Party affiliation: Formerly a Republican, she upset the Democratic incumbent Glenda Ritz in the 2016 election and served one term. Switching to the Democratic Party in 2021, she is running for governor of Indiana in 2024. (My response: No comment.)
Background: McCormick was born in New Castle, Indiana, in 1970. She graduated from Ball State University with a degree in special education and language arts. She then worked as a special education teacher and elementary school principal before becoming superintendent of the Yorktown school district in 2013. In 2016, McCormick ran for Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction. She defeated the Democratic incumbent, Glenda Ritz, by a narrow margin. As superintendent, McCormick focused on improving teacher quality and school safety. She also worked to reduce the achievement gap between white students and students of color. (My response: Interesting and decent background.)Read more
Party switch: In 2021, McCormick switched her party affiliation from Republican to Democrat. She said she made the switch because she was disappointed with the Republican Party's handling of education issues. She is now running for governor of Indiana as a Democrat. (My response: Don't know what to say, except I wonder if she'll regret it or not.)
2024 Campaign: McCormick's campaign platform focuses on education, healthcare, and the economy. She has pledged to make college more affordable, expand access to healthcare, and create jobs. She is also a strong supporter of gun control. The 2024 Indiana gubernatorial election is expected to be a competitive race. McCormick is the first Democrat to announce her candidacy, but she is likely to face a challenge from the Republican nominee. (My response: Her pledges make absolute sense. As for gun control, I think it shouldn't be too hard, but it also shouldn't be too light. As for her running as Democrat, I'm not convinced she will win because Indiana is a Republican stronghold.)
Education: McCormick supports increasing funding for public schools, reducing class sizes, and making college more affordable. She also supports expanding access to early childhood education and vocational training. (My response: Sounds great.)
Healthcare: McCormick supports expanding Medicaid, lowering prescription drug prices, and protecting access to abortion. She also supports investing in mental health care and addiction treatment. (My response: Sounds mostly good.)
Economy: McCormick supports creating jobs, raising the minimum wage, and investing in infrastructure. She also supports expanding access to affordable childcare and paid family leave. (My response: Also sounds great.)
Gun control: McCormick supports universal background checks, an assault weapons ban, and red flag laws. She also supports closing the gun show loophole and banning high-capacity magazines. (My response: Very nice.)
Other: Jennifer McCormick is a controversial figure in Indiana politics. She has been criticized by some for her conservative views on education and healthcare. However, she is also seen by many as a rising star in the Democratic Party. (My response: Interesting. So I guess she's not your typical Democrat.)
