Candidates feel hopeful ahead of state Democratic party convention

Two Hoosier lawyers have their eyes on one thing come July 13 – the Democratic nomination for Indiana Attorney General.

More than 2,000 delegates will vote for either Destiny Wells or Beth White on Saturday. The winner will face Republican incumbent Todd Rokita in November. He was uncontested at the state GOP convention last month.

Vying for the vote

Wells has been in campaign mode for years. She lost the Indiana Secretary of State race to Republican Diego Morales in 2022 and entered the attorney general race in November 2023.

She said she is ready for Saturday and to focus on the general election.

“We’re feeling really good, and we know we’ve delivered to the delegates a vision that keeps their energy up,” Wells said.

Wells said she has been on the road constantly meeting with delegates ahead of the state convention. She has secured endorsements from 16 influential members of the party, including Kathy Davis, Kip Tew and Vigo and Lake County Democrats.

“We are known for putting all the miles on the car,” Wells said. “We are known for being everywhere. And what we want folks to know is that that energy is what we will take to the general.”

She added that, in her experience, what delegates want most is to have their viewpoints heard.

“You have to keep in mind that delegates are not a monolith. They all have their viewpoints and want to be heard,” Wells said.

When asked about her opponent, Wells said their policy positions aren’t far apart, but pointed out that she has worked in the Office of the Attorney General and White has not.

“I would say we’re being more strategic in that we have relationships with a county party leadership and that we’re able to get more bang for our buck when it comes to time, that we’ve better managed our time, and so we fit in frequency with the delegates,” Wells said.

Wells didn’t have a opponent when she was running for Secretary of State. She said facing white has made her more competitive.

No matter the outcome of Saturday, Wells said she is still deputy chair of the party and looks forward to being around in 2025.

White entered the race in January and stopped working full-time in June to focus on the campaign. She has been on the phones calling all 2,144 delegates in the Hoosier state to try and secure their vote.

“I have had hundreds and hundreds of conversations over the last couple of weeks, and it’s been a real privilege to hear from the delegates about what concerns them, what they are working on in their communities,” White said.

White said Wells is a good campaigner but that their experience is what sets them apart.

“She’s articulate and she can communicate the message. What I’m asking the delegates to think about is the level of experience that really does distinguish the two of us,” White said.

Like Wells, White also previously ran for Indiana secretary of state. She lost to Republican Connie Lawson in 2014 by nearly 18 percentage points. It was her only other bid for statewide office.

But she’s had significant success running for office in Democrat-dominated Marion County, where she won two terms as county clerk and oversaw numerous elections.

She also has served as a Marion County deputy prosecutor and as an attorney for the Indiana Department of Child Services. She is now CEO of the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking.

White said she is feeling cautiously hopeful for Saturday and looks forward to being able to focus on the general election in November.

How are delegates chosen?

Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl said it varies each year how many delegates are chosen.

Each county party officer in all 92 counties are automatic delegates – the party chair, vice chair, treasurer and secretary. The district chairs, vice chairs and members of the state central committee are automatic delegates as well.

Another way to become a delegate at the state Democratic convention is to run on the primary ballot in May. Schmuhl said almost 800 people ran for state convention delegate that way.

The final way to become a delegate is to be appointed by the county chair.

“We have two great people running for Attorney General with Destiny Wells and Beth White, so they’ve been running their campaigns for months now, getting support and traveling around the state. Those are two individuals that are experienced and solid candidates and have done things the right way,” Schmuhl said.