Indiana

Challengers try to push Indiana’s dominant GOP more to right

Published

3 years ago

April 29, 2022

Challengers try to push Indiana’s dominant GOP more to right

Indianapolis – As a mother and a Christian conservative, Lorissa Candy discovered herself more and more annoyed with Republicans within the Indiana Statehouse who she mentioned had been too prepared to compromise on such points as abortion and gun rights.

Then COVID-19 hit, and Candy says those self same legislators who campaigned as conservatives who consider in particular person freedom stood by as she was ordered to close down her canine grooming enterprise. Children had been required to put on masks in class and a few employers mandated employees be vaccinated, prompting protests by indignant voters.

Now the County Council member from rural northern Indiana is amongst roughly two dozen “liberty candidates” operating in Tuesday’s major – together with challenges to a number of top-ranking GOP Home members and bids for open seats. Either side say the 23 challenges to sitting GOP lawmakers is unusually excessive in a state the place Republicans management all statewide places of work and Democrats have scant legislative affect.

In contrast to in different GOP races throughout the nation – together with Ohio, which additionally has a statewide major on Tuesday – the Indiana legislative contests have centered on state points, quite than which candidate is closest to former President Donald Trump or has his assist. And whereas it’s unclear if the challengers can defeat incumbents backed by Republican leaders’ multimillion-dollar marketing campaign fund, they are saying they’re tapping right into a deep resentment amongst voters – and even successful just a few seats might nudge the Legislature additional to the appropriate.

“You simply assume while you elect Republican representatives and senators that they’re going to mirror your values and do the appropriate factor. After which they didn’t,” mentioned Candy, 43, who’s dealing with a far better-funded 20-year incumbent. “You get even 5 of us elected and also you’re going to show the tide.”

For a number of the challengers, the discontent began years earlier than COVID, after Indiana lawmakers and then-Gov. Mike Pence in 2015 permitted a religious-freedom legislation that was rapidly criticized as permitting discrimination towards homosexual folks. Dealing with a nationwide backlash, lawmakers altered the measure to clarify it can’t be used to discriminate, a change that infuriated some social conservatives.

On the coronary heart of Tuesday’s challenges is a conservative group, Liberty Protection, which touts a “no-compromise view” on points just like the spiritual objections legislation, banning all abortions and repealing Indiana’s “crimson flag” legislation, which permits police to grab weapons from individuals who present warning indicators of violence.

Throughout a protest towards vaccine mandates on the Indiana Statehouse final September, the group introduced a plan to recruit 100 like-minded candidates in 100 days for varied places of work. Candidates say the group reached its purpose in a matter of days, with many challenges rising from protests towards the COVID-19 shutdowns and complaints that GOP legislators didn’t take motion to finish Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb’s government orders, together with a masks mandate.

Holcomb additionally enraged social conservatives in March when he vetoed laws to ban transgender females from women college sports activities; the Legislature is predicted to override his veto in late Could.

Liberty Protection PAC, which is basically funded by conservative people, has issued endorsements, promoted the “liberty candidates” on social media and elsewhere to fire up voters in what is probably going a low-turnout major since Indiana has no statewide races on the poll. The PAC made donations within the lots of of {dollars} to endorsed candidates, and has helped with mailers and objects like hats.

Among the many endorsed candidates are two incumbents, Reps. Curt Nisly and John Jacob, who’ve angered members of their very own get together with hardline stances, akin to repeatedly pushing a whole ban on abortion. Nisly defeated a reasonable Republican incumbent in 2014, making him an “inspiration” to the freedom candidates, his marketing campaign chairwoman mentioned.

Nonetheless, defeating incumbents is never a simple process, and the challengers are focusing on some well-known and influential lawmakers, together with a number of the Home’s most conservative members. They’ve the backing of the Home GOP marketing campaign operation, which had raised almost $3.4 million by finish of March and has given over $1 million to candidates for the first – together with these attempting to unseat Nisly and Jacob. Liberty Protection PAC had raised a complete of of about $95,000.

Republican Home Speaker Todd Huston mentioned the incumbents can run on a powerful document of low taxes and unemployment, together with a powerful funds surplus for the state. Legislative leaders determined earlier this 12 months to carry off on main anti-abortion motion till after the U.S. Supreme Court docket guidelines on a case that would overturn Roe v. Wade, however mentioned they may return to a particular session to behave if the court docket offers states better authority to restrict it.

