(Music plays) >> Democrats lose a candidate in the U.S. Senate race.

Republican Governor candidates to refine themselves plus report card and more.

From the television studios of WFI why it is Indiana Week in Review for the week ending December 15, report card and more.

From the television studios of WFI why it is Indiana Week in Review for the week ending December 15, 2023.

>> Indiana Week in Review is made possible by the supporters of Indiana public broadcasting stations.

>> This week, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Keith Potts announced he is dropping out of the way's to succeed outgoing Senator Mike Brown.

>> About five months after launching his bid, Potts announced on social media he won't move forward with his campaign.

He is in Indianapolis city County counsellor and after opting against a reelection bid for that office this year, he now says new professional opportunities will mean he won't run for U.S. Senate.

Potts departure from the race leaves Marc Carmichael and Valerie McCray as the two Democratic candidates vying for the open seat.

Congress can Jim Banks and John Rust are both seeking the Republican nomination.

>> Is this a concerning developing for Democrats?

This is the first question for a Indiana Week in Review panel.

Democrat and Eleni, Republican Jennifer Hallowell.

Jon Schwantes, host of Indiana lawmakers.

And ebony chapel, market director with Free Press Indiana.

I am Indiana public podcasting statehouse bureau chief.

Jennifer Potts was not the only one running but what does it say about their viability in the general election this year?

>> First of all, I think that Democrats have very little chance to win statewide races in Indiana right now.

The governor's race, U.S. Senate race, regardless.

So, I assume he said it was because of professional opportunities or something?

Before I saw that, I thought potentially it was the challenge of getting the signatures to get on the ballot because that is no small feat and is difficult.

What I do think it's smart for the Democrats to just have one candidate so they aren't kind of sharing resources or fighting over resources when they are already pretty much outnumbered from a statewide campaign perspective.

But all of that said, I mean, I think that Congressman Jim Banks 's position very well and is obviously Running a strong campaign ready for anything, you know, leave no stone unturned.

Biting he will be successful.

>> Is there any way to spin this as anything but negative for Democrats?

>> No, I do get positive!

Seriously ask mac you look at the Republican primary contest for governor.

That is exactly as a state party chair you don't want to see happen because it is divisive, expensive, and it makes for really bad feelings among the losers afterwards full stop Marc Carmichael has been out early and gathering support early and it's not really a big surprise.

Having said that, he's going to do a clear alternative to Jim Banks who is to the right of Attila the Hun on every issue, he is an election denier, probably a homophobe.

We know he is against LGBT rights and certainly is terrible about a woman's right to choose.

There are all kinds of reasons in the general election for whose ears to look for an alternative to someone who makes Donald Trump look reasonable and that is a feat!

>> Keith Potts.

Young.

It would have been the first openly gay candidate for U.S. Senate in this state if you'd one that primary.

From Indianapolis.

Marc Carmichael doesn't have quite the same profile the top been around a long time, not very well known outside of real in or politic circles.

>> Well, North and Anderson where he's from the stops >> That's true.

Certainly older, on the older end of the scale.

Is he the sort of candidate Democrats can get excited about?

>> I think it proves a lot of challenges in terms of getting the voter base excited and energized to show up.

I felt really good about Keith Potts but I understand things happen.

So I'm hoping the Democrats can see this as an example and opportunity to start to get other people prepared for future ACES.

But I feel like Carmichael is a good candidate for them to put forth because of the things he is really interested in and concerned about fall off but I do think it presents quite a few challenges.

>> Is this, in some ways, a step back in this race of four candidates, Democratic candidate?

>> The argument can be made, and I have heard and make it so I always smile when she says this, it's one of former chair once.

You don't want people fighting.

But if in fact, I've heard her argue the opposite to and with yeoman service to the cause... >> You do it in the same answer!

(Laughter) >> I know, I learned well!

If you have a lot of people vying for that nomination, the line then is that is a great way to harden, hone, and burnish the bona fide candidates and make sure they are prepared for whatever they might see in the general election.

So there are two sides as the late Rex Hurley would say.

(Multiple speakers) >> So no matter how you slice it, whoever the Democratic candidate is at a disadvantage at this point in the race.

