Happy Friday and happy wedding day to one of our newsletter writers, Kayla . đ° I guess that's a pretty good reason to skip out on writing the newsletter this time.
We're officially labeling next week Debate Week , with the vice presidential candidate debate on Tuesday and back-to-back gubernatorial debates later in the week. Here's more information on how to watch the debate on Oct. 2 and the debate on Oct. 3. Or you can check back for recaps at IndyStar.com.
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THE MAIN EVENT: How Jim Banks became Jim Banks
We're still rolling out our candidate profiles, and this week Brittany looked at the three U.S. Senate candidates.
There's Jim Banks , the Republican candidate who once was skeptical of former President Donald Trump but has now wholeheartedly embraced him. He also sees some of himself in Trump's pick for vice president, JD Vance . Read that deep dive into Banks here .
And there's Valerie McCray , the Democrat. She made history in Indiana as the first Black woman to become a major party's nominee for U.S. Senate, but she faces a more challenging task in the general election. Brittany has that profile here .
Next week we'll publish our profile on the Libertarian Senate candidate Andrew Horning , and the two attorney general candidates.
ON THE BALLOT: Why property taxes have become the issue
Have your property taxes been going up? Mine sure have.
What to do about rising property taxes in Indiana has become a key talking point among politicians, especially now as candidates running for governor are focusing on the issue. Some of their ideas would bring sweeping changes to residential property taxes that have municipalities and other groups who would be adversely impacted, like farmers, ringing the alarm bells and readying for a tug-of-war.
Kayla broke down how we got here, what the candidates want to do and how the debate impacts both real people and the city services we depend on.
UNDER THE DOME: The impact of Indiana's abortion law
A Muncie resident was devastated last October when she went to her ultrasound at nine weeks pregnant and discovered she had suffered from a missed miscarriage, a condition where the fetus has died but the mother's body fails to dispel the fetal tissue. But when she tried to get a common medication that can be used for terminating pregnancies or for helping expel tissue after a miscarriage, she was told no.
Since abortion bans went into effect across half of the United States, including in Indiana, m any women's health experts say the quality of miscarriage care has also declined as providers often operate with fear and confusion. That has forced some patients to seek care for miscarriage either underground or in other states.
CHECKBOOK
The Democratic National Committee is giving Indiana Democrats more money. Remember in June when the DNC announced it was spending nearly $70,000 to help the state party's goal of flipping at least four open House seats? Now, the DNC is giving Indiana $20,000 more to help with get out the vote efforts.
âThe DNC is committed to electing Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz, as well as statewide candidates like Jennifer McCormick, and ensuring Democrats have the resources to run competitive races across the map in red and blue states alike,â DNC Chair Jaime Harrison said in a statement.
TLDR
WHAT WE'RE READING
Based in Lafayette: Jim Schenke , a Republican candidate for House District 26, was ticketed for knocking over a lamp post with his campaign RV and leaving the scene.
Indiana Capital Chronicle: It's not just Indianapolis leaders. Gov. Eric Holcomb's successor is getting a pay raise too and is poised to become one of the highest paid governors in the country.
TAKE OF THE WEEK
Because thinking about just one election isn't enough... it's already time to start thinking about 2027. IndyStar Opinion Editor James Briggs wrote about how the Hogsett's administration's handling of sexual harassment allegations could mean an early start to the 2027 election for mayor. The two people he said who have been thrust into the spotlight: Vop Osili and Andrea Hunley .
WHO SAID IT?
We've been having fun looking through the archives this week. Which Indiana Republican politician said this: "This is a new chapter in Indiana politics that says positive campaigns are a necessity, that money isn't everything, and young people have a place at the table."
- Young Richard Lugar
- Young Todd Rokita
- Young Mike Pence
- Young Todd Young
Email us your answer for bragging rights!
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Checks and Balances is compiled and written by Brittany Carloni, Hayleigh Colombo, Kayla Dwyer and Kaitlin Lange on the IndyStar politics and government team. Send us tips or let us know what you think of the newsletter by emailing IndyStarPolitics@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why property taxes have become the election issue
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