By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Indiana’s top state-level candidates gave a full-throated warning about the consequences of the upcoming Nov. 8 election.

Speaking to a small group gathered outside of the Kosciusko County Courthouse on Saturday, Oct. 29, U.S. Senate candidate Tom McDermott predicted the Supreme Court will continue to chip away at personal rights that have been protected for decades.

McDermott lashed out at his opponent, Sen. Todd Young, who supported the confirmation of three justices that turned the tide in overturning Roe v. Wade earlier this year.

“Here we are, fighting for the women in our lives that are being treated like second-class citizens in the state of Indiana,” McDermott said.

He predicted the court could soon consider whether to end other personal rights such as interracial marriage, the purchase of contraceptives, and same-sex marriage.

“If Todd Young can go back to Washington D.C. after alienating half the population … What’s the next right to fall? Because it’s coming,” McDermott said.

The campaign stop by McDermott, along with Secretary of State candidate Destiny Wells, State Auditor candidate ZeNai Brooks, and State Treasurer candidate Jessica McClellan, was part of a sweep across northern Indiana that would eventually take them to South Bend.

McDermott, the five-term mayor of Hammond, said the four candidates are campaigning in every county in the state – including the deep red counties like Kosciusko County – in hopes of minimizing “the damage” in red counties while expecting strong turnout in Democrat areas, McDermott said.

Other concerns were voiced by Wells, Brooks and McClellan.

Wells took direct aim at Diego Morales, the Republican candidate for Secretary of State. Libertarian Jeff Mauer is also on the ballot for Secretary of State.

Morales, who was fired twice from jobs with the Secretary of State’s office, has faced questions about his status as a military veteran. Two women have accused him of sexual harassment, which he denies.

Wells said Morales is one of 11 candidates for Secretary of State across the country who denied President Joe Biden won the election.

In this election, she said, democracy is on the ballot.

“There is this concerted effort across the United States to install secretaries who in 2024 will intentionally subvert the election if the results are not what they like in the presidential (race),” Wells said.

“Worse than that, his character is atrocious … He’s been fired twice from the secretary of state’s office by Todd Rokita, who is awful, and Charlie White who was so awful he went to prison,” Wells said.

Brooks, a CPA and an author who is running against Republican Tera Klutz and LIbertarian John Schick, said the state needs to re-invest more of its surplus into the community.

McClellan, who is running against Republican Daniel Elliott for State Treasurer, talked about the importance of getting out the vote.

She criticized the new nearly complete ban on abortion and permitless carry before she addressed the “culture war” happening in public schools.

“They’re putting teachers on the front lines of the fabricated gay agenda that – personally as a gay Midwestern mom – is particularly insulting to me,” McClellan said.

She also stressed the importance of voting.

“Not voting is a thumbs up to everything I just described,” she said.

McDermott said women’s reproductive rights remain his No. 1 issue but acknowledged inflation is also a top concern.

“I’m proud to say I have nothing to do with the rate of inflation in America because I’m the mayor of Hammond. Our U.S. Sen. Todd Young has been in Washington D.C. for 12 years, and wants everyone to believe I’m the danger. Quite frankly, he’s added $16 trillion to the nation’s debt.”

The rally, organized earlier this week, was sparsely attended and was happening a block away from the Justice Building where early voting was underway.

Officials urged people to vote afterward but reminded them that any campaign shirts would need to be flipped inside out or removed before going inside.

Tom McDermott, candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks Saturday outside the Kosciusko County Courthouse. Also pictured is Brian Smith, former county Democrat Party chairman. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

The rally was held on the north side of the Kosciusko County Courthouse on Saturday, Oct. 29. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

Posing for a photo after Saturday’s rally, from left: Kosciusko County Democrat Party Chair Vicki Morton, ZaNai Brooks, Tom McDermott, Jessica McClellan, Destiny Wells, and former county chair Brian Smith. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.