>> S. >> Contractors change?

Yes.

Could something as it say abortion be a mobilizing factor?

We have seen the Supreme Court, you know, now we will be taking up the mess are pressed down case and there are a lot of people saying, you know, lest you forget.

We had the case this week that thought a lot of attention, still sort of unfolding in Texas will stops >> Texas, yes.

>> That certainly brings it to some people's mind.

>> It's a reminder of how potent that is you can be.

So never say never.

The ultimate cliche.

>> Time now for viewer feedback.

Each week we post an unscientific online poll question and this week's question is, who will win Indiana's 2024 U.S. Senate race?

The Republican, the Democrat, or the libertarian candidate?

Last week's questions was should more students be held back if they don't pass the third grade reading proficiency test?

72% if you say yes, and just 28% say nobles if you'd like to take part in the poll, go to WFYI.org/IW IR and look for the poll.

Speaking of a race with a lot of people in it, a clearer picture emerged this week of how Republican candidates from Governor are each trying to find themselves in the race as US Senator Mike Brown, former Secretary of commerce Brad Chambers, tenth Governor Suzanne Crouch, businessman Eric Doden and former Attorney General Curtis Hill (sigh) are participating in a panel discussion.

>> Crouch made a/earlier this year endorsing the illumination of the state individual income tax and she pivoted that reclosable my proposal often, even to a question about how to ensure public safety.

Stepping back and I'll start by asking, putting thousand of dollars into the pockets of active and retired Is responders.

>> Hill, whose law license was temporarily respect -- suspended while in office markedly battering for women leaped heavily into ultraconservative issues.

He voiced opposition to abortion, LGBTQIA's, and math mandates including a question on educational top >> If we can teach children to think critically about the world around them, they will not succumb to radical indoctrination.

>> Brought often talked about his auto parts distribution business, including an answer about removing barriers to economic growth.

>> And we have some of the highest healthcare costs in the country with some of the poorest outcomes.

I took that on in my own business over 15 years ago fall stops >> Chambers stressed his economic development background.

He said the number one job for a governor is growing the economy.

>> Have to play economic off ends because everyone around us is, and to keep these kids here, we need to recruit high wage industries, continue to investing onto printer ship and innovation.

>> Doden repeatedly emphasized the need to revitalize small towns.

>> We cannot be estate.

Where only four or five counties are growing population and doing well.

>> Brown participated via pretaped videotape messages and Jamie Ritenour, also a Republican candidate, did not take part.

>> And Eleni, I know you're plugged into the GOP primary voter base but which message, as you hear them, do you think will resonate best with GOP primay voters?

>> I think whichever one take them as far right as you can be on all social issues.

I think that's what they care about.

Having said that, you still have to pay that from the primary to the general election and you also run on the record of the Republican party that's been in control for the last 20 years, you know?

We started education reform in 2011.

86% of the third-grader could pass the reading professionally.

Now it's 81.

When Mitch Daniels was there, it's only, you have to grow individual income, be at the national average.

We are at 89% of the national average.

He then said you have to send more people to post high school education.

We have 65% before and now we have 83%.

Then they talk about cutting taxes.

For the average whose ear, the percentage they pay in taxes has not changed one tenth of a percent.

During all of their years there.

They pay 10% of their income when Republicans took control and they pay 10% now.

These tax cuts benefit corporations and maybe other people but certainly not the average Hoosier.

That is the record they are running on and they have had one party control for decades.

And they -- there are reports and their rankings are awful.

And they need a fresh approach and not of those five candidates presented.

>> Jennifer, considering you work for Brad Chambers, I'm guessing if I ask you which message resonates best I would know what your answer is?

But, to Ann's point, which is true regardless of party, you have one message in the primary generally and then a different message in the general election for Saba is that how you see this, as they have one message now and will pivot slightly more towards the centre after the primary is over?

>> I don't think so.

Most of those messages, you know, they talked about healthcare, education, taxes, public safety.

Jobs and the economy vulnerable to those are issues that matter to Republican primary voters and general election voters will they may take up and stands on them but I don't think any of those candidates you saw are going to changed erratically at all what their messages from the primary to the general.

