Ahead of the upcoming election, Capital B Gary is giving readers the chance to learn more about the candidates appearing on their ballots. These candidates represent the interests of Gary and other Lake County residents and bring their unique perspectives and goals for the community. This year, Gary Common Council member Mark Spencer faces Republican […]
Calvin Davis
Calvin Davis is Capital B Gary's government and politics reporter. You can reach Calvin at calvin.davis@capitalbnews.org.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics & Policy
How the Freedom to Vote Act Could Add 50,000 Black Voters in Indiana
Raymond Powell, a Gary native now living in Indianapolis, wasn’t sure of his voting status after his release from prison. So when he visited the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to update his address, he was taken aback by a simple question from the clerk: “Are you a registered voter?” “They asked if I was a […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, State Government
Q+A with Vernon Smith and Ivan Ursery II: Candidates for Indiana State Rep. District 14
Ahead of the upcoming election, Capital B Gary is giving readers the chance to learn more about the candidates appearing on their ballots. These candidates represent the interests of Gary and other Lake County residents and bring their unique perspectives and goals for the community. This year, incumbent Democratic state Rep. Vernon Smith faces Republican […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, State Government
Q+A with Ragen Hatcher and Leslie Dallner: Candidates for Indiana State Rep. District 3
Ahead of the upcoming election, Capital B Gary is giving readers the chance to hear directly from candidates appearing on their ballots. These candidates represent the interests of Gary and other Lake County residents and bring their unique perspectives and goals for the community. This year, incumbent Democratic state Rep. Ragen Hatcher faces Republican challenger […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Black Republicans From Gary Take Rare Shot at State Seats
For the first time in over a decade, two Republicans are challenging Democrats for statehouse seats in a city that has long rejected their party. Their campaigns highlight the challenge of reshaping political narratives in one of Indiana’s bluest cities. While history shows a win for either candidate is unlikely, their campaigns themselves are noteworthy. […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy, State Government
2024 General Election: Your Complete Voting Guide for Gary and Lake County
What’s on the ballot? What’s at stake? At the top of the ticket, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are vying for the presidency in a race that could have an enormous impact on the future of reproductive rights, the U.S. Supreme Court, and democracy itself. In the governor’s race between Mike […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Local Government
Former Gary Mayor Jerome Prince Agrees to Release Conditions in Wire Fraud Case
The conditions of former Gary Mayor Jerome Prince’s release were set this week after he pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges for misusing campaign funds. Prince will be required to turn over his passport and will be restricted to travel within the continental United States. He posted an unsecured bond of $20,000 and will […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy, State Government
Jennifer McCormick Speaks on Taxes, Housing, and Gary’s Future
Indiana, now largely seen as a solidly red state, hasn’t always worn that designation. In 2008, the state turned blue for Barack Obama, just three years after a run that saw three democrats hold the state’s top office for nearly two decades from 1989-2005. Jennifer McCormick hopes she can break the more recent streak of […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy, State Government
How Indiana’s Governor’s Race Could Determine the Future of Gary’s Budget
After days of hourslong budget hearings at City Hall, Gary Common Council Vice President Lori Latham had seen and heard enough. Throughout the week, department head after department head took to the podium in the council chambers, some with requests for additional funding, until she emphatically addressed the elephant in the room — the city’s […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Valerie McCray’s Historic Bid for U.S. Senate: Will a Black Woman Represent Indiana?
In U.S. politics, the path to power does not start at the top. Candidates typically start with modest pursuits like city councils and school boards before aspiring to higher offices. For Valerie McCray, the Democratic candidate seeking to be Indiana’s first-ever black woman U.S. senator, that journey began with a campaign for the highest office […]