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Healthcare
4.00
Economics
4.00
Candidate Name
Nick Marshall
District
State Senate District 45
Values
Grade
Values
Party
Democrat
Experience
Challenger
Grade
Democracy
4.00
Accessibility
4
Governance
4
Cost
Choice
4
4
Freedom
Voting
4
4
Community
4.00
A
Overall Grade
Education
3.67
Affordability
Equity
Opportunity
4
4
4
Environment
Public Safety
Inclusion
X
4
X
Stability
Funding
Belonging
4
4
3
Notable Information
Candidate Name
Candidate for:
State Senate District 45
Democrat
Challenger
Notable Information
MADVoters Survey Responses
Healthcare: The Big Beautiful Bill is projected to cut $31 billion from Indiana’s Medicaid funding, including almost $13 billion in hospital funding, over the next decade. What will you do if elected to ensure healthcare affordability and access given these changes? (Source: Indiana Hospital Association)
Healthcare is not a luxury, it is a necessity. If these projected Medicaid and hospital funding cuts move forward, Indiana families, seniors, children, rural communities, and working people will feel the impact through higher costs, longer wait times, hospital closures, and reduced access to care. As State Senator for District 45, I will fight to protect access to affordable healthcare by advocating for policies that strengthen Medicaid, support our local hospitals and healthcare workers, and ensure families are not forced to choose between paying their bills and seeing a doctor. I also believe we must focus on prevention and early care to reduce long-term healthcare costs. That means investing in mental health services, maternal healthcare, rural healthcare access, preventative screenings, women’s health care, and stronger public health partnerships in our communities. Hoosiers work hard every day, and they deserve leaders who will put people over politics and stand up for accessible, affordable healthcare for every family in Indiana.
Economics: AI and data centers are having a huge impact on jobs and communities across the nation, particularly in Indiana. What is Congress’s role in addressing this developing technology? What action will you take to hear and represent the concerns of Hoosiers on this topic?
Economics: Dozens of AI data centers are planning to come to Indiana, drawn by the state’s “business-friendly” reputation. How should Indiana manage these large industrial site proposals and their potential impact on communities? (Source: Citizens Action Coalition)
Indiana has an opportunity to grow its economy and attract new technology investments, but that growth must come with accountability, transparency, and real community involvement. In Clark County, we already have experience with a data center project where there was limited community input, but there were also positive steps taken, including the use of a closed-loop water system and prevailing wage jobs. Those kinds of protections and investments should be the standard, not the exception. As more AI data centers look to come to Indiana, we must ensure communities are not left carrying the burden through rising utility costs, excessive tax breaks, or strained infrastructure while corporations reap the benefits. I believe these projects should include strong community input, environmental safeguards, responsible water and energy use, and guarantees that local Hoosiers benefit from the jobs created through prevailing wages and local hiring opportunities. Economic development should work for the people who live here, not just for large corporations, and Hoosiers deserve to see real returns on any public investment made in these projects.
Education: Describe your stance on the Department of Education and its role in education administration, funding, and protections for students with disabilities.
Education: Since 2012, Indiana has spent over $5.5 billion in taxpayer dollars on charter schools and the private school voucher program. If elected, would you support or oppose the use of taxpayer dollars to funding private schools and charter schools? Why or why not? (Source: ICPE)
I would oppose the continued expansion of Indiana’s private school voucher program because I believe our public dollars should first and foremost support our public schools, which serve the overwhelming majority of Hoosier children. As an education advocate for a nonprofit organization, I work directly with families, students, educators, and public school systems every day to help people overcome educational barriers. I see firsthand the gaps our teachers, students, and parents are facing — from overcrowded classrooms and limited resources to shortages in student support services and teacher retention challenges. Diverting taxpayer dollars away from public schools only makes those struggles harder. I believe every child deserves access to a quality education, but that starts with fully investing in the public education system that communities across Indiana rely on. Rural, suburban, and urban schools are all feeling the impact of underfunding while voucher programs continue to grow. We should be reinvesting in our public schools by supporting teachers, expanding early childhood education, strengthening literacy and career readiness programs, and ensuring students have the tools they need to succeed both in the classroom and in life.
Democracy: In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge or threat facing our democracy right now? If elected, what will you do to help overcome this challenge or threat?
In my opinion, two of the biggest challenges facing our democracy today are poverty and access to the ballot box. As I travel across District 45 and speak with working families, I hear the same thing over and over again: people were told that if they worked hard and did the right thing, they would be able to build a stable life. But today, many Hoosiers feel like “good enough” is no longer enough. Families are struggling to keep up with rising costs, working multiple jobs, worrying about childcare, housing, groceries, and healthcare. When someone is focused on surviving day to day, voting can, unfortunately, become one more burden on an already overwhelming list of challenges. f elected, I will work to strengthen both economic opportunity and voter access because the health of our democracy depends on people being able to fully participate in it. That means supporting expanded voting hours, protecting and increasing ways for people to vote, and making the process more accessible for working families, seniors, and people with demanding schedules. At the same time, we must address the root causes of economic hardship by investing in good-paying jobs, public education, workforce
Community: Describe your stance on ICE and its role in immigration enforcement and detention.
Community: What role or responsibility do local and state governments have with regards to immigration enforcement?
I believe immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility, but local and state governments still have a role in ensuring public safety, protecting constitutional rights, and supporting the well-being of communities. Here in Clark County, we are already connected to this issue through the presence of an ICE detention facility, which means local leaders cannot ignore the impact immigration policies have on families, public resources, and community trust. Any cooperation between local, state, and federal agencies should be transparent, lawful, and focused on keeping communities safe while respecting human dignity.
At the same time, I believe we must approach immigration with both compassion and common sense. Many immigrants come to this country seeking safety, opportunity, and a better future for their families, and they are often contributing members of our communities and workforce. State and local governments should focus on ensuring people have access to education, public safety, and fair treatment under the law while also advocating for comprehensive federal immigration reform that secures the border, fixes the broken system, and creates a fair and workable pathway forward.