Patrick McAuley

How do you plan to reach out to constituents about what their needs are?

We have been building a coalition of grassroots leaders in the 7th District for about one and a half years now. Community leaders, pastors, neighborhood organizers, small business owners, and others who have experience in housing, public safety, homelessness, and other issues affecting everyday voters in the 7th District. The key to our success in learning the issues of constituents has been a consistent, hands-on relationship-building. Through daily conversations, lunch gatherings, one-on-one meetings, and large gatherings, we have gained a deep, well-rounded understanding of voters’ needs in the 7th District. We plan to use these relationships to develop policy ideas, and we have already begun. As a North Central High School graduate, my understanding of diversity and living in an urban district has helped me grow and strengthen these relationships.

What makes you qualified or uniquely fit for this position?

I’d say the first thing that makes me qualified is that I have been involved in grassroots politics for over ten years now. In 2018 and 2019, I had the opportunity to intern in the United States Senate under the leadership of one of our current U.S. senators. It was through this experience that I gained a very solid understanding for how policy decisions affect families back home here in the 7th District. Since finishing grad school in 2022, I have been involved in grassroots organizing and coalition-building with the Republican Party and other members of our community. We have tons of young people right now interested in continuing to make the Republican Party a hands-on voice here in the 7th District and around the state. And we are all connected and live and work in the same networks daily. We have a strong understanding of the issues facing Indiana right now.

What do you believe are the top three most pressing issues in your district and how will you address them?

The highest priority right now is public safety and improved community police relationships. We have looked into programs that would expand opportunities and access for police officers to live and work in the precincts and communities that they work in. This would then create stronger and healthier relationships with neighbors, young people, and leaders in the community. We envision communities where police officers are becoming more active members of the neighborhood, and one where people view them as neighbors whose sole duty is to protect. This is a huge voter concern right now.

Housing — We need more. And we need more pathways to ownership for renters. We plan to advocate and lobby for more resources at the federal level and for policies that expand access to homeownership and to more homes for people living in the 7th District. We have looked into programs with Housing and Urban Development and some policy ideas that could create pathways for renters to eventually own homes.

Job Growth: Through our exploratory efforts, we learned that job opportunities for young people are one of the top issues and needs of our communities right now. Through a survey we put out, we learned that over 70% of our respondents feel that their children need better access to jobs and careers as they get older. Through our coalition building, we have learned that this does not always mean a college degree. Many parents see success and long-term stability in trades. Our team feels that continuing to advocate for trade opportunities is very important for the long-term success of the 7th District and its voters. We plan to advocate locally for more relationships with business owners for trade opportunities while advocating for more resources at the federal level going towards apprenticeship programs that lead to great careers. And more incentives for business owners to hire apprentices and help them work towards well-rounded and successful careers.

Homelessness: We plan to advocate at the federal level for more resources that go towards transitional opportunities for people struggling to find jobs. We have to address the mental health crisis right now as it relates directly to this issue. We have done a lot of research in the 7th District, and one thing we have noticed is that there is a very large percentage of vacant buildings that could be repurposed to support this issue. Partnering with local groups such as Wheeler Mission and Shepard Community Center while advocating for more resources at the federal level to tie directly into these priorities. We need more hands-on leadership in the district on these issues, and we plan to use our relationships on the ground to do it.

Affordability: The beauty of our policy ideas is that they all tie into affordability. More jobs, more pathways to home ownership, more opportunity, more people feeling safe in their community, leads directly to increased spending. We have to focus on getting people in better situations in our communities and the affordability will come with it.

What is your stance on how the federal government is handling immigration enforcement?

The #1 role of a U.S. Representative is to represent the livelihood and well-being of their constituents. That means protecting and advocating for the people living and working in the district. At the same time, we need to have healthier and more ethical ways of helping immigrants find bright futures in the U.S. We are a country full of diverse people who come from many backgrounds and cultures and I think it is important we maintain that. Many voters we have spoken with through this campaign have called for peace, and I think it is important that we work towards that in every situation where there is violence.

Many residents are concerned about the cost of food, housing and health care. How would you work to address these concerns?

We have to expand opportunities in our district for people who feel that they have no voice or feel they have no representation. If people have more access to jobs, better housing, and feel safer in our communities across the district these other things will fall into place. Healthcare in Indiana is expanding and we plan to fight in Washington to create more neighborhood care models and resources for constituents. We need crisis centers for mental health and need to work to get people off the streets. I think the best way to fight food prices is to fight for higher wages. Our plan for expanding trades and better job access directly plays a role in this. People will have the skills they need to earn higher wages and pay for the cost of living. I think it is important that we offer tax incentives for both workers and employers to increase spending.

If you win, how can Marion County constituents expect their lives to improve?

I think that our relationships at the grassroots level will immediately play a huge role in taking more consistent and pressing voters’ concerns to Washington D.C. Our focus on local issues is a huge factor and the ability to advocate for these issues at the federal level is what sets us apart. We have a team of 20 people who have experience in every issue that we have spoken about here today. That is a big deal. And they are ready to go to work. People will feel safer in their communities, they will have more access to housing and pathways to ownership, and there will be more jobs for the next generation. They will feel that there is hands-on and focused leadership in the 7th District.

Right now, the 7th District seat is held by a Democrat. No negativity just the truth. Our General Assembly in the Statehouse is heavily Republican with a Republican governor, and we have a Republican leader in the White House. Our team is ready to leverage the relationships we have built over the course of 15 years to work with the Indiana Statehouse, the governor, and the White House to bring financial resources to the 7th District to improve the livelihood of its communities, small businesses, young people, and neighborhoods. It is time for the Republican Party to take the 7th District into the next thirty years of growth and prosperity. The time is now.