “It doesn’t matter what political party you’re in. If you’re tired of the divisiveness in our politics, you’re tired of people shouting at each other, you’re tired of people picking a red team, blue team, digging in … then this movement is for you.”
Bayh, who is the son of former Indiana Gov. and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh and grandson of the late U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, faces a progressive small business owner, Blythe Potter, who is an Army Reserves veteran, as his opponent at the June Democratic convention. In Indiana, delegates at the parties’ conventions select the candidate for secretary of state, treasurer and auditor.
“I was in the Marine Corps for five and a half years. I could tell you the hundreds of Marines I’ve led did not have the same politics, we didn’t vote the same, but at the end of the day we came together to achieve a common mission that was more important than any political difference we may have had.”
The West Side Democratic and Civic Club’s annual Dyngus Day looked a little different this year after unexpected renovations forced the club to move celebrations to M.R. Falcons. This didn’t stop well over 100 people from enjoying traditional Polish foods and conversing with St. Joseph County Democratic candidates.
A message from Democratic candidates
Bayh spoke Monday about reigning in tax dollar spending in the secretary of state’s office. According to Bayh, Secretary of State Diego Morales has spent over $92,000 in taxpayer money on a luxury SUV and has hired family members, paying them six-figure salaries.
“He’s taking trips all over the world and won’t tell us who’s paying for them,” Bayh said in his speech. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in Poland today celebrating this.”
Although this joke may have landed with the crowd, Morales was actually right down the street at Allie’s Cafe and Catering, 2323 E. Mishawaka Ave., where he spoke at the St. Joseph County Young Republican’s Dyngus Day celebration.
In the 2024 general election, Indiana saw 2.9 million people vote out of 4.8 million registered voters. According to Bayh, Indiana ranks as one of the lowest in voter participation around the country. Some of the policies he would support to increase voter participation in Indiana include protecting early voting, citizen-led ballot referendums and ending straight ticket voting.
“The biggest reasons that people don’t vote in our state is that they feel like it doesn’t matter because a lot of times our elections are not very competitive,” Bayh said. “The biggest contributing factor to that is straight ticket voting because people are not voting for the better individual, they’re voting for the colored jersey or the national political party they like the best.”
Outside of policy, Bayh emphasized togetherness.
“I am sick and tired of the divisiveness, the anger and the hatred we have seen in our politics,” Bayh said. “We need leaders here in Indiana that seek to bring people together and not divide us.”
Karen Tallian, chair of the Indiana Democratic Party, emphasized the importance of words and the meaning they carry. Tallian listed off a few words that she believes have bad stories to go with them: DOGE, ICE, gerrymandering, Argentina and Iran.
“Every one of those words is some awful thing that they have put upon the American people in the past year, and it needs to stop,” Tallian said in an interview with The Tribune. “People get it. And every place that we go, we’ve been around the state, people are coming out all over in big numbers.”
Tallian listed off some words she felt represented the Democratic party: healthcare, childcare, education, fair wages and marijuana.
“Democrats have been the party of labor forever,” Tallian said. “We own that, and when it comes time, at the national level or at the state level, to raise the minimum wage, to protect workers, to protect unemployment insurance, to protect workers’ comp benefits.
“Those are Democrat programs, and they always have been. We will continue to do that.”
When asked what one message is that she would want voters to receive, Tallian said, “People fought wars to be able to vote. We do a big disservice if you don’t do that. It’s one of the basic rights we have as citizens of this country. It’s too damn important to stay home.”
Dyngus Day regulars
This is Ryan McBride’s third Dyngus Day celebrating with the West Side Democratic and Civic Club. He grew up on the lower southwest side near Green Township where, he said, all his friends were Polish, so he grew up knowing about Dyngus Day celebrations.
But it wasn’t until he turned 55 that he had the opportunity to celebrate. Besides coming for great food, he said he celebrates to show support for Democratic candidates.
“Not only does everyone need to vote, but you need to help others who have issues with voting vote,” McBride said. “If they need transportation, offer a ride. If they want to know more about those running, help them search on the internet.
“We are strongest when we work together. There’s no question about that.”
On Saturday, March 28, McBride went to three different No Kings rallies: in Elkhart, Nappanee and South Bend.
Mary Ann Grabowski is a South Bend native and has been celebrating Dyngus Day since she was 21. The day invokes a sense of nostalgia for Grabowski. Her parents were Polish immigrants who came up through the Mississippi River, landing in Texas first and eventually making their way to South Bend.
“We need the politicians to be somewhere where they need to be heard,” Grabowski said. “I’m glad this venue was able to open up and welcome all of us from the West Side Democratic Club that used to go there.”
Email Tribune staff writer Juliane Balog at jbalog@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Dyngus Day brought hundreds and Beau Bayh to eat and talk elections
Reporting by Juliane Balog , South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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