Submitted
In the largest group filing in recent history, nearly 30 members of the Indiana Rural Summit coalition formally filed to be candidates for the Indiana House and Senate on Wednesday, Jan. 7.
The mass filing symbolized a united commitment to represent rural and small-town Hoosiers who are often overlooked at the Statehouse.
The Indiana Rural Summit is a statewide initiative designed to amplify the voices of rural and small-town Indiana residents and create real pathways for collaboration. In 2024, the Committee for Rural Engagement launched the Indiana Rural Summit. It began as a tour organizing 12 House candidates across 30 counties in south-central Indiana and quickly grew into a movement in all areas of the state.
Coalition members who filed to run as Democrats in Hamilton County districts include:
- Coumba Kebe, House District 29
- Devon Wellington, House District 29
- Stephanie Jo Yocum, House District 88
The coalition candidates will share resources, including training, technology, joint events, and information in a bid to help more vision-aligned candidates in favor of high-quality public education, affordable and accessible healthcare, and living wages win seats in the Indiana General Assembly. The coalition will work to amplify local voices, reduce duplication of effort, and strengthen down-ballot races and voter turnout in communities often overlooked by traditional political infrastructure.
Indiana Rural Summit Founder Michelle Higgs says the group is strengthening coordinated, people-powered infrastructure for rural and small-town communities across Indiana.
“This unprecedented mass filing is a visible symbol of our solidarity,” Higgs said. “E Pluribus Unum – out of many, one – is more than a motto for the Indiana Rural Summit coalition. Together we will build power and give rural and small-town Hoosiers a voice, a choice, and a vote in 2026.”
The Indiana Rural Summit was founded in 2024 and is a statewide initiative designed to elevate rural voices and create real pathways for collaboration. You can learn more at indianaruralsummit.org.