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Folks, it’s a tough day to be a dyed-in-the-wool conservative in the Hoosier State. The Indiana Republican Party just wrapped up some key county leadership fights, and let me tell you, the results are a gut punch to the hardline conservative wing that’s been trying to steer the ship. From Evansville to Indianapolis, the so-called "moderates" — or what some of us might call RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) — came out swinging and walked away with the prizes. Here’s the rundown on how it all went down.
Down in Vanderburgh County, the GOP faithful packed into Faithway Baptist Church on Saturday morning to pick their new party chairman. The winner? Kyle Moers, a 36-year-old fresh face who just happens to be married to County Prosecutor Diane Moers. Now, I’m not saying it’s all nepotism, but you can’t help but raise an eyebrow when the prosecutor’s husband pulls 112 out of 212 votes on the first ballot. That’s a majority, no runoff needed. His opponents? Frank Peterlin, a solid conservative with 64 votes, and Steve Ary, another right-leaning contender, who limped in with 36. Moers didn’t just win—he steamrolled the field. Word on the street is he pitched unity and “big tent” ideas, which apparently resonated more than the red-meat conservatism Peterlin and Ary were serving up. For the Evansville crowd, it looks like pragmatism trumped principle this time.
Then we head up I-69 to Marion County—Indianapolis, my home turf—where the story’s much the same. John Schmitz, a guy who’s been waving the conservative banner high, got smoked in the race for Marion County GOP chairman. His opponent, Natalie Goodwin, racked up 282 votes to Schmitz’s measly 142. That’s right, out of 424 precinct committee members who bothered to show up, nearly two-thirds went for Goodwin. Schmitz was all about doubling down on traditional values and pushing back against the left’s culture war nonsense—stuff that fires up the base. But Goodwin? She played the “let’s work together and win elections” card, and it paid off big time. Apparently, the Marion County GOP wants a softer touch, not a fighter.
So what’s the takeaway here, Hoosiers? The conservative wing of our party—the folks who want to keep the GOP rooted in limited government, family values, and a no-compromise attitude—got handed a big fat “L.” In both Vanderburgh and Marion Counties, the rank-and-file picked leaders who lean toward the squishy middle, the kind who’d rather schmooze with independents than rally the true believers. It’s a kick in the teeth to those of us who think the party’s strength comes from sticking to our guns, not watering down the message to appease the fence-sitters.
Now, I’m not saying Moers and Goodwin are full-on liberals in disguise—let’s not get crazy. They’re still Republicans, and I’m sure they’ll toe the line on most issues that matter. But this shift signals something bigger: a growing appetite for “electability” over ideology. And as someone who runs the Hoosier Enquirer, digging into state and local news, I can’t help but wonder if this is the future of our party here in Indiana. Are we trading our soul for a few more votes? Time will tell.
For now, the conservative wing’s licking its wounds. We lost huge in these county fights, and the moderates are popping the champagne. But don’t count us out yet—2026 and beyond are still up for grabs, and I reckon the real conservatives will be back, ready to remind everyone what the GOP’s supposed to stand for. Until then, keep your powder dry, patriots. We’ve got work to do.