Tuesday night’s Hamilton County Republican Party Fall Dinner featured former race car driver Danica Patrick in a “fireside” chat with Party Chari Mario Massillamany.
Tulsi Gabbard had originally been scheduled as the keynote speaker. When Gabbard was asked to help with vice-presidential debate preparation, she asked Patrick to attend in her stead. While Patrick may seem like an unlikely replacement for Gabbard, those in attendance responded quite well to Patrick’s conservative message and stage presence.
Patrick said she started to get involved in politics in December and this will be the first election she has ever voted in.
“I don’t know if I’m proud to say I’ve never voted, but it’s true,” Patrick said. “If there’s one thing about me that I hope that people have felt from me, whether you’re just listening to me now, or you’ve followed me throughout my career at any point, it’s at least that I just say what’s on my mind and I’m authentic and true.”
Patrick said there are two things as an athlete she was told not to talk about: politics and religion. Now she said she feels like voter participation matters more.
“I never thought my vote really counted – if that one really made a difference,” Patrick said. “Now that we can see what’s going on over the years with voter fraud, which is such a concern for so many people, we see how few votes it comes down to. Think about what would happen if I voted, and then some of my friends voted, and the friends of my friends, and then you really turn the tides. I feel like it’s time to be counted.”
In addition to Patrick’s talk, Fall Dinner guests were treated to a 50/50 raffle supporting the Young Republicans, and seeing Diane Eaton of Fishers One surprised by Massillamany with the 2024 Edmund Burke Award.
Reporter photos
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