“We now have to dwell within the sensible world of getting issues carried out and we’ve numerous accomplishments,” Huston mentioned. “We really feel good.”

The “liberty candidates” are predominately operating in closely Republican districts, so even major wins by far-right challengers would probably present few alternatives for Democrats to dent the GOP’s present 71-29 Home majority.

If the challengers find yourself successful legislative seats, Huston mentioned, “they’ll have to determine, do they need to have the ability to get issues carried out or simply give attention to the issues that in all probability aren’t sensible to get carried out?”

Rep. Dan Leonard, R-Huntington, listens to Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, announcing the federal loan that the state took out to pay unemployment benefits during the recession will be repaid from funds from Indiana's surplus on in Indianapolis, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Candy, who has raised about $27,000 for her marketing campaign, is operating towards Rep. Dan Leonard, 73, a prime Huston lieutenant who had raised about $250,000 as of the tip of March – greater than half from the Home Republican Marketing campaign Committee.

Leonard has drawn the wrath of social conservatives for his frequent function in blocking proposals from Nisly and Jacob – both by elevating procedural objections or not taking over payments assigned to the Home committee he leads. He says the Liberty Protection candidates have an unrealistic view of what it’s wish to make legal guidelines, and the give-and-take that’s typically essential, even in a statehouse the place Republicans maintain a supermajority.

“They need all of it or nothing and so consequently what they’re getting is nothing,” he mentioned. “So why ship somebody to the Statehouse to get nothing? It doesn’t make numerous sense to me.”

Challengers like Brittany Carroll, a household legislation legal professional operating for a central Indiana seat, dismiss that argument.

Republicans maintain bigger legislative majorities in Indiana than in states akin to Texas, she famous, but Indiana lawmakers aren’t as aggressive in pushing points such because the Texas ban on abortions after roughly six weeks of being pregnant. In 2020, Indiana voters supported President Donald Trump over Joe Biden by wider margins – 57% to 41% – than Trump’s victory in Texas or a number of different GOP-led states.

“Indiana could possibly be main when it comes to liberty, like Florida, like Texas,” Carroll mentioned.

Carroll additionally mentioned she is undeterred by the incumbents’ fundraising benefits.

“No sum of money goes to beat an indignant voter.”

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Indiana

Purdue vs Indiana Prediction: Odds, Expert Picks, QB Matchup, Betting Trends and Stats

Published

6 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Purdue vs Indiana Prediction: Odds, Expert Picks, QB Matchup, Betting Trends and Stats

Indiana is coming off its first loss of the season and welcomes Purdue to town for Senior Day.

The Indiana Hoosiers are 10-1 with its first loss of the season coming at Ohio State (38-15). Indiana dropped to No. 10 in the AP Poll and will likely be on the backend of the teams in for the latest College Football Playoff rankings, but a convincing win here would help. Indiana has been one of the best against-the-spread (ATS) teams in the country and as a -29 point home favorite, all signs point to Curt Cignetti and company rolling.

Not much has gone right for the 1-10 Purdue Boilermakers. After the 49-0 win over FCS Indiana State, Purdue has lost 10 straight games with seven out of 10 losses coming by 17 or more points. Purdue lost to Michigan State 24-17 last week and has two OT losses this year, but this road game seems out of reach for the Boilermakers.

NBC Sports has all the latest info and analysis you need, including how to tune in for kickoff, odds from BetMGM, player news and updates, and of course our predictions and best bets for the game from our staff of experts.

Listen to the B1G Talk podcast with Todd Blackledge and Noah Eagle for the most compelling storylines across all ofcollege football, with the biggest teams on the rise and the latest rankings!

Game Details and How to watch Purdue @ Indiana

Date: Saturday, November 30, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Site: Indiana University Memorial Stadium
City: Bloomington, IN
TV/Streaming: Fox Sports 1

Want to check out the other games on the College Football schedule this week? We’ve got you covered right here on NBC Sports with all the matchup, venue, game-time and TV/streaming info so you won’t miss any of the action!

Game odds for Purdue @ Indiana

The latest odds as of Tuesday afternoon:

o Moneyline: Indiana (-6500), Purdue (+2000)

o Spread: Indiana -29 (-110)

o Total: 56.5 points

*odds courtesy of BetMGM

The spread opened at Indiana -25.5, so heavy money is pouring in on the Hoosiers. That is no surprise since Indiana is on the cusp of a College Football Playoff. The total has no movement.

