Election Day is over, the votes have been counted, and Goshen Democrats have plenty of reasons to celebrate. Of the ten local candidates featured by the Goshen City Democratic Party this year, eight won their races. But the story of this election is bigger than the victories. It’s a story of neighbors stepping forward, volunteers putting in the work, and a community making progress together.
Both candidates in the House District 49 race have used the phrase “for the People.” The Republican incumbent, Joanna King, uses the phrase in her committee name “Joanna King for the People”. The Democratic challenger, Michelle Milne, has used the phrase in events. But a week before Election Day, the events both candidates are hosting make clear who they believe “the People” are.
The “Meet The Candidates” forum was held at the Middlebury Public Library on Thursday, October 22, 2026, The event was open to the general public and was a great opportunity for concerned voters to hear what political candidates had to say about relevant issues affecting their lives now and in the future.
When I want to understand what influences a politician, I start with campaign contributions. Who’s donating, how much they’re giving, and which industries or organizations are investing in a candidate’s campaign can offer valuable insight into the interests surrounding them. Contributions don’t automatically determine how a politician votes, but they’re an important part of the picture. If we want to understand the forces shaping public policy, we should pay attention not only to what politicians say, but also to who helps fund their campaigns.
A rally was held at Goshen’s downtown theater on Monday evening, October 4th, to mark the start of the early voting period for the midterm elections. Attendees were strongly encouraged to take advantage of early voting and to bring friends and neighbors to the polls with them. The event was co-sponsored by the Goshen City Democratic Party and Indivisible of Elkhart County. The local Indivisible group is affiliated with a national organization that promotes community action and support of Democratic principles through the free election process. Approximately 120 enthusiastic voters were present.
Goshen, IN: Today, two local groups jointly announce an early voting kickoff rally, “Bring Your People to the Polls,” at The Goshen Theater on Monday, October 5, 6:30-7:30pm. Mike Puro, former mayor of Goshen, is sponsoring the event. Co-hosting the event are the Goshen City Democratic Party and Elkhart County Indivisible. The event’s program will include:
Michelle Milne, Democratic candidate for State Representative- District 49, was given the opportunity to express her views on the state of Public Education in Indiana. Goshen residents are aware of the negative financial impact of Indiana Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) on Goshen’s Public School System. The Bill reduced Goshen’s revenue for education by $3.8 million in 2026 with greater reduction amounts coming in 2027 and beyond.
I recently read somewhere that we treat voting as a privilege in this country instead of a right. A right is not something given by the government, it is inherent to being a citizen and must be defended and exercised at every opportunity, including voting. Unfortunately here in Indiana, we have a voter turnout problem. Approximately, 61% of registered voters in Indiana voted in the 2024 presidential general election. In Elkhart County, the voter turnout was 56% ¹, below the state average, meaning 44% of the voters (approximately 56,000, roughly the size of the City of Elkhart) did not exercise their right to vote. We can do better, Elkhart County!
The Goshen City Democratic Party celebrated its achievements of growth and community involvement by hosting a Celebration Picnic on the evening of Wednesday, August 19th at the Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship Memorial Garden. The gathering was open to the general public, and more than 150 people participated in this event.
