Kristina Moorhead

Candidate Q&A

In your view, what was the most important issue to come out of this year’s legislative session, and how would you have approached legislating the issue?

The most important issue of the 2026 legislative session was the defeat of House Bill 1032—a proposal to redraw Indiana’s congressional maps to further entrench Republican advantage.

Even in the face of strong, bipartisan opposition from voters, Governor Braun and House Republicans pushed forward with legislation widely seen as serving national political interests rather than Hoosier voters.

House Bill 1032 is part of a troubling pattern. Time and again, Republicans have advanced policies that conflict with the views of the people they were elected to serve. From the 2022 abortion ban—passed despite widespread public opposition—to the ongoing refusal to legalize medical or recreational marijuana, even as most Hoosiers support it, the disconnect is undeniable.

If our government is not representing the people, then the people must have a direct path to act. Indiana should empower its citizens by allowing voter-initiated ballot measures through a constitutional amendment. This reform would provide a critical check on government overreach and ensure that when elected officials fail to listen, voters still have a voice.

Companies proposing data centers in Indianapolis had touted jobs and local tax revenue as benefits. Residents, many of whom have fiercely opposed the proposals, are concerned about pollution, energy bills and property values. What is your stance on the future of data centers in Indianapolis?

The rapid push to build data centers in Indianapolis and across Indiana has exposed a serious lack of foresight from the General Assembly. Instead of proactively planning for an industry that will shape our economic and environmental future, lawmakers failed to create space—either during the legislative session or through a summer study committee—for meaningful, statewide conversation. That was a missed opportunity to develop a clear, strategic framework addressing where data centers belong, what types are appropriate, how to safeguard our natural resources, and consumer protections from rising energy and water demands.

Without that guidance, development is happening in a piecemeal, reactive way—leaving local communities to deal with the consequences.

Indiana can and must do better. A temporary moratorium on new data center construction would give the state the time it needs to get this right. By pausing now, we can bring together industry leaders, local officials, environmental experts, and most importantly, residents to craft a thoughtful, transparent plan that ensures data center growth is intentional, sustainable, and aligned with the long-term interests of Hoosiers.

Indianapolis residents are facing steep increases to the cost of living at the same time federal benefits are being pulled back. What is one policy you would pursue to ease the financial burden of your constituents?

We should eliminate the waiting list for childcare vouchers and dramatically expand access to the On My Way Pre-K program—because childcare and early education isn’t just a service, it’s
a cornerstone of a thriving economy. When families can afford reliable care, parents return to work, businesses gain dependable employees, and our workforce grows stronger. At the same time, we can create good-paying jobs in early education and make Indiana more attractive to employers looking to invest and expand.

This isn’t just smart policy—it’s smart economics. Investing in childcare and early education pays for itself over time. As families achieve greater financial stability, reliance on public assistance programs like SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid decreases. We can further strengthen this investment by prioritizing those who need it most—capping school choice vouchers for higher-income households and redirecting those dollars to expand childcare and preschool access for lower-income Hoosier families.

If we’re serious about building a stronger economy and a more competitive state, this is where we start. Investing in early childhood means investing in working families, a resilient workforce, and a more prosperous future for all of Indiana.

More than 1 in 10 Marion County residents were born outside the country. President Donald Trump’s administration is pursuing a immigration agenda that has led to mass detentions and at times resulted in the deaths of citizens and noncitizens. What is your role in maintaining the safety and due process rights of immigrants and other residents in Marion County?

Elected officials have a duty that extends beyond their elected office. Leadership isn’t confined to casting votes—it requires standing up when people’s safety, rights, and due process are at risk. When federal, state, or local actions threaten legal immigrants or U.S. citizens, silence is complicity. In those moments, we all share a responsibility to speak out and take action.

That action starts in our communities. By building strong partnerships among neighborhood groups, local law enforcement, clergy, and public officials, we can create trusted networks that foster communication, coordination, and protection for those who feel vulnerable. Real leadership means showing up, working together, and ensuring no one is left to face injustice alone.

At the state level, that same commitment must translate into policy. We should work to repeal Senate Enrolled Act 76, which mandates blind compliance with federal immigration enforcement agencies like ICE, and House Enrolled Act 1343, which grants the Governor authority to deploy the Indiana National Guard as a military police force. These laws risk eroding civil liberties and undermining trust between communities and government.

How should public tax dollars be spent on education? Do you support property tax funding for charter schools? Should Indiana fund students’ tuition to attend private schools?

Indiana is investing less in its students today than it did more than a decade ago—about $100 less per child when adjusted for inflation—ranking 37th in the nation for per-student funding.

That’s not just a number; it’s a clear warning that we are falling behind. As limited dollars are spread thinner across traditional public schools, charter schools, and voucher programs, we are diluting the very resources students need to master reading, writing, and math—and putting an entire generation at risk.

Instead of arguing over how to divide a shrinking pie, we should be asking why we’re allowing it to shrink in the first place.

If we want better outcomes, we have to make a stronger commitment. That means investing in competitive teacher salaries to recruit and retain top talent, reducing class sizes so every student gets the attention they deserve, and providing targeted support for those who are struggling most.

We can’t expect excellence from our students if we’re unwilling to invest in their success. A stronger future for Indiana starts with a stronger commitment to our classrooms today.