In Brown County, the Republicans have a monopoly on political power. The winners in the  Republican May primary have a very high probability of winning in the Nov General Election.

Primary deadlines and position for 2024 (courtesy of Sherrie Mitchell).

This monopoly on power leads to a situation where if any county citizen wants a voice in their county government, they need to vote in the Republican Primary. They can then vote for either the Republican or Democrat candidate in the Nov elections.

• • If any citizen wants to run for office in the Republican primary, they need to be considered a “Republican in Good Standing” per Rule 1-24 or 1-25 (see below – Indiana GOP Rules).  This rule is currently being challenged – The Indiana Supreme Court will be hearing arguments on February 12, three days after the filing deadline. (see below).
    •  Feb 12, 2023, Audio – IN Supreme Court – Oral Arguments https://independentvotersofbrowncountyin.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/in-supreme-court-party-rules-240212.mp3
    • Brown County Matters

“If” the Supreme Court determines the rules are unconstitutional, should any candidate that may not meet the current rules submit their nomination as a candidate?

Candidates. All Republican precinct chairs will be on the May primary ballot. In addition, 2 commissioners (District 1 and 3) and three at-large council seats.  The precinct chairs elect the county chair in March following the Nov election.

Indiana Precinct (PC) Project — “Learn how to protect the Foundation of the Republican Party. Learn about the MOST POWERFUL role in politics!”

2024 Elections Candidate Information – Secretary of State

• • 46439 fill-in CAN-2: Declaration of Candidacy for Primary Election in 2024

Oct 2023. Indiana GOP Rules of the Indiana Republican State Committee

• • “Rule 1-24. A “Qualified Primary Republican” is a voter who cast Republican Party ballot at the two (2) most recent primary elections in Indiana which the voter voted, and who is a Republican in Good-Standing.”  (1)

• • “Rule 1-25. The term “Republican in Good-Standing” shall be defined as a Republican who supports Republican nominees and who does not actively or openly support another candidate against a Republican nominee.”
  • (1) Note: This law does not mean the candidate must have voted in the two (2) most chronologically recent primary elections and requested a Democratic or Republican ballot; instead, the person’s vote history must demonstrate that the last two (2) primary elections in which the person voted must align with the party the candidate seeks to affiliate in the primary election. For example, if a candidate pulled a Republican Party primary ballot in 2019, did not vote in the 2020 and 2022 primary elections, and requested a Republican Party primary ballot in 2023, then this candidate meets the requirements set forth in state law to file a declaration of candidacy (CAN-2) for the Republican Party primary without attaching the chair’s certification.  Ref: Indiana SOS, 2024 Indiana Candidate Guide.
• Indiana Statute: IC 3-8-2-7 Declaration of candidacy; contents

Challenges to Rule 1-24 and 1-25

Dec 18, 2023. Rust challenge set for argument in February By NIKI KELLY, INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE Posted December 18, 2023

• • The Indiana Supreme Court has set oral arguments for Feb. 12 in John Rust’s legal challenge. (Lauren Chapman/IPB News)
  • The Indiana Supreme Court has set arguments in John Rust’s election law challenge for February 12, three days after the filing deadline to run for U.S. Senate.

Dec 15, 2023. Indiana Supreme Court – Order – Expedite, briefing scheduled

• • Additional Info: MyCase.In.Gov  Diego Morales, et al. v. John Rust,
    Case Number  23S-PL-00371 
  • Amended Opposition to Motion to expedite … 

Dec 11, 2023. Indiana AG appeals ruling favoring Rust’s ballot access
By Indiana Capital Chronicle

• • Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita on Friday filed a notice of appeal, requesting the Indiana Supreme Court step in after a trial court judge last week found a state elections law unconstitutional.
  • Court action will likely be swifter than usual with key election deadlines coming in January and February.

Dec 8, 2023. Indiana Secretary of State Appeals Ruling for US Senate Candidate Seeking GOP Nod.   The Indiana secretary of state is appealing a ruling that a law stipulating voting requirements for a candidate’s party affiliation is unconstitutional

• • Rust voted as a Republican in the 2016 primary but as a Democrat in 2012. He did not vote in the 2020 Republican primary because of the pandemic and the lack of competitive Republican races in Jackson County, the lawsuit said. Rust said his Democratic votes were for people he personally knew.

Dec 7, 2023.  INDIANA ELECTION LAW FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL

• • “A Marion County Judge has ruled that an Indiana election law that limits candidates from appearing on the ballot in primaries is unconstitutional.
  • The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by Southern Indiana egg farmer and U.S. Senate candidate John Rust. Rust had filed to get on the ballot but had not voted in the last two Republican primaries and was told by his Jackson County Chairwoman she would not sign a letter that Rust was in good standing with the party, two elements required by law.
  • Judge Partick Dietrick, a Republican, held the law violated the federal and state constitutions on several grounds. He ruled the law violated the 1st and 14th Amendments, saying the state had no compelling interest in keeping Rust off the ballot.
  • In addition to the U.S. Constitution, Dietrick ruled the law also violated the State Constitution, saying it adds extra requirements to qualify for office which are not on the ballot.”

Feb 23, 2022. Brown County Democrat. Election board reviews multiple candidate challenges, more discussion set this week, by Suzannah Couch

• • The five challenges were due to either a candidate voting only once in an Indiana primary as a Republican or voting in two primary elections, but once as a Republican and the other as a Democrat.