And I do think that the forum was a really good opportunity for people to see the similarities and differences among the candidates and you mentioned that I am backing Brad Chambers but I would say that all of them I thought performed very well and they all did a nice job of highlighting issues that are central to their individual campaigns.

>> They may be central but they, that group, have been in control for 20 some years!

>> Voters... >> But I don't think they understand what the record looks like.

>> John, she just talked about, we sought similarities and differences not just in how they are trying to sort of define themselves as we had in the piece, but also we saw a little bit of criticism Abby tether.

We saw multiple candidates as we have criticizing the leap district, the economic development project in Boone County, and that was under red Chambers tenure as Secretary of commerce, but we also saw... >> And Suzanne Crouch full stop Suzanne Crouch >> Suzanne Crouch has tried to distance herself.

>> But she's in charge of the Department of Commerce my commerce.

>> I guess technically but there is also the question of the criticism of two Suzanne Crouch is tax plan from nobly Mike Braun among others, bronze and I think said it wasn't well thought through.

Do you expect some of that to pick up starting essentially right now?

>> It has to.

You have such a large field and candidates are trying to differentiate themselves and stand out, that is the most effective way to do it.

If everybody is, you know, using the same hymnal and maybe just trying to out sing or sing louder than the person next to them it's not really going to work all stopped you have to find those issues that will be defining issues or wedges as is often said in the blue-collar arena.

I think what you see here to a large extent is sort of traditional republicanism.

Is who years have practices it over the past century.

And populism, sort of the new republicanism that, I don't know if it was attribute table certainly to Donald Trump but he was symbolic of what we saw in a very high-profile fashion and certainly a standardbearer for those beliefs.

So you do see it is more nuanced than "Jobs are good".

It's now about where are those jobs?

Are they in urban areas?

Or are they going to come to the rest of the state where we are getting left out and we are not sharing in the bounty?

It is sort of this urban versus rural, the notion of business versus elite corporate business.

That sort of Wall Street business versus mom-and-pop.

It's all about drawing these distinctions and these lines.

So it's not a simple as of the message might have been what years ago which is jobs are good.

We will bring jobs.

We will develop.

It is much more nuanced about where the jobs are, what kind of jobs they are, and what tactics are being used to get those jobs, how transparent is the process?

How perceived to be, you know, backroom dealmaking is going on?

>> In particular the finer Because it's not like they are running against the opposite party full stop they can't go out there and say, "Well, we've been screwing things up for the last 20 years!"

obviously they can't say that.

>> Even though it's true!

(Laughter) >> I want to ask though, Suzanne Crouch made the joke right at the start which is, we talk about, with the field this wide, it could come out to defined margins as to who gets this nomination.

And sitting on the stage with three other men and then one looming on the video stream above, Suzanne Crouch had the joke that, you know, it's clear there is one thing separating her from everything also on the stage and it is her red glasses.

But could it be not the policy but the personal that helps separate some of these candidates from the pack?

>> I mean, to the point that my fellow panelist made, when you have the messaging being so very close to each other, sometimes it really does come down to that when voters are deciding, you know, who do I pick over whatever?

Sometimes optics is the thing that really draws people in.

I find that to be very unfortunate.

I wish there was more for them to choose from the side something so superficial.

But I really think it could come down to that.

>> Alright, Indiana.

It's improving in some tea economic areas of coursing to the latest report card from the economic Chambers this week but in many areas that is being outpaced by other states.

>> The report cards, release every couple years, are tied to the Chambers economic vision plan.

Tracks metrics across a range of issues, everything from labour force, participation, and entrepreneurship to healthcare costs and educational attainment.

Outgoing Chambers CEO Kevin Brinegar says Indiana ranks in the top 10 of only seven of the report cards 49 national measures.

>> The progress isn't happening fast enough because other states are improving at a faster pace.

So we need to pick up the pace.

>> Incoming CEO Vanessa Green Sinders says the chamber will bring the report cards message to lawmakers, even as legislative leaders promised a quieter 2024 session.

>> There are many ways to accomplish things.

Sometimes it is big things, sometimes it is small things.

