Introducing Portraits & Perspectives
A limited series featuring eight Hoosier candidates each sitting down for short in-person interviews with three different PIN personalities.
At Progressive Indiana Network, we believe voters deserve more than a name on a ballot. They deserve to actually know the people asking for their support.
That’s the idea behind our new series: Portraits & Perspectives.
On February 21, PIN brought together a group of Democratic candidates for a unique event — professional headshots at a discounted rate, paired with short one-on-one interviews with three of our podcasters. Starting this Saturday, March 7, we’re releasing those interviews over eight consecutive days.
Here’s what makes this series different: every featured candidate sat down with not one, but three interviewers — Brianna Newhart of The Recovered Republican, Derrick Holder of Hold ‘em Accountable, and Scott Aaron Rogers of HoosLeft. Each brings their own perspective, their own line of questioning, and their own audience. All three interviews for each candidate drop on the same day, giving you a richer, fuller picture of who these candidates are and what drives them.
Saturday, March 7 🎙 Jackson Franklin — Congressional District 5
Portraits & Perspectives: Jackson Franklin + Hold 'em Accountable
This interview features Jackson Franklin as the first guest during the special “Portraits and Perspectives” event hosted by Progressive Indiana Network on February 21st in downtown Indianapolis. The evening was designed to spotlight emerging voices and create space for deeper political conversations, and Jackson opened the event with a candid discussion…
Portraits & Perspectives: Jackson Franklin + HoosLeft
During Progressive Indiana Network’s Portraits and Perspectives event, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jackson Franklin, candidate for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District. He’s running against six-year Republican incumbent Victoria Spartz, and from the start, he made clear his intention to replace what he sees as ineffectual leadership that has …
Sunday, March 8 🎙 Austin Meives — State House District 23
Portraits and Perspectives: Austin Meives + Hold 'em Accountable
During Progressive Indiana Network’s special Portraits and Perspectives event in downtown Indianapolis on February 21st, I sat down with Austin Meives, candidate for Indiana Statehouse District 23, which includes Miami and Cass counties. What followed was a candid, wide-ranging conversation about power, progress, and what leadership should look like in …
Portraits & Perspectives: Austin Meives + HoosLeft
During Progressive Indiana Network’s Portraits and Perspectives event, I sat down with Austin Meives, candidate for Indiana State House District 23, covering Miami and Cass counties. Our conversation revealed a candidate shaped by both unexpected inspiration and hard-earned resilience.
Monday, March 9 🎙 Tabitha Zeigler — Congressional District 8
Portraits & Perspectives: Tabitha Zeigler + Hold 'em Accountable
During the special Portraits and Perspectives event hosted by Progressive Indiana Network in downtown Indianapolis on February 21st, I had the opportunity to sit down with Tabitha Zeigler, candidate for Indiana’s 8th Congressional District. Covering a vast stretch of Southwest Indiana—from Fountain County down to the boot-toe —this district represents a…
Portraits & Perspectives: Tabitha Zeigler + HoosLeft
During Progressive Indiana Network’s Portraits and Perspectives event, I sat down with Tabitha Zeigler, candidate for Indiana’s 8th Congressional District. The 8th is one of Indiana’s largest and most diverse districts, stretching from Fountain County in the north all the way down to Vanderburgh County at the southern tip of the state, encompassing citi…
Tuesday, March 10 🎙 Michael Potter — State House District 47
Portraits & Perspectives: Michael Potter + Hold 'em Accountable
This conversation with Michael Potter took place during a special Portraits and Perspectives event hosted by Progressive Indiana Network in downtown Indianapolis on February 21st. The goal of the evening was simple: create space for candidates to speak thoughtfully about why they are running and what they bring to the table beyond campaign slogans.
Portraits & Perspectives: Michael Potter + HoosLeft
During Progressive Indiana Network’s Portraits and Perspectives event, I sat down with Michael Potter, candidate for Indiana State House District 47. The district covers the southern half of Johnson County (just south of Indianapolis) and half of Shelby County—and thanks to gerrymandering, it happens to look like a rubber ducky. Michael has fully embrac…
Wednesday, March 11 🎙 Ashley Hammac — State House District 16
Portraits & Perspectives: Ashley Hammac + Hold 'em Accountable
During the special Portraits and Perspectives event hosted by Progressive Indiana Network in downtown Indianapolis on February 21st, I had the opportunity to sit down with Ashley Hammack, candidate for Indiana House District 16. The evening was designed to bring voters face to face with candidates in a more personal, thoughtful setting, and this convers…
Portraits & Perspectives: Ashley Hammac + HoosLeft
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Thursday, March 12 🎙 Lilliana Young — State House District 61
Portraits & Perspectives: Lilliana Young + Hold 'em Accountable
During the Portraits and Perspectives event hosted by Progressive Indiana Network in downtown Indianapolis on February 21, I had the opportunity to sit down with Liliana Young, a candidate for Indiana House District 61, which covers Bloomington. The event brought together candidates, organizers, and community members for conversations about the future d…
Portraits & Perspectives: Lilliana Young + HoosLeft
During Progressive Indiana Network’s Portraits and Perspectives event, I sat down with Lilliana Young, candidate for Indiana State House District 61 in Bloomington. From the opening moments, Lilliana made her frustration clear: she’s exhausted with the status quo and believes Indiana is fundamentally broken.
Friday, March 13 🎙 Carl Stutsman — State House District 48
Portraits & Perspectives: Carl Stutsman + Hold 'em Accountable
During the Portraits and Perspectives event hosted by the Progressive Indiana Network in downtown Indianapolis on February 21st, I had the chance to sit down briefly with Carl Stutsman, a candidate for Indiana House District 48. The event brought together candidates, organizers, and community members for a day focused on dialogue, storytelling, and civi…
Portraits & Perspectives: Carl Stutsman + HoosLeft
During Progressive Indiana Network’s Portraits and Perspectives event, I sat down with Carl Stutsman, candidate for Indiana State House District 48 in North Elkhart County—basically the whole northern half of the county right up to the state line at the very top of Indiana. Carl made the two-and-a-half-hour drive down from Elkhart, though he’s always ha…
Saturday, March 14 🎙 Sarah Shydale — State House District 97
Portraits & Perspectives: Sarah Shydale + Hold 'em Accountable
During a special “Portraits and Perspectives” event hosted by Progressive Indiana Network on February 21st in downtown Indianapolis, I had the chance to sit down with Sarah Shydale to talk about her campaign, her work in social services, and what motivated her to step into the political arena.
Portraits & Perspectives: Sarah Shydale + HoosLeft
During Progressive Indiana Network’s Portraits and Perspectives event, I sat down with Sarah Shydale, candidate for Indiana State House District 97—an Indianapolis district containing Monument Circle west to about halfway to the airport and down south to Garfield Park on the near west and near south sides. As Sarah noted, we were actually sitting in her…
Whether your district is on this list or not, these are the Democrats working to flip seats and move Indiana forward. Get to know them.
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Progressive Indiana Network is an independent media collaborative supporting Indiana-focused progressive journalism, analysis, and commentary. PIN provides a shared platform for writers, podcasters, and creators committed to covering state and local politics with independence, solidarity, and accountability. The network exists to build durable progressive media rooted in local communities and attentive to the decisions that shape daily life across Indiana. Learn more at progressiveindiana.net.