Karen Tallian Runs for IN Dems Chair
On Monday, former State Sen. Karen Tallian (D-Ogden Dunes) announced she is running to be the next Chair of the Indiana Democratic Party.
Tallian, the first candidate to announce a run for state chair this year who has ever held elected office as a Democrat, said she is uniquely positioned to lead the State Party to success over the four year term.
“With 20 years in public service, including 15 years in the Indiana Senate, I have the experience and the track record we need to rebuild the party, win elections and raise the money necessary to do that,” said Tallian. “For 16 legislative sessions, I fought the GOP as they sought to restrict abortion. I took on Mike Pence during the RFRA battle and led the charge to get Indiana business to stand up against it. I was the voice of organized labor on the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee during the Right to Work wars. The unions know me, and I know them. I can help bring their support back to the Democratic Party.”
Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA!) Vice President/Midwest Regional Manager, former Indiana Democratic Party Labor Caucus Chair and DNC member David Frye announced his and the Indiana Laborers District Council’s support of Tallian’s run for State Party Chair.
“Karen Tallian is the leader Indiana Democrats need,” said Frye. “Karen’s track record in the Statehouse and beyond shows she is a fierce voice for organized labor and working people everywhere. I am proud to support her run for State Party Chair and I look forward to working with her and other members of organized labor to rebuild the Democratic Party as we reconnect with working class voters across the Hoosier State.”
In addition to the distinction of a long record of accomplishments and experience within the Indiana Democratic Party, Tallian is also the first candidate for state chair from Indiana’s First Congressional District, a stronghold for organized labor. After decades of overwhelming Democratic support, this district has transformed into the sole congressional battleground district in the state. In 2012, then-Rep. Pete Visclosky won re-election by a 35% margin. A decade later in 2022, Rep. Frank Mrvan was re-elected by just 5%. Democratic Party losses in this area, which is heavily working class, racially diverse and has high union density, mirror losses Democrats have faced across the country. “The Democratic Party must remind these folks that we have always had their backs.”
Tallian said part of her goal in running for Chair is to bring the Party back to the business of winning elections and away from divisive culture wars and intraparty feuds.
“It is our job as Democrats to both reunite internally and reunite with the working Hoosiers who may feel left behind by the Party in recent years,” said Tallian. “Coming from Northwest Indiana, I recognize that Indiana Democrats have to speak to all 92 counties. Some critics believe the only way forward is to ‘cull’ the older generation from our Party and cast aside the very people who have spent decades building, donating and voting for Democrats in Indiana. This is not the way to unity. As our State Chair, I’ll never disrespect or disregard half of our Party at the expense of the other. The best way forward is unity. We must combine our knowledge and talents and work together to build a brighter future for every Hoosier.
“My daughter recently said to me: ‘Mom, you are not very good at retirement’. She is right. Given what is happening right now, it’s time to get back to work.”
The Indiana Democratic State Central Committee will elect a new Chair to a four year term at the reorganization meeting on March 15, 2025.
