2024 Democratic Party Candidates

Kamala Harris, President of the United States

Vice President Kamala Devi Harris is the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. She is the first female vice president, making her the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, as well as the first African American and first Asian American vice president. An attorney by profession, she served as a U.S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021, and as the Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017.

As vice president, she’s been a trusted partner to President Joe Biden in their work to take on the powerful and make change for the people — from standing up against extremists to defending reproductive freedom to taking on Big Pharma to bring down prescription drug costs and cap the price of insulin at $35 a month for our seniors. As U.S. Senator, she led on legislation to raise wages and bring down costs for American families — on housing, health care, child care, college, and more.

Vice President Harris is a proud graduate of Howard University and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She has been married to husband Douglas Emhoff since 2014 and has a large, blended family including their children, Ella and Cole.

Tim Walz, Vice President of the United States

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is a champion for America’s working families. He enlisted in the Army National Guard when he turned 17 and served for 24 years, rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major. After attending college thanks to the GI Bill, Tim Walz served his community for two decades as a union teacher and coach, including helping lead the Mankato West football team to their first state championship.

Tim became a member of Congress serving six terms in a Republican district by representing the needs of farmers and rural America. As Governor, Tim Walz cut taxes for working families, lowered the cost of insulin and eliminated junk fees, and protected women’s right to choose.

Governor Walz met his wife Gwen teaching high school. They have two children, Hope and Gus.

Valerie McCray, United States Senator

Dr. Valerie McCray is the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator representing the State of Indiana. Born and raised in Indiana, nurtured in Indianapolis K-12 public schools and a graduate of Arsenal Tech High School, McCray has navigated the challenges of being a single mother and earned a BA, MA, and Ph.D from University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

With 35 years in the psychology field (25 years as a licensed Psychologist), she’s witnessed how U.S. policies profoundly affect the mental well-being of our people. McCray has worked directly with veterans struggling with PTSD, incarcerated individuals in desperate need of support and rehabilitation, and youth struggling to overcome the effects of violence, and more. It's clear that mental health must be a national priority. That's why she’s running for U.S. Senate.

McCray has one adult son, Ryan, with daughter-in-law Barbara. She is also a proud dog mom of Apollo the German Shepherd and Maya the Husky pup.

Jennifer McCormick, Indiana Governor

Jennifer McCormick is a lifelong educator and Indiana native committed to building a state where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Growing up on a small family farm in New Castle, Indiana, McCormick witnessed the opportunities and challenges facing Indiana. Her dad, an engineer by trade, and her mom, a retail store manager, instilled in her the importance of public service, empowering others, and excellence in hard work. McCormick’s passion for service led her to the classroom where she spent a decade as a special education and language arts teacher before becoming a public school principal and  Superintendent for nearly 8 years.

In 2016, Jennifer successfully ran for State Superintendent of Public Instruction to be a champion for Hoosier kids. She campaigned on empowering students, parents and educators, supporting and guiding schools, and delivering a high-quality public education to every child.

Jennifer’s running for governor of Indiana because she’s tired of the supermajority’s focus on fringe issues that have nothing to do with the challenges everyday Hoosiers are facing. It’s time to stand up to elect a leader that puts Hoosiers first. She will bring common sense and bipartisanship back to the statehouse. Jennifer will stand up to  policies that are dismantling public education, stripping Hoosiers of their rights and freedoms, and leaving rural communities behind.

Jennifer and her husband, Trent, have one son, a West Point graduate and a member of the United States Army. She earned her B.A. from Purdue, M.A. from Ball State and an Ed.S. and Ph.D. from Indiana State.

Terry Goodin, Indiana Lt. Governor

Raised in rural Scott County, Terry Goodin is the Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor and has served Indiana as a teacher, school superintendent, State Representative, and USDA Director for over 25 years. A graduate of Austin High School, he earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Eastern Kentucky University and received his Doctor of Education degree from Indiana University. Terry served as superintendent of Crothersville Community Schools and also raises beef cattle on the family farm.

Goodin was formerly served as State Representative, representing the 66th District from 2000 to 2020. During his tenure, Goodin was a member of the influential House Ways and Means Committee, the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, and the Elections and Apportionment Commitee. He also served as the Minority Leader of the House for a partial term following the resignation of Scott Pelath.

In February 2022, President Joe Biden appointed Goodin as the USDA’s Indiana state director for rural development. In June of 2024, Goodin officially resigned his position and was endorsed by the Democratic nominee for Governor of Indiana, Jennifer McCormick, to be the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana.

Goodin is married to Darcie and they have three children: a daughter, Grace; and two sons, Berley and Brown.

Destiny Wells, Indiana Attorney General

Destiny Wells grew up in a blue-collar family in Morgan County, where she learned the importance of the values that small-town Hoosiers hold dear: family, freedom, and progress. The daughter of eight generations of farmers, she was taught to appreciate hard work and love for working the land even through hardship.

Wells left home to attend Indiana University as a first-generation college student. And in the throes of 9/11, she enlisted in the Army National Guard at the age of 19 and later joined Army ROTC. In the military she found what many of us are looking for: a steady paycheck, health care, a path toward retirement, and the ability to serve my country and my community.

20 years later, Wells is a U.S. Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel and professionally has served in multiple government litigation positions. She is running for Indiana Attorney General to get our State back to serving Hoosiers. She has worked at all levels of government—local, state, federal, and the multi-national level with NATO. As an attorney, Wells has been Associate Corporation Counsel for the City of Indianapolis and Marion County, and Deputy Attorney General for the State of Indiana. And as a military intelligence officer, she has seen first hand the state of democracy across the world.

