A group of Democratic party insiders selected La Keisha Jackson to represent Senate District 34 in a private caucus Thursday, April 18.
Jackson, a city-county councilor representing the far east side since 2014, earned 30 votes from 45 Democratic precinct committee members in attendance. Chunia Graves, a mental health therapist and vice president of the Marion County Young Democrats, received 15 votes.
Senate District 34 includes the far east side and has been vacant since the death of Sen. Jean Breaux, a Democrat who represented the district since 2006. She was preceded in office by her mother, Billie Breaux, who represented the district from 1990 to 2006.
Jackson became emotional as she spoke about the late senator, whom she considered a mentor.
“Sen. Jean Breaux’s legacy will live on,” Jackson said. “I cannot walk in her shoes because those are big shoes to follow, but what I do promise you is I will advocate, work hard and listen and fight the good fight.”
[Remembering Sen. Jean Breaux at the Statehouse.]
No Republicans have filed to run in the heavily Democratic-leaning district. If Jackson wins the currently uncontested November election, she said she plans to focus on issues around transportation, housing and food access as a state legislator.
As a city-county councilor, Jackson has supported gun control measures, access to food and transportation services for low-income residents and the addition of no-turn-on-red signs downtown. In 2023, she co-sponsored an ordinance to create an Office of Equity, Belonging and Inclusion.
In addition to being a councilor, a part-time position that offers a salary of $31,075, Jackson is CEO of Pathway Resource Center, an Indy nonprofit focused on providing affordable housing, transportation services and other resources for disadvantaged and underserved residents. Jackson said she would continue in that role while serving at the Statehouse.
After Jackson is sworn in next week, the Marion County Democratic Party will hold a caucus to fill Jackson’s District 15 seat on the council.
Jackson said she is working with party officials to find qualified candidates for the position.
Because Breaux was running for reelection at the time of her death, and the May 7 primary ballots were already printed with her name on them, the party will hold a second caucus after the primary to get Jackson’s name on the general election ballot in November.
Peter Blanchard covers local government. Reach him at 317-605-4836 or peter.blanchard@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @peterlblanchard.
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