Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics

04/30/2025

Dear friends of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics. Today is the university's Day of Giving. We would love your help in supporting the mission of the Downs Center, the first nonpartisan center in Indiana devoted to helping the people of Indiana understand the wide-ranging impact of politics in their daily lives.
You can make a donation here - we appreciate your support:

Thank you for making a difference in our community!

11/20/2024

The Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics teamed with the Indiana Capital Chronicle for two panels on the upcoming Indiana Legislative Session 2025 for Organization Day. Many thanks to Dan Spehler FOX59 for moderating two informative and engaging panels with Niki Kelly (Indiana Capital Chronicle), Brandon Smith (Indiana Public Broadcasting), Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson (Univ of Indianapolis), Robert Dion (Univ of Evansville), and Staphanie Wells (Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute), Natalie Robinson (National Federation of Independent Businesses), Keith Gambill (Indiana State Teachers Association), and Paul Pieper (Indiana Health Care Association).

04/23/2024

Dear friends of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics: Wednesday April 24 is Purdue University Fort Wayne's Big Give: Day of Giving.

You can contribute to the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics for the dozens of programs we do, including candidate forums, debates, television programs, radio programs, and community civic programs by scrolling down to panel and link for the center from the College of Liberal Arts link:

https://dayofgiving.pfw.edu/organizations/pfw-college-of-liberal-arts

Thanks!

04/18/2024

Standing room only for the mayoral tow hall hosted by the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics.

11/30/2023

Here is the video from the Organization Day Panel co-hosted by the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics and the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

11/21/2023

The Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics teamed with the Indiana Capital Chronicle to host a large group of citizens and media about the upcoming Indiana General Assembly 2024 legislative session at the Indiana Statehouse. The panel was moderated by Dan Spehler, Fox 59 anchor and host of the two largest Indiana-based news feature programs: IN Focus and Indiana Week in Review. Panelists included Niki Kelly, Editor-in-Chief of the Indiana Capital Chronicle, Brandon Smith, Statehouse Bureau Chief, Indiana Public Broadcasting, Dr. Greg Schufeldt, Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Indianapolis and research associate with the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, and Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson, Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Indianapolis and research associate with the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics.

The panel provided insight into what is likely to drive the agenda of the upcoming legislative session on Organization Day, which is the key date in November when legislators meet to set the agenda, organize the chambers, and plan for the relatively short length of this year's session.

08/25/2023

Dr. Mike Wolf was on 21 Alive news at 7 discussing the outcomes of the first GOP primary debate. Watch the video at this link. Coverage of the debate starts around the 8 minute mark of the video.

https://www.vuit.com/publishers/486/wpta-abc :22774538

05/05/2023

Dr. Mike Wolf was on Fort Wayne PBS Primetime to talk about the end of Indiana's 2023 legislative session. Check out the video here:

Guests: Niki Kelly, Brandon Smith, & Michael Wolf. This area’s only in-depth, live, weekly news, analysis and cultural update forum, PrimeTime airs Fridays…

04/26/2023

Dear friends of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics. April 26 is the PFW Day of Giving. If you have the time and interest to donate a bit to our programs, here's the link for the College of Liberal Arts, where you can please choose the Mike Downs Center Fund

https://dayofgiving.pfw.edu/organizations/pfw-college-of-liberal-arts

So far this academic year, the Center has added five research associates around the state, recorded two high-profile television, streaming, and radio programs about the 2022 year in Indiana Politics and the mid-session review of the legislative session 2023. We also hosted a Sheriff's debate with WANE TV, advised candidates interested in running for office, and participated in dozens of media interviews about Indiana politics. The Center will be involved in writing a cost-free textbook on Indiana Politics as well. We also provided students pocket Constitutions and asked them what they would like to see changed in our political system - and again asked them what issues they would like the state legislature to consider. We will be having a year-long oral history on Indiana and the Iraq War - twenty years after it started. We have updated our website and are working with the PFW Public History Program to present the Center's political memorabilia for an installation in 2024

I’m ready to support College of Liberal Arts on April 26, 2023 during Purdue Fort Wayne Day of Giving. Learn more about College of Liberal Arts and all the other units participating in Purdue Fort Wayne Day of Giving.

04/14/2023

Excellent and humorous column by Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics Research Associate, Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson on the failure of the Tenderloin sandwich becoming Indiana's state food.

As the end of the legislative session approaches, we witness the final weeks of opportunity for bills to be passed and signed into law.

04/14/2023

The Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics recently reviewed the current Indiana legislative session at its approximate midpoint with research associates Dr. Elizabeth Bennion (Indiana University South Bend), Dr. Gregory Shufeldt (University of Indianapolis), and Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson (University of Indianapolis).

12/24/2022

Here is the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics “Year End Review of Indiana Politics” with Research Associates Dr. Elizabeth Bennion, Dr. Matthew Hanka, and Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson.