Indiana
What to know about the candidates and issues in Indiana's open U.S. Senate race
Indiana’s 2024 elections feature a rare open U.S. Senate seat, as it is being vacated by Republican Mike Braun to run for governor.
The competition in the race up until this point has been minimal, with only a contested Democratic primary earlier this year. Here’s what you need to know about the candidates and some of the campaign issues in this race.
Jim Banks
Jim Banks, currently the congressman for Indiana’s 3rd District, was uncontested in the Republican primary to become the Hoosier State’s next U.S. senator.
The Columbia City congressman launched his campaign in January 2023 and gained major endorsements from Republicans inside and outside of the state. Banks is a military veteran and served in the Indiana Senate prior to his election to Congress. Here are some of the key issues for his campaign:
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Immigration: Banks said he has and will advocate for a secure border and reinstating Trump administration policies, such as requiring migrants to remain in Mexico before their asylum claims are heard in the U.S.
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“Pro-life” policies: The congressman’s campaign site states that he will advocate for anti-abortion policies, including allowing no federal tax dollars to go to Planned Parenthood and voting for judges that “respect the Constitution.”
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Veterans: Banks, a veteran, said he wants to continue to make sure veterans receive care and benefits they are entitled to.
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Economy: Per his campaign site, Banks said he would support “pro-growth policies” like Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and efforts to fill the “skills gap” between training and available jobs. The congressman said he also would seek to reduce the national debt.
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Education: Banks opposes critical race theory and “liberal propaganda” being taught in schools. He also seeks to “protect girls’ sports,” messaging conservatives use to object to transgender children participating in sports.
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National security: Banks said he wants to give service members the ability to defend the country from outside threats, but in a financially responsible way. Banks’ website also states that the U.S. has a “moral obligation to protect Israel.”
Valerie McCray
McCray, a clinical psychologist from Indianapolis, won the May primary to become the Democratic nominee in the U.S. Senate race. She previously ran for president during the 2020 election cycle. The issues in her platform include the following:
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Foreign policy: McCray said the country should follow foreign policy that values “human life.” Her website states this policy should include an “immediate ceasefire” in the Israel-Hamas war and a return to a two-state solution.
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Economy and housing: McCray’s website says she would support less burdensome taxes on middle-class families. She also supports unions and efforts for fair wages. She views affordable housing as a right and said she would support efforts to make it easier for Hoosiers to find housing they can afford.
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Immigration: McCray would advocate for “comprehensive immigration reform,” which would include expedited work permits, more efficient asylum and increasing funding for federal efforts such as asylum judges and border patrol. She said she would support the president shutting down the border if the immigration system becomes overwhelmed.
Andrew Horning
Horning is the Libertarian candidate for Indiana’s 2024 U.S. Senate race. The Freedom, Indiana, resident has run for various offices over the last 30 years, including governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Horning is retired and previously worked for medical technology companies, according to his campaign website.
Horning writes on his website that he advocates for constitutional design, which he said means that the government should do business based on the “clear written law.” He believes some of the country’s issues that need to be addressed include:
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Two-party political system: Horning argues the U.S.’s two major political parties are “anti-constitutional,” “suppress competition” and have contributed to divisiveness throughout the country.
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Foreign policy: Horning writes that the U.S. should no longer fund and train its foreign and domestic enemies and focus on “dangers” within the country’s own borders, such as immigration and threats he describes from the Chinese Communist Party.
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Immigration: The Libertarian said he supports efforts to fix the “border crisis,” including addressing the cost of “legal” labor so employers don’t seek “illegal” workers at a lower cost. He also suggests making immigration laws more consistent to stop migrants and employers from remaining quiet and breaking the law. Finally, Horning writes that the U.S. should stop foreign involvement that make other countries “practically uninhabitable” and force those citizens to seek new places to live.
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana’s U.S. Senate race is open. Here are the candidates and issues
Indiana Fever win season series over Phoenix Mercury with late heroics
The game was up for grabs late, and without Caitlin Clark, it was Ty Harris delivering alongside the stars. IndyStar Fever insider Chloe Peterson details.
PHOENIX — The Indiana Fever barely eked out of Mortgage Matchup Arena with a 92-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night on the second night of a back-to-back.
Caitlin Clark (rest) did not play after making her return on a minutes restriction on Wednesday against Los Angeles. Aliyah Boston, who missed the game against L.A. for precautionary reasons, finished with 19 points and eight rebounds against the Mercury.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 29 points on 10-of-22 shooting, adding on eight assists. She hit the game-winning layup with 10 seconds left. Tyasha Harris finished with 15 points and five assists, including a stretch of nine of 11 Fever points to close the gap.
Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas had 22 points, six rebounds and seven assists, Kahleah Copper added 22 points and five rebounds.
Here’s what I liked and disliked, and what the win means.
