Indiana’s new law allowing school board candidates to claim a party label on election ballots is transforming local races across the state, with the Goshen Community Schools election serving as a prominent example of its impact, InkFreeNews.com reported. Under rules approved by the Republican-controlled state legislature, school board candidates now have the option to declare a party affiliation, a significant shift from their previous officially nonpartisan status.
This change means about 43% of candidates statewide are using a party label, with the majority running as Republicans. In Goshen, a politically competitive district in northern Indiana, the current election for four school board seats has become explicitly partisan, with all seven candidates declaring as either a Democrat or Republican.
Rickardo Yoder, 56, a former educator and parent of three Goshen Community Schools graduates, is campaigning as a Republican. He noted that despite his priorities for the Elkhart County district, some voters immediately ask about his party affiliation. Yoder recounted an instance where a voter closed the door after he stated he was a Republican, and he told InkFreeNews.com he found it disheartening when discussion went beyond party affiliation. Yoder chose to run as a Republican to gain support from the local party, which has assisted with yard signs and meeting supporters. However, he considers party labels for school board races “kind of silly,” stating crucial issues like school safety “should have nothing to do with what party you’re on.”
The introduction of party labels has elicited varied reactions. Sallie Landis Davis, 45, a Democrat candidate and mother of three current Goshen students, told InkFreeNews.com she believes the new law “reveals something” about existing partisanship, rather than shifting it. Davis suggested the 2022 Goshen election was already “very partisan,” noting past disputes over issues such as COVID-19 policies, library books, support for LGBTQ+ students, and how schools teach about race. The 2022 race also involved campaign finance violations related to opposing slates of candidates.
While Indiana Democrats largely opposed the new law, the Elkhart County Democratic Party and Goshen City Democrats have strategically engaged. Chad Crabtree, chair of the Elkhart County Democratic Party, a middle school teacher, opposes party labels but told InkFreeNews.com that if candidates declared their party, Democrats would “challenge that race.” These local Democratic parties have provided school board candidates with donations, voter lists, campaign training, and assistance with ballot access and finance disclosures.
Terry Spradlin, executive director of the Indiana School Boards Association, described the Goshen race as an “exception and not the norm” for its head-to-head partisan contests. He noted that statewide, school board races have garnered fewer headlines this year compared to recent elections, and expressed being “encouraged” that campaigning had not been heightened, he told InkFreeNews.com.
Conversely, some proponents argue that party labels offer valuable information to voters, potentially increasing participation in school board races. Elizabeth Bennion, a political scientist at IU South Bend, explained that a party label provides “information to voters,” acting as a heuristic for decisions. Ryan Glick, 39, a Republican candidate and current school board member, testified at the Statehouse in favor of party labels. Glick stated that voters “don’t cease to be a political person” by being independent, and that his Republican affiliation provides insight into his governing approach, citing his work for fewer closed-door board meetings and preventing a renewed tax referendum.
However, some candidates worry about increased polarization. Cynthia Murphy, 64, a Democrat candidate and retired counselor from IU South Bend, believes school board members should maintain a bipartisan mindset. Murphy told InkFreeNews.com that the current “hyper-partisan era” does “a disservice to all of us,” hindering respectful discussion. Loanne Harms, 78, another Democrat candidate, finds the party affiliation helpful for her campaign.
The Goshen election offers insight into how local school board races might evolve, particularly if local parties prioritize these contests or if the state legislature further alters the law to create fully partisan elections with primaries and straight-ticket voting.