Secretary of state’s race as referendum on Indiana’s new abortion ban? Destiny Wells leans in

Plus, first LSC strategic plan ‘listening post’ tonight. Vote set on Fairfield trustee ouster. Makeup date for Blues and Jazz downtown. And Drew Brees heading to WL for opening of his new restaurant

Thanks this morning goes to Food Finders Food Bank, sponsor of today’s Based in Lafayette edition, spreading the word about the 10th Annual Beers Across the Wabash, scheduled for 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. The Friends of Downtown presents the event featuring Indiana’s finest small breweries on the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge, between downtown Lafayette and West Lafayette. The afternoon includes the DysFUNKtion Brass Band and food from Emergency Munchie Truck, Guac Box, Eddie Joe's Icehouse and Puritan Coney Island Express. Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 the day of the event (subject to availability). Proceeds will go to Food Finders Food Bank and its efforts to fend off food insecurity for families in and around the Greater Lafayette region. For tickets and more information, click on the links below.

GET TICKETS AND MORE INFO HERE

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SECRETARY OF STATE’S RACE AS ABORTION BAN REFERENDUM? DESTINY WELLS LEANS IN

Deep in a piece the day after both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly approved Senate Bill 1’s near-total ban on abortion, and Gov. Eric Holcomb signed it into law, Indianapolis Star columnist James Briggs pivoted to where that left voters heading toward the November elections.

Destiny Wells (Photo: Dave Bangert)

Briggs picked up on Destiny Wells’ frustration over Indiana’s new abortion restrictions,  the Democratic candidate for secretary of state calling it “yet another reflection on gerrymandering’s intended consequence – eroding the duty of elected officials to listen to voters.” Wells’ upshot: She’d “restore accountability to our election system” as secretary of state.

Destiny Wells @TheDestinyWells

“The passage of extreme legislation like Senate Enrolled Act 1 is yet another reflection on gerrymandering’s intended consequence—eroding the duty of elected officials to listen to voters. As Secretary of State, I will restore accountability to our election system.” #INLegis

Briggs – already resigned earlier in his “four takeaways” column to the fact that Democrats had little hope or chance to take back the Indiana House or Senate (or even chiseling away much, if at all, the Republican supermajority in both chambers) – asked what Democrats, “or even a Republican who supports abortion rights,” could do from here.

He piggybacked off Wells’ posts, putting the SB1 fallout squarely onto her campaign against Diego Morales, who won the Republican nomination over a field that included current Secretary of State Holli Sullivan. Briggs wrote:

“This is a reach, yet a smart one. The secretary of state has virtually nothing to do with abortion. But, on the other hand, Wells is a good candidate facing an unusually weak Republican candidate, Diego Morales, who is reportedly polling poorly and campaigning with a Toyota RAV4 worth of baggage.

“At a time when Democrats have few outlets for their pent-up energy, they could turn the secretary of state race into the referendum on abortion that Republican lawmakers refused to permit. The connection is forced, sure, but it might be the best opportunity voters have to show Republicans what they think about the new abortion law.”

So, how’s the expectation working, making the secretary of state’s race some sort of referendum on Indiana’s abortion ban?