But we need to keep moving forward.

>> Areas where Indiana lags that the chamber highlighted our healthcare costs and early childhood education.

>> Does the information in this report card clash with what we have heard from legislative leaders promising, oh, we are in quieter session tweaking some things we party done?

>> I think if they hope to make any true progress, it certainly does clash the idea of having a quieter session.

When you look at this report card and you see some of the areas that we are lagging behind in, particularly with early childhood education, there is a lot of opportunity for growth.

So I hope that there is a lot of conversation around how to improve those things.

There were some things I prone Deaf sound quite promising.

One, the number of design patents that whose ears are taking out early points to a growth in entrepreneurial spirit in the Hoosier state.

But the fact that there is an of that same increase when it comes to access to venture capital I think is an issue.

When you look at health and equality my quality of life, a severe issue.

The fact that we are not spending as much as our national counterparts when it comes to that is of concern.

And I think, you know, the fact that the General assembly has released more funds for that, again, is promising but I hope that there are less hurdles to access those funds for some of our healthcare providers.

But yes, I would anticipate the conversation and not so much quiet.

>> Yes, certainly on the healthcare front I think in the next report card we will see at least the spending on healthcare jump because that doesn't take into the account the investment that which is made in the last budget.

But it strikes me as we talk about the idea of a quieter session of just tweaks and not big changes to a lot of things.

It strikes me that, I got it from the perspective of you are going into an election year, you don't want to do anything that will make people upset.

But aren't you risking making people upset if the messaging is, well hey now, we are trying not to do too much?

(Multiple speakers) >> I'm an outlier, as I've said a couple times on the show and in recent weeks.

I don't get will be that quieter session for some I think leadership may say, if you are a leader, thick about this, you don't want to say that a lot needs to be done because that suggests that you haven't been working and doing it.

>> Doing it there!

>> So if you are in a caucus leadership position it would behoove you to say, "We have been so effective in recent years full stop now we just need to watch some of these changes settle in, take effect, and we will reap the benefits and then we can be done."

that's not speaking or rank-and-file members of the caucuses.

In the conventional wisdom is, people want to get out of Dodge so they can go and work on their campaigns.

I think anymore because of what campaigns have become and because of the cords that are struck and sounded by candidates seeking to actively mobilize their base, is they take advantage of this as the greatest opportunity for earned media to be strident.

To be maybe even outlandish.

What to what some would say is outlandish.

So that they can go to their voters and say,... >> "Look what I did."

>> "Look what I tried to do.

And even if we didn't get it done, look what I tried" and in some ways in this bizarre world of politics we live in now, a failed attempt but done in a vociferous and crazed fashion might be worth more to some voters in action getting something dental stops >> Yes, and to reap a harvest of past... we talked a bit on the show about will this actually be a quieter session.

Let me ask from this perspective, which is, come mid March when they - adjourn signing, do you think legislative leaders will go, well, this is a really quiet session?

>> I don't know but just because it's quiet doesn't mean they can't do meaningful things.

You know?

So in terms of the report card and measures where we need to do more, we always need to be doing more.

But things like the measures you are talking about in terms of requiring, you know, passing the I read exam before you proceed to fourth-grade?

Things like that are meaningful.

There are a lot of things I think that they can do that have maybe some more consensus in some bipartisan support that will help move the needle on all of these things.

So, I think quiet is, you know, in the eye of the boulder but I do want to say, how wonderful it is to have the Indiana Chamber of Commerce do this work.

The research that they do, bringing these report cards out.

And, you know, to Kevin Brinegar who is wrapping up... >> A long time!

>> Long time!

>> 20 plus years with the state chamber, I think we really all a lot to him.

If you think of all the things our state has a calm pledged and how we have excelled over the last couple decades and the state chamber was a part of that.

Anyway, I'm excited to see new leadership as well... (Multiple speakers) ... As we tackle these issues to keep figuring out how we can succeed in this changing future fall stopped >> And what I appreciate about the chamber support card and its economic vision plan is they are obviously on the same page with the Republicans and majority on a lot of issues in commerce that this isn't a hey, look at how great we are and that is it.