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) has the following best bets between Purdue and Indiana:

“The Indiana Hoosiers suffered the first loss of the season last week at Ohio State (38-15) and need to bounce back dominantly to secure a College Football Playoff berth.

Indiana’s First Half Team Total is 23.5, which might seem mighty lofty, but it’s certainly within range and so is a 50-point game for the Hoosiers. At home, Indiana has scored 17, 17, 14, 31, and 21 first-half points versus DI opponents this season for 20.0 first-half points per game.

Purdue’s defense hasn’t taken any steps forward this season. In the last seven games, the Boilermakers have allowed 24, 21, 21, 17, 21, 24, and 21 first-half points, so this number is nothing Indiana cannot do.”

BetMGM College Football Insights: National Championship

Line movement (Last Week to Now)

Ohio State +320 to +275
Georgia +500 to +400
Texas +500 to +450

Highest Ticket%

Ohio State 13.4%
Texas 11.1%
Georgia 10.5%

Highest Handle%

Ohio State 15.9%
Georgia 14.9%
Alabama 12.1%

Biggest Liabilities

Colorado
Ohio State
Alabama

College Football talk is taking over Bet the Edge every Thursday throughout the season. Bet the EDGE is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Vaughn Dalzell, Eric Froton, and Brad Thomas’ insights Thursdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Quarterback matchup for Boilermakers @ Hoosiers

Purdue: Hudson Card threw for a season-high 342 passing yards against Michigan State last week on 26-of-47. Card has nine touchdowns to six interceptions on the year and 1,606 passing yards.
Indiana: Kurtis Rourke has had a phenomenal season that has begun to be derailed slightly by injury. Rourke has 274 combined passing yards in the past two games and had zero touchdowns to zero interceptions last week. On the season, Rourke has 21 touchdowns to four interceptions for 2,478 passing yards and a 69.6 completion percentage.

Boilermakers @ Hoosiers player news & recent stats

Purdue is 3-8 ATS this season, ranking tied for fifth-worst.
Indiana is 8-3 ATS this season, ranking tied for seventh-best.
Indiana is 8-3 to the Over this season, ranking third-best.
Indiana is 5-2 ATS this year at home and 4-3 to the Over.
Purdue is 2-3 ATS this season as the road team and 3-2 to the Over.
Kurtis Rouke threw for zero touchdowns and zero interceptions last week.
Hudson Card threw a season-high 342 passing yards last week.

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
Eric Froton (@CFFroton)

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Indiana

IU trip to Bahamas will reveal a lot about Hoosiers, who can’t come home empty-handed

Published

14 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

IU trip to Bahamas will reveal a lot about Hoosiers, who can’t come home empty-handed

BLOOMINGTON – Indiana heads to The Bahamas this week with plenty to gain — and plenty to prove.

The Hoosiers placed virtually all their nonconference emphasis on their first-ever trip to Battle 4 Atlantis, and they cannot afford to come home without some quality wins pocketed from a Thanksgiving spent on Paradise Island.

What makes this a successful holiday tournament trip? Five thoughts …

Greater consistency

Through four wins in four games, we’ve seen the idea of Indiana burst through the clouds. Stretches when the Hoosiers’ array of talent and experience makes them virtually unplayable at both ends of the floor, when even a high-major opponent like South Carolina looked simply overwhelmed.

We haven’t seen it often enough, though.

In a way, that’s fine. No basketball team should be fully formed in November. Anyone playing their best right now is in big trouble come March.

But IU needs it this week. A reasonable path through this tournament will see games against top-50 competition at least once, probably multiple times. That means opportunity, but it also means the hot-and-cold performances thus far need to be smoothed over a little more. Those windows into what Indiana can be need to open a little wider this week.

Point guard play

Myles Rice has been outstanding through these first four games. Trey Galloway has had moments, as he continues his steady progress back to full fitness following offseason knee surgery. Indiana will need their best this week.

In settings like these, players with their creativity and experience, are crucial. Sightlines are weird. The whole environment can make shooting difficult. The teams that can force the ball to the rim and either finish or draw fouls (or both) have an added advantage.