In the service she met her husband, Oliver, a military intelligence Lieutenant Colonel in the Indiana Army National Guard. They are raising two sons, Owen (12) and Harrison (4), in downtown Indy.

Tim Peck, Ninth District United States Congress

Tim Peck, MD, is the Democratic nominee for Ninth District U.S. Congress. A resident of New Washington, Peck is an Emergency Physician and entrepreneur. During the Boston Marathon bombings, he served as the Chief Resident of the Emergency Department in the Harvard Medical School system, treating dozens of victims. He then founded health care technology companies to enhance patient care based on his experiences in the Emergency Department.

Peck’s journey to run for Congress reflects the frustration many of us feel in politics today. With Congress at a stalemate, our leaders are literally fighting on the House and Senate floor, and Congress can't even agree on funding the basic needs of the government. Peck believes we need new voices to lead us to solutions, and if elected, he will work with the people of Indiana to give all of us a voice in DC. Inviting people of all political affiliations - Republican, Libertarians, Independents, and Democrats - to join his campaign, Peck seeks to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to understand and address the challenges facing Indiana.

Peck is married to his wife, Missy, and have one son.

Sarah Blessing, State Representative, District 70

Sarah Blessings is the Democratic candidate for State House District 70 representing portions of Clark, Floyd, Harrison and Washington Counites. An educator having served 18 years as a fifth-grade teacher at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in New Albany, she holds a bachelor's in education from Indiana University and a master’s in education from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Active in the community, Blessing volunteers with the Town of Palmyra, serves on the leadership team of the Harrison County Democratic Party, and has previously been a candidate for Harrison County Council.

Blessing has been endorsed by Madvoters, the Our Choice Coalition, and is part of the Indiana Rural Summit focusing on rural issues.

Blessing lives in Palmyra and has been married to her husband, Chris, for nine years and has three children, Adaline, Asher, and Micah.

Wendy Dant Chesser, State Representative, District 71

Wendy Dant Chesser is the Democratic candidate for State House of Representatives in State House District 71 representing portions of Clark and Floyd County.

Raised in Jeffersonville and a graduate of Jeffersonville High and Indiana University Southeast, Dant Chesser joined the O'Bannon/Kernan administration in 1997. She served in various roles before becoming the Executive Director of the Indiana Rural Development Council. Following her service, she continued in opportunities in Michigan before returning to Jeffersonville in 2012 to become President and CEO of One Southern Indiana. In this role, she worked with community partners to help create 10,000 new jobs in Southern Indiana with a focus on higher-paying opportunities for Southern Indiana workers.

Dant Chesser now works for an economic development partner in Clark County and has served on several boards including the YMCA of Greater Louisville Board, Ivy Tech-Sellersburg Board, the Louisville Zoo Foundation, and the Kentucky Derby Festival. She currently lives in Jeffersonville with her 16-year-old daughter and her partner Eric.

Jason Applegate, State Representative, District 72

Jason Applegate is the Democratic candidate for State Representative for District 72 representing portions of Floyd County.

A small business owner and community leader, Applegate is the founder of Extol Media and a former New Albany City Council member. Studying at the University of Louisville and as a former student athlete, he cares deeply about the state of education in Indiana and about workers rights and providing a living wage for full-time work. He also wants to prioritize giving small businesses the tools they need for success. Applegate is passionate about serving his community and looks forward to having an even greater impact in the State House.

Jason is a dedicated public servant and knows he can be an important voice for southern Indiana. He has served on the Caesar Foundation Board of Directors, the River Hills Economic Development District and Regional Planning Commission, the Art Alliance of Southern Indiana, Maker13, and the Floyd Memorial Foundation.

Married to his wife Angie, they have one daughter, Olive.

Vickie Tencer, Floyd County Treasurer

Vickie Tencer has a varied personal and professional history well-suited to the position of Floyd County Treasurer with over 40 years of experience in the accounting profession.

She received her degree in accounting from San Diego State University and also attended graduate classes at the University of California and the University of Louisville. She currently applies her skills as the Post Award Manager at the University of Louisville, School of Public Health and Information Science. Tencer is also a small business owner of Tencer Tax.

A life-long Midwesterner and resident of Floyd County for over 16 years, Tencer’s commitment to community is evident in her role as precinct chairperson for Greenville 4 and in the Greenville Huddle. She has also served as an Athletic Board Trustee and member of the Staff Senate at the University of Louisville.

Vicki and her husband, Leslie, have three children and eight grandchildren.

Amy Culwell, Floyd County Coroner

Amy Culwell is the Democratic candidate for Floyd County Coroner and currently serves as a Deputy Coroner. Born and raised in Floyd County, she witnesses first-hand the importance of public service by watching her father, a New Albany Police Department, serve the community.

A graduate of the University of Cincinnati and the University of Louisville, Culwell has an extensive 35-year medical background including emergency medical services, critical care medicine, open heart recovery, flight medicine and has practiced anesthesia for 17 years. These skills are all critical to the coroner’s office as they investigate any death which occurs out of the hospital or in hospitalized individuals not yet under the established care of a physician.

The people of Floyd County deserve someone who has the knowledge and experience to serve as County Coroner and preserve its integrity. That candidate is Amy Culwell.