INDIANAPOLIS — A state senator’s bid for Congress leaves a northwest Indianapolis senate district open for new leadership. State Sen. J.D. Ford, a Democrat, leaves his seat to challenge U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz. His departure opens a race for Senate District 29, a seat Ford previously wo n from Republican control. The district includes Carmel, Zionsville, and the west side of Marion County down to U.S. 36. Voters will choose between two candidates with state government experience: Republican John Ruckelshaus, who served in the Indiana Senate from 2016 to 2020, and Democrat Kristina Moorhead, a former deputy state Medicaid director. Affordability and child care Both candidates are focusing on the cost of living in Indiana. Ruckelshaus and Moorhead want to repeal the 7% sales tax on utilities and change how the state calculates property taxes. Ruckelshaus suggests lawmakers rethink how the state determines property values. Moorhead wants to go further by tying property taxes to inflation rather than home values. Gov. Mike Braun identified child care as a top priority for the 2027 budget session. Moorhead wants to expand who can get help paying for child care through vouchers. “By providing access to vouchers, we provide an opportunity for employment, we provide employers the opportunity to hire workers, and we also provide our children a really great opportunity to start early learning,” she said. Ruckelshaus favors tax breaks for parents and wants to find ways to help businesses run their own child care centers. “I’m a former employer, a co-owner of several small businesses, so I get it, it’s part of workforce,” he said. “It’s part of everyday life for Hoosiers today. And it’s one of the biggest challenges and expenses for young families.” Medicaid Moorhead expressed concern over the loss of programs that pay family caregivers through Medicaid. She wants to bring back funding that lawmakers cut in 2025. Moorhead also called new work requirements “excessive.” She said while she understands the goal of having able-bodied adults work, many can only hold a job if the state first addresses their long-term health issues. She added that most people on Medicaid who can work are already doing so. Ruckelshaus said the state needs to work with private businesses and charities. He does not believe the government can solve Indiana’s Medicaid issues alone, but he said the legislature’s recent cuts went too deep. Data centers Both candidates want tougher rules for data centers. Ruckelshaus said local communities should keep the power to pass pauses on new projects, similar to Marion County’s current ban. He also said data centers should use “closed loop” water systems that do not affect local water utilities, and that operators should pay for all infrastructure upgrades. Moorhead also believes local governments should have the power to pause projects. She wants to require public input for any data center proposal and supports “community benefit” rules, such as minimum wage requirements or requiring companies to pay for utility upgrades. All INdiana Politics airs at 9:30 a.m. Sunday on WISH-TV and 11:35 p.m. on WRTV. Early voting begins on Oct. 6. Election Day is Nov. 3. ...read more read less