It was, yes, we are doing some things while but we aren't doing other things well enough and we need to be better.

And I appreciate that.

>> That's why the report card is important but I'm not sure they are on the same page with a lot of issues with the supermajority anymore they have said over and over again that the social issues, the early childhood education, the need for daycare and health and all of these things, that yes, you know, the General assembly supermajority has played with.

Like, they are incremental increases in early childhood education.

But everybody recognizes how important that is to success and our numbers at the top level, at graduation and college keep going down.

You know, if they listen more to the Chamber of Commerce report card, I would be encouraged.

But they don't.

They pick and choose and they do a little bit.

>> Indiana, speaking of the Chamber of Commerce.

The Indiana six through eighth graders can now participate in the first statewide Civics B.

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the State Department of Education partnered with local chambes to create the competition.

>> The aim is to get kids more excited and engaged with Civics in their communities.

State Tabor Vice President Jasn beers says it gets to the heart of the Chambers mission: To help people be informed, engaged citizens.

>> It does seem like kind of a fund, interactive way for kids to kind of show there Civics knowledge but also give the business community a role-play and helping to foster that kind of collaboration.

>> Tabor President-elect Vanessa Green Sinders says civic engagement should be thought of as a business And economic issue.

>> Workforce is about education and is about community and it involves all of us.

>> Participation in the Civics B begins with an essay competition at the local level for sake you can find more details@indianatabor.com/Civics E. >> John, I think the average person when they hear, O, the state is creating a Civics B.

They hear that a part of education is partnering for Sabot, that make sense!

The chamber of commerce might not be as obvious a partner.

It was really spearheaded by the National foundation through the state.

How important is it for groups like the Chamber of Commerce to be the ones pushing this?

>> Attic is incredibly important that every group of every stripe puts everything possible to have an engaged, informed citizenry.

We are, last time I checked, ostensibly a democracy.

Representing >> Our Republic!

>> What they like to say!

>> Right X not >> But it all falls apart if you have >> Voter turnout like we have?

>> Or worse!

>> Yes, and the report cards as it is very local time >> It made efforts to do that but what it does is raise district where there is no competition so voters don't really have a chance if there's only one person on the ballot to weigh in.

Is that really >> Or if there gerrymandered so it make no difference will >> What I think we have also, the knee-jerk reaction is that government is somehow inherently bad when in fact, again, what I learned growing up was we the people.

We are the government.

>> Right.

>> And if we can restore some of this notion that we are in this collectively and we can strive towards common goals for the betterment of society, then we will have a, something >> They don't even have ballot initiatives.

How about that.

>> Finally, a judge in Ohio this week or recently offered a woman a creative way to reduce her sentence: Working a fast food trouble stop the woman had admitted to assaulting 17-year-old Tripoli employee throwing a bowl of food in her faced.

If the woman works at least 20 hours at a fast food restaurant, the rest of her -- 20 hours a week for the rest of her six month sentence, she can talk caught her time in hapless hot Ann DeLaney, do you like judges getting creative with sentencing?

>> I think this is a great idea fall top it'll give her the perspective of what these poor fast food workers have to put up with with obnoxious clients.

I think it's great and it seems type -- safe times with jail which is even better.

>> Yes, when I hear people say they want to bring back the draft, I agree but not for military service as I think every winter have to work out food service products right (Laughter) >> I 100% agree fall top I'm a former server worker myself as I worked in many restaurants, bars, and hotels in Indianapolis and something like that I think has the potential to, like we said, expose people to what the average whose ear is dealing with.

>> Yes.

Absolutely fall top >> That is Indiana Week in Review for this week.

Our panel is Democrat and a lady, Republican Jennifer Hallowell, Jon Schwantes of Yleana lawmakers and Ebony Chappel of Free Press Indiana.

You can find Indiana Week in Review you can find Indiana Week in Review podcast and episodes@wfyi.org/IWIL are or on the PBS app.

I am Brandon Smith of Indiana public broadcasting.

Join us next time because a lot can happen in an Indiana week!

Using Mac -- (Music plays) (Music plays) (Music plays) >> The opinions stress are solely of those of the panelists.

Indiana Week in Review is