Wins on county council, Center Twp. reward enlivened party

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Since 2016, the Howard County Republican Party has happily broke out its brooms on election night, sweeping offices under its banner. At the same time, the Howard County Democrats suffered on life support, appearing near collapse at the close of the 2024 season.

Then, something changed. A small group of impassioned young activists hit the scene and created a movement. Operation Blue Horizon began demonstrating and speaking out against Republican policies, locally and nationally, and the people responded. By the time 2026 rolled around, not only were these new voices attracting support, they stepped up and placed themselves on the ballot and within campaign teams.

The results were evident on Nov. 3. Within the city of Kokomo, Democrats won precincts and districts that historically had been in their corner and even made gains in Republican areas across the county, closing the average Republican margin of victory by more than 26 percentage points.

On election night, the Democrats filled their temporary headquarters with enthusiastic supporters, who excitedly awaited the results. Though there was plenty of disappointment for them in many races, they prevailed in the 3rd District Howard County Council race and retook the Center Township Trustee’s office and board.

“It’s very hard to put your name on the ballot and go through this, I would say, grueling process,” said Democratic Party Chairperson Lisa Washington. “We are making progress as a party, and we need to remain unified as we look to municipal elections in just a few short months. We get to take a breather for just a couple months here, and then we will go right into municipal elections.”

Cathy Stover will be the lone Democratic representative on the Howard County Council in January, representing large portions of the central and eastern parts of the county. A current member of the Howard County Plan Commission, she has been a strident voice against the rise of data centers that has emerged over the past year.

“This victory isn’t just about a campaign,” said Stover. “It’s about a community standing up for what they want, deciding enough is enough. It’s about neighbors choosing problem solving over just saying, ‘Well, that’s politics.’ And it’s about the people in Howard County showing clearly and confidentially that they are ready to lead with a steady hand and with a lifting ear for the people.”

The Center Township Trustee’s office will remain in Democratic hands as Alisha Davenport retained the seat she was appointed to after the resignation of Drew Durham from the position during the summer. The 12-year veteran of the township office will lead with the assistance of a board that is also Democrat-controlled.

“When I walked through the doors in 2014 as a caseworker, I had no idea how much that place would change my life,” said Davenport. “What started as a job became a passion, and somewhere along the way, it became a part of who I am.

“When you work in township assistance, you see people during some of the hardest moments of their lives. You hear their struggles, and sometimes you carry their stories home with you. But you also see hope, you see resilience, and you see what a difference a little compassion and dignity can make.

“This has never been about a title or winning an election. It’s about people. It always has been, and it always will be. Whether you voted for me or not, I’m here to serve you. I promise to work hard, to listen, to lead with compassion, and to always remember who I work for.”

Davenport will be assisted by fellow Democrats Hannah Guillaume-Wenger and Essie Foster, both of whom won election for the first time and will serve on the township board. Guillaume-Wenger, a founder of the Operation Blue Horizon movement represents the renewed vigor within her party and a promise for change within the township.

“Thank you to everybody who believed in me, who voted for me, and who gave me a couple dollars,” said Guillaume-Wenger. “If you won tonight, congratulations! Congratulations to Alisha Davenport. I am so excited to work with you. Congratulations, Essie Foster. I am so excited to work with you.

“I am so thankful that you believed in me because the bar is so low out there, and at the bare minimum, I promise you that I’ll work harder than those who were the incumbents.”

The candidates for state office were not fortunate enough to join in the victories, but falling short won’t stop their efforts to bring change to Kokomo and Howard County. Jack Chance, who closed a 35-point gap in the District 30 statehouse race to just four points, rallied the crowd as he vowed to return to the campaign trail.

“I am extremely proud of this race that we’ve run and the campaign that we put together,” said Chance. “And I believe that every one of you in this room should be equally as proud, not just for the hard work that we put in, but for the victories won tonight.

“We took on the political establishment. We stood up for working families. We spoke truth to power without bending or kneeling, and we reminded people that you don’t have to be wealthy, powerful, or politically connected to stand up and demand a better Indiana.

“I won’t sugarcoat what lies ahead. The reality is that working families are still struggling. Families are still being priced out of their homes. Utility bills are going to continue to climb. Our public schools and our workers still need people willing to stand up and fight for them. And tonight’s results don’t change any of that.

“An election may determine who holds office, but it does not determine whose voices deserve to be heard. So, we must remain vigilant. We must hold our elected officials accountable, and we must never surrender our belief that government belongs to the people, not the powerful. Hope does not die on election night. Courage does not disappear when votes are counted, and a movement built on love for our neighbors does not end because we lost one election.”