April 16, 2024 update:
Chunia Graves has filed to run in the Senate District 34 caucus, an Indiana Democratic Party spokesperson told Mirror Indy.
Graves did not respond to a Mirror Indy request for comment.
Original article:
City-County Councilor La Keisha Jackson has filed initial paperwork to fill an opening in the Indiana Senate following the death of longtime Sen. Jean Breaux.
Jackson, a Democrat who represents portions of the far east side, filed an economic interest statement Wednesday, April 10, with the Indiana General Assembly, a required step before officially declaring candidacy for the legislature.
Jackson did not respond to Mirror Indy’s request for comment.
Senate District 34, which includes the far east side of Indianapolis, has been without elected representation since the death of Breaux, a Democrat who represented the seat since 2006. Breaux died in March from an infection.
Breaux’s replacement will be decided by a caucus of Democratic party insiders on Thursday, April 18. Under Indiana state election law, political parties can call a caucus of precinct committee persons to fill a vacancy following the death of an elected official.
It’s unclear if Jackson would face any competition. Sam Barloga, spokesperson for the Indiana Democratic Party, said the party plans to release the list of caucus candidates after a Monday filing deadline.
Chunia Graves, who was kicked off the primary ballot after being unable to prove she voted in two Democratic primaries, can still run for caucus under Indiana election laws. Graves did not respond to a request for comment.
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 legislation to create an Office of Equity, Belonging and Inclusion.
A councilor since 2014, Jackson won reelection in 2023 to a third term after running unopposed. She currently serves as the chair of the council’s Municipal Corporations Committee.
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.
A Georgia native, Jackson moved to Indianapolis in 1984 and has lived in Warren Township since 2002.
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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