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What I liked in the Indiana Fever’s win vs Phoenix Mercury
- Early 3-point shooting: One of Boston’s main focuses this offseason was improving her 3-point shot, and it’s coming to fruition. She made two 3-pointers in the first quarter, helping lead the Fever to six total makes beyond the arc in the opening 10-minute period. Harris, starting in place of Clark, had two 3-pointers in the first quarter, as well, with Lexie Hull and Mitchell each making one. At the time, it was big for the Fever to maintain a lead.
- Roaring back in the third quarter: Basketball is a game of runs, and the Fever embodied that. They led by 12 in the first, then trailed by four at halftime, then went on a 20-9 run over seven minutes in the third quarter to take a one-point lead by the end of the third. Mitchell was the one to lead that comeback, scoring nine points on 3-of-6 shooting along with three assists in that quarter. The third was crucial for the Fever not just to get back into the lead, but, especially on a back-to-back, to try and have the mental fortitude to close the game out.
- Tyasha Harris coming in clutch: Harris’ role has expanded since Clark has been out (or limited), and she is making the most of her minutes. She scored nine points in the fourth quarter alone, including a 3-pointer with three minutes left to take the lead, then four straight points to give the Fever the lead again with 44 seconds left. She finished the game with 15 points and five assists, being the facilitator the Fever need while Clark recovers.
What I disliked in the Indiana Fever’s win vs Phoenix Mercury
- Second-quarter slide: For the second straight game, the Fever held a double-digit lead in the first quarter then were trailing by halftime. The Fever allowed the Mercury to shoot 12 of 20 from the field in the second quarter (and 5 of 8 from 3-point range), completely negating the Fever’s six 3-pointers from the first quarter. Phoenix went on a 12-2 run over the final three minutes of the quarter, too, taking advantage of the Fever’s off the mark shots.
- Silly mistakes: In a close game like this, every possession matters. And every mistake compounds. The Fever had a few in the second half, including a shot-clock violation from Harris where she wasn’t even in shooting motion yet, a defensive three-seconds foul from Aliyah Boston, a backcourt violation from Kelsey Mitchell, and another shot clock violation from Raven Johnson to start the fourth quarter. All of those mistakes gives Phoenix extra points or extra possessions. While the Fever ultimately won the game, it made it closer than it needed to be.
What the Indiana Fever’s win vs Phoenix Mercury means
Indiana (13-9) is a strong team offensively, but recently, the Fever haven’t been able to get out of their own way on defense. It showed in the runs they gave up to Phoenix, flip-flopping the lead and forcing the Fever to continue to play from behind. It worked out for Indiana this time around, finding what they needed when they needed it, but it won’t be sustainable long term.
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at chloe.peterson@indystar.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — A Bloomington man was arrested Wednesday in Indianapolis on an attempted murder charge after police say he fired seven to eight rounds into a white GMC SUV occupied by three adults and four children last month in Bloomington before fleeing the area.
A news release issued Thursday from the Bloomington Police Department said members of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s special weapons and tactics team took Kafern P. Johnson, 32, into custody near the intersection of West 84th Street and Allison Avenue in Indianapolis without incident.
The arrest came more than two weeks after the June 23 shooting in the 1000 block of North Summit Street. That’s in a residential area next to Crestmont Park in Bloomington.
Monroe County Central Emergency Dispatch received 911 calls at 7:41 p.m. June 23 reporting gunfire in the area.
Responding patrol officers and detectives determined Johnson had fired into the SUV following a verbal fight with the vehicle’s driver. Police said the dispute stemmed from an argument over a relationship.
No injuries were reported despite the number of people inside the vehicle.
Following his arrest, Johnson was taken to an IMPD facility for questioning and later booked into the Marion County jail. On Thursday morning, he was booked into the Monroe County jail.
The release said Johnson could face felony charges of attempted murder, criminal recklessness with a firearm, and pointing a firearm. No formal charges have yet been filed, according to online court records.
Bloomington police asked anyone with additional information to call 812-349-3324.
This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.
Fairfield native, David K. Wells, 69, and his wife Aileen, were found dead inside their home in Newburgh, Indiana, Monday night. Warrick County Sheriff Michael Wilder said that deputies responded to the residence just before 8:00 p.m. after dispatch received a call around 7:40 p.m. from a friend of the family requesting a welfare check. When officers didn’t get an answer at the door, they entered through the back of the home and found the couple deceased. Officers cleared the home and waited for detectives to arrive. Investigators also obtained a search warrant to do a further examination of the residence. Authorities were able to notify family members and conduct interviews to gather additional information. Sheriff Wilder said investigators believe the couple had been dead for less than 24 hours before they were found. He also said there is no indication of any forced entry or an intruder. Sheriff Wilder has not made a formal determination as to what happened. Autopsies for the couple were scheduled for yesterday morning to help determine a cause. David Wells grew up in Fairfield and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1975. He had a long career in television commercial production in Evansville and had more recently operated the Cigar! Cigar! tobacco store in Evansville.
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