Gale Thomas waved a Harris Walz 2024 flag and wooed as cars drove down Broadway in Gary Thursday outside the new field office for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz.
“A lot of people wave back or honk their horn, so it’s been a good response,” Thomas said.
Officials said establishing the field office at 1520 Broadway in Gary was a grassroots effort, and it will be a place where residents can get signs for all Democratic candidates and serve as an election resource.
During the event, multiple officials and residents compared the energy around Harris’ candidacy to that of President Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008. In that election, Indiana became a blue state when a majority voted for Obama, said State Senator Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago. It was the first time since 1964 that Indiana had cast its electoral votes for a Democratic candidate.
In 2012, when Obama was seeking reelection, Indiana flipped red state, but Randolph said he heard from Democratic Party leaders that they regretted not spending more time and money in Indiana during that election cycle.
“Now, we got the same kind of atmosphere that existed in 2008,” Randolph said. “The atmosphere is here, the time is right, for us to turn Indiana blue again.”
State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary, said the field office will be a place to energize voters and get the word out about candidates ahead of the election.
“What we’re trying to do here is recreate what happened in 2008 and make sure that we at least work our hardest to get Indiana to turn blue again. I think we have the momentum, but I think what we’re looking for are those voters who need to come out,” Hatcher said. “Whatever we can do to drive the train to victory for her, that’s what we want to do here in Northwest Indiana.”
State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, said this election is comparable to the 2008 election because of the sense of hope and “understanding what time it is, that we’re fighting for our democracy.”
“I’m just excited about the excitement. I mean I’ve never seen, since Barack was running for office, this kind of excitement. The congenial attitude here, the joy, the excitement, it’s just amazing,” Smith said.
After the Democratic National Convention, Randolph said he talked with officials in Evansville, Fort Wayne, South Bend and Indianapolis about opening a Harris-Walz field office.
When officials in those cities told him they didn’t have field offices, Randolph said he started talking to mayors in Northwest Indiana to see where a field office could be opened for residents. Randolph said the office was established in Gary because of its historic importance in elections.
“Gary has always been the key area in terms of when it comes to voters and people countywide getting elected, so why not originate in Gary? As a result, I got together, myself and the mayor, and came up with this location right here,” Randolph said.
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, said Thursday’s event was an awakening that sent a message to Northwest Indiana residents that “we’re willing to work for what we believe in,” like a woman’s right to reproductive freedom, a union worker’s right to collectively bargain, and a citizen’s right to vote.
Mrvan said Democrats also believe in Harris, who was a prosecutor, Attorney General for the state of California, a U.S. Senator and now vice president.
“We believe in hope, and we believe in optimism more than we are afraid of fear and division,” Mrvan said. “As we go forward, let’s knock on doors for what we believe in. Let’s knock on doors and let’s phone bank for people that we know need to know our message of hope, optimism and inclusiveness.”
Lake County Board of Elections and Registration Director Michelle Fajman said the deadline to register to vote is Monday and early voting starts Tuesday. Fajman encouraged everyone in the crowd to create a voting plan and follow through with it.
“When Lake County votes, we win,” Fajman said.
When Harris announced her candidacy, Thomas said she was happy because it boosted Democrats chances of winning. Harris is also smart, Thomas said.
“She just sticks with the facts and doesn’t lie and say we’re eating dogs or whatever,” Thomas said, referring to the Republican ticket of Donald Trump and JD Vance spreading lies about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, during the most recent presidential debate and at rallies.
Melodee Novak, of Chesterton, who participated in a Kamala Karavan of cars ahead of the event, said she enjoyed decorating her car with signs for Harris-Walz and that driving down Broadway was really exciting.
“We were all honking our horns and waving flags,” Novak said. “I’m so pumped for this, I’ve got nothing but good vibes for this. I think we’re gonna sweep.”
With Harris leading the Democratic ticket, Novak said Democratic candidates Jennifer McCormick, who is running for governor, Valerie McCray, who is running for U.S. Senate, and Destiny Wells, who is running for attorney general, will garner more support.
“I think this is really going to be a big change, a much needed change, and I feel very positive about it,” Novak said.
Annette Upshaw, an East Chicago resident, said she came to the event to show her support for Harris and her historic nomination. Harris will protect reproductive rights and voting rights, Upshaw said, and she will fight for all Americans and their rights.
“We don’t want to lose what we already fought for,” Upshaw said.
While this election has similar energy to 2008, Upshaw said the energy should be even higher because Harris is the first Black woman running for president.
“I hope Indiana will show out for her,” Upshaw said. “If we vote, we will win.”
