President Donald Trump had a good primary election night in Indiana. That remains to be seen for Hoosiers.
The victorious challengers have not laid out concrete positions on the numerous issues voters across the state are upset about. That’s too bad, because anger over property taxes and utility bills played a far bigger role in their victories than congressional redistricting.
There were three incumbents the Trump and Turning Point Action alliance appeared to target most: Sens. Travis Holdman, R-Markle; Spencer Deery, R-West Lafayette; and Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute. The result? Holdman got smoked. Goode won easily. Deery is hanging on by a handful of votes.
If the results were because of statewide rage over redistricting, all of these incumbents would have gone down. Instead, each race had very different outcomes.
Holdman was hated property tax architect
Gov. Mike Braun campaigned on an initial property tax reform bill that excited voters. Holdman attached his name as an author, then allowed the committee he oversaw to quickly carve it to pieces.
Holdman sat quietly as special interests and local governments bullied lawmakers into gutting most savings for homeowners. Holdman seemed disinterested in helping from the beginning and appeared more than pleased to get the issue off his plate.
The final property tax bill is reviled by most of the state. Very few people, on the government or taxpayer side, are happy. Holdman allowed himself to be the face of bad legislation.
Couple that with his almost 20 years in office and advanced age, and voters overwhelmingly decided it was time for a change.
Greg was a Goode listener
While Holdman was getting bad headlines for property taxes and his connection to leadership under Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, Goode kept a relatively low profile. He joined the upper chamber in 2023 and is not linked to legislation that riled up voters.
Holdman spent his time underestimating and insulting his opponent. Goode proved to be a tireless worker, campaigning around the clock throughout the primary cycle.
Goode also scored major props from across the state for holding one of the few public listening sessions on redistricting. He said very little during the event and allowed anyone in his district to speak. More than 70 speakers testified against redistricting. None spoke in favor.
The Goode race was also interesting because it was the only instance in which the challenger became the more disliked figure.
Numerous controversies plagued Goode’s strongest opponent, Turning Point Action darling Brenda Wilson, throughout the campaign. Issues concerning her relationship with her deceased husband and his children saw Wilson draw headlines that painted her in a bad light.
Ultimately, Goode cruised to a 17-point victory.
Deery’s demeanor may have saved him
While Goode and Holdman sit at opposite ends of the spectrum with totally different results, Deery lies somewhere in the middle.
Deery’s race against Paula Copenhaver is essentially a tie right now. Whoever wins, the total will likely be within 10 votes.
Deery, like Goode, has kept a relatively low profile and was wrapping up his first term. He had neither the time nor the power in office to alienate anyone. He voted against the property tax bill and was socially conservative.
Deery also sports a quiet, unassuming demeanor and almost never makes headlines. It is hard to hate someone you know nothing about. The worst thing Copenhaver could produce against Deery is he was supported by former Gov. Mitch Daniels.
Goode was able to use a similar persona to cruise to victory against an unlikable opponent. Deery, though, faced an affable opponent. Copenhaver has spent years cultivating relationships in local politics, both as the Fountain County GOP chairwoman and as an employee in the offices of Attorney General Todd Rokita and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith.
Neither Deery nor Copenhaver entered the race with much of a record or baggage, other than a lawsuit involving Copenhaver 20 years ago. There was not much for either side to run against. Had redistricting been a deciding factor for most voters, Copenhaver would have easily defeated Deery.
All politics are local
Trump and Turning Point Action desperately wanted three races. Each incumbent in those races voted against redistricting. One of them lost miserably. One of them won with ease. One of them is too close to call.
The only conclusion is that all politics are local. Trump and Turning Point Action want this victory to be a referendum on redistricting. It was not. The bloodbath incumbents endured was a clear message from voters against the direction governors and the Indiana General Assembly have taken Indiana the past six years.
It would be a shame if issues like skyrocketing property taxes, gas taxes and utility bills take a backseat to a fringe issue that was the most important thing to Trump.
Rob Kendall is the host of The Rob Kendall Show, which broadcasts 10 a.m. to noon weekdays on YouTube and is available on-demand on most major podcast platforms.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Trump’s Indiana Senate primary record is worse than it seems | Opinion
Reporting by Rob Kendall, Contributing Columnist / Indianapolis Star
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