Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, speaks against legislation making Indiana school boards partisan on Thursday, April 24. Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

By Niki Kelly
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — Liz Brown has been called a lot of things. But liberal is a new one.

“I would say that might not be the name anyone that’s ever known me would pick for me. You could say outspoken, maybe loud occasionally … very passionate and strong about what I believe is right. But no, I don’t think I’ve ever been accused of being a liberal. That’s a stretch,” she told the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Texts accusing “Liberal Liz” Brown of betraying her conservative values on the Second Amendment and transgender issues have been flying in northeast Indiana — funded by a dark-money “social welfare” nonprofit that no one knows about or isn’t willing to divulge.

Darren Vogt

Brown — a staunch pro-lifer — has been a fixture in the Senate Republican caucus since 2014. But now high-profile GOP Hoosiers like U.S. Sen. Jim Banks and Attorney General Todd Rokita have put her in the crosshairs for 2026.

And they appear to have found their man — former Allen County councilman and current Northwest Allen County Schools board member Darren Vogt, according to several Allen County sources.

Brown has known Vogt for more than 20 years. She defeated him in the 2014 primary for her current seat. Since then, he has supported Brown — hosting a fundraiser, endorsing her in a congressional run and even inviting her to his son’s wedding.

“It’s rather sudden,” she said.

Brown hasn’t had a primary since her 2014 run.

Vogt declined to talk to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, saying only “I’m strongly considering and will be making an announcement soon.”

Immigration

The focus started when Rokita called out Brown for not hearing a stringent immigration bill during the legislative session. As the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, she has the power to choose which bills get heard. Ultimately, the legislation died.

On June 3, Rokita posted on X that Brown ignored “repeated warnings that sheriffs needed stronger statutory direction on their obligations to detain illegal aliens. She refused to hear (House Bill) 1531 and deprived her colleagues of the chance to do their jobs and vote on common sense immigration legislation.”

Brown, who is also an attorney, ultimately filed a disciplinary action against Rokita.

Banks — who Brown challenged for his old congressional seat in 2016 — replied, “Liz should be primaried.”

Ads being sent via text in Northeast Indiana target Sen. Liz Brown.

Brown told the Indiana Capital Chronicle that law enforcement came to her with concerns on that bill, which would have required them to honor immigration detainer requests. Detainers are not backed by a judicial finding like a warrant.

She supported a separate immigration bill that did become law.

Brown said the Rokita immigration bill had a lot of problems that weren’t fixable.

“I think what people need to understand is some of these issues are federal issues, and I would turn to anyone who is representing us at the federal level to say, ‘hey, why haven’t you fixed this problem?’

“I think it’s fair for local sheriffs and local law enforcement to say, ‘We will be happy to assist you,’ which they’ve been doing 100%, and I fully support, but you need to make sure the procedures are being followed so we know how we can back you up.”

Some think Vogt has a good chance at winning, despite the support she will likely have from the Senate Majority Campaign Committee and their coffers.

Brandon Seifert — a Huntertown councilman — said Brown has been around “Indianapolis liberals” for too long.

He noted she is still extremely conservative on the issue of life and abortion.

“But the other core conservative issues … she’s just lost her way. She has completely lost her way.”

He recently shared several text ads on his Facebook page questioning the immigration decision as well as two previous votes by Brown in recent years. They are paid for by Hoosier Leadership for America — a nonprofit that was established in 2024.

The group has a Huntertown P.O. Box. The incorporator is a man out of Virginia that the ICC could not locate.

Seifert said he is not behind the group and doesn’t know who is. But he said their points are valid.

He is disappointed that Brown is no longer the attack dog of the Republican Party that she used to be. He has supported her in the past and she is his senator.

“It’s gonna be a heck of a race. I’ve given my support to Darren 100% and am fully behind him, because we need a change, and he’s the one to be that change.”

Other Issues

One of the ads takes Brown to task for her role in hearing a constitutional carry bill in 2021. She declined to give the legislation a hearing and instead the Senate removed permit fees.

Brown also voted against a bill to ban transgender Hoosiers from high school sports in 2022. She did support a college ban this year.

Browns’s conservative credentials have dipped recently, according to two GOP rankings.

The Conservative Political Action Conference issues annual rankings of lawmakers. In 2019, Brown’s score was 85% and has since dropped to 61% in 2023.

GOP-aligned Americans for Prosperity also issues scorecards. Her ranking in 2022 was 100 and dropped to 86 and 78 in the next two years.

Donors behind the Hoosier Leadership for America nonprofit are shielded under law — but if it were organized as a political action committee, they would be public.

The Internal Revenue Service says on its site that “The promotion of social welfare does not include direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. However, a section 501(c)(4) social welfare organization may engage in some political activities, so long as that is not its primary activity.”

Ads being sent via text in Northeast Indiana target Sen. Liz Brown.

But Marjorie Hershey, professor emeritus of political science at Indiana University, said there is no enforcement against these dark money groups. That means they can hide donor identities who might want to avoid the scrutiny of supporting a candidate or issue.

And she noted the U.S. Supreme Court has erred on the side of free speech, likening spending on campaigns as speech.

“All of this has been just a steady weakening of the original purpose of this stuff,” she said. “Because, you know, as they say, money will find a way.”

As for Brown, she is ready for a fight.

“I’m committed to running again. I have been a strong advocate for northeast Indiana and the conservative values of our district up here,” she said.