Cheered on by the crowd last weekend, Myla Eldridge pumped her fists in celebration when her name was called.
As she approached the podium, one of her two opponents for Marion County Democratic Party chair, Dana Black, stood up from a front row seat to embrace her. They were no longer competitors.
Eldridge extended an olive branch to return the gesture.
“I want to continue to build this party and build people and lift people up,” Eldridge told a crowd of more than 400 Democrats gathered inside a conference center March 1 at an eastside Marriott Hotel. “I want every Democrat to know that I welcome you to join the Democratic movement.”
The room was filled with broad factions of Democrats, a party that is still figuring out its identity after President Donald Trump’s return to power.
They included state senators, high-level city officials, partners at law firms, party volunteers and grassroots organizers. Some wore suits and down jackets while others wore rainbow pins and T-shirts that said “Not My President.”
As Eldridge begins her second term, she’ll be leading a county party that has struggled with both fundraising and getting out the vote.
Her victory, though, comes just days after the organization received its largest donation in its history: $180,000 from the Southside Democrat Club of Indianapolis. Even that donation came at a cost. The club closed last year and sold its longtime headquarters on Shelby Street in Fountain Square and gave the proceeds from the building sale to the county party.
Eldridge, who is also the Marion County auditor and vice chair of the state Democratic party, won a majority of the 405 votes from precinct committee people who voted for chair in the March 1 convention.
She fended off challenges from Black, who is a media columnist and former congressional candidate, and Annette Johnson, who is the trustee for Pike Township.
“We offered something a little different, giving the party some ideas to think about differently, but they went with what they were comfortable with,” Black told Mirror Indy after the vote.
Johnson said the fact that Eldridge had two opponents shows the party needs to do better.
“That does tell you that people wanted something different,” Johnson said.
Eldridge won on the first ballot, receiving 58% of the vote, according to a county party spokesperson.
Wes Brown, president of the Marion County Young Democrats, was elected vice chair; Keith Potts, a former northside city-county councilor and U.S. Senate candidate, was elected secretary; Center Township Trustee LaDonna Freeman was elected treasurer.
Low fundraising, low turnout
Eldridge, who was first elected chair in 2022, retains control of a county party that has seen its fundraising levels decline for more than a decade.
The party raised $119,000 in 2023, its lowest level since 1997, and $169,000 in 2024, according to campaign finance reports.
Voter turnout in Marion County was 55% in 2024, lower than the statewide rate of 61%.
When asked how she would increase voter engagement, Eldridge said the party needs more creative strategies that bring together all factions of Democrats.
“We need to be creative, innovative and come up with a better strategy by including everyone that wants to be at the table,” Eldridge told Mirror Indy.
Marion County Democrats gather to elect party leaders March 1, 2025 at Marriott East in Indianapolis. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy 
Marion County Democrats gather to elect party leaders March 1, 2025. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy 
With appointed watchers looking on, the ballot box is emptied onto a table for ballots to be counted by hand. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy 
Volunteers Alexander Cotton (left) and Daniela Contreras tally the votes. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy 
Marion County Democrats gather to elect party leaders. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy 
Marion County Democrats gather to elect party leaders. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy 
The audience recites the pledge of allegiance during a Marion County Democrats reorganization event. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy
State Rep. Ed Delaney, a northside Democrat and a longtime fixture in Indiana politics, said the party needs to do better in Marion County to win a statewide election.
“The responsibility of grassroots politics has been elevated since the last election,” Delaney said. “We can’t underperform in this county and expect anything to happen at the state level.”
Two prominent local Democrats were absent from the event. Congressman André Carson was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict, according to a spokesperson.
Mayor Joe Hogsett did not attend because he is not a voting precinct committee member, said Dan Parker, the mayor’s chief of staff.
When asked by a Mirror Indy reporter if the mayor had a preferred candidate for party chair, Parker replied: “You know, I’m not going to tell you that.”
Eldridge’s term as county chair lasts four years through 2029.
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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