The axiom in basketball that guards win games generally always applies. But in neutral venues, when certain elements of a team’s offense might be stunted, the ability to force action and either score or create moving downhill — something both Galloway and Rice have shown proficiency in doing — becomes invaluable. Both players must deliver in The Bahamas.

Rebound the ball

It was too often a problem last season, and it’s been too often a problem this season.

Yes, Indiana is playing smaller. And yes, games like UNC Greensboro can go a little sideways in this department when an overmatched opponent chucks and chases because it knows there’s little point in trying to attack the rim.

But a team with IU’s size and athleticism cannot be a sub-200 team in opponent offensive rebound rate. The Hoosiers cannot afford to be so poor in closing out possessions. This team will undermine its offensive improvement and its athletic advantages if it continues to be so poor on the glass.

Indiana doesn’t need to be (and probably won’t ever be) dominant here. That’s not how the Hoosiers are constructed. But they are and must be better than they’ve been so far in this area, and three games in three days against demanding competition will require immediate improvement.

Mackenzie Mgbako’s continued growth

Indiana’s leading scorer had his quietest game of the season Thursday, scoring just nine points on 2-of-11 shooting and seeing his second-half playing time eaten into by Bryson Tucker’s bench performance. Everyone’s allowed a bad day at the office.

But Mgbako would do well to ensure he leaves those at home this week. IU’s most dynamic offensive player early in the season, Mgbako has flashed three-level scoring potential the likes of which few players with his size and athleticism can claim.

Few teams, even good ones, have adequate cover for a 6-8 wing who can shoot from multiple levels and finish around the rim the way Mgbako does. Couple that to improved rebounding and defense, and when he’s on, Mgbako is perhaps this team’s biggest individual game changer.

A microcosm of his team’s task this time of year, Mgbako needs to strive for consistency in those areas. Make the off nights few and far between. Find ways to impact games in multiple ways, and shift the way he scores to suit what his opponent struggles against.

This week is a good test for Indiana, and it’s certainly a good test for Mackenzie Mgbako. Both will get a better look at their ceiling in Atlantis.

Quality wins

It’s the simplest and most important storyline following Indiana to the islands.

The Hoosiers put all their faith in this tournament, in terms of being able to add quality to their NCAA tournament in nonconference play. Barring a surprise breakout from South Carolina, IU isn’t likely to beat anyone of meaning from a NET perspective anywhere but in Atlantis.

That represents a calculated gamble for Mike Woodson, whose program learned the hard way how far behind the eight ball an empty-calorie nonconference resume can set a team from an NCAA tournament perspective. The Hoosiers cannot repeat that this year.

Which means they need to make hay in the sunshine in Atlantis. Louisville might stand up as a decent win, somewhere between Quads 1 and 2. Gonzaga and/or Arizona would be worthwhile scalps. Oklahoma, Providence and West Virginia all might be in time.

Whatever its performances, Indiana needs to leave The Bahamas with some wins, or it will leave itself with a lot to do in conference play to ensure Selection Sunday isn’t a stressful experience.

Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Indiana

Where is Indiana basketball ranked going into the Battle 4 Atlantis?

Published

22 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Where is Indiana basketball ranked going into the Battle 4 Atlantis?

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana basketball heads to the Bahamas as a top 15 team.

The undefeated Hoosiers (4-0; 0-0) jumped three spots in the latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll to No. 15 and two spots in the latest AP Poll to No. 14. They spent nine weeks ranked in the top 15 of the AP Poll during the 2022-23 season.

Indiana will compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis this week starting with a game at noon on Wednesday against Louisville. No. 4 Gonzaga and West Virginia are on the same side of the bracket and No. 23 Arizona is also among the teams in the field.

The tournament is IU’s only chance to pick up any wins away from Assembly Hall during its non-conference schedule.

Indiana beat Louisville, 74-66, in last year’s Empire Classic. The Cardinals parted ways with Kenny Payne and hired Pat Kelsey as his replacement. They head into the event 3-1 this season — they suffered a 22-point loss to a Tennessee team that IU defeated in a pre-season exhibition — without a single returning player in their starting lineup.

The Hoosiers have won all four of their games by double-digits and averaging more than 80 points per game with four of their five starters — Mackenzie Mgbako (18.8 points per game), Myles Rice (14.8), Malik Reneau (13.5 points) and Oumar Ballo — averaging in the double-digits.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.

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