Indiana’s 23rd State House District isn’t one story—it’s many.

From Logansport to Peru, from Mexico to the communities surrounding Grissom Air Reserve Base, this district represents a mix of rural towns, small cities, and working families all facing the same question:

Why does it feel like we’re being left behind?

In this episode of Hold ’em Accountable, we sit down with Austin Meives, a Democratic candidate running to represent District 23, to break down what’s really happening on the ground—and what needs to change.

📍 This isn’t about talking points. This is about reality.

🔎 In this interview, Meives dives into the issues shaping north central Indiana:

🏭 Factory closures and the limits of tax-cut economic policy
🌾 The future of family farms and rising operational costs
🏥 Rural healthcare struggles, provider shortages, and mental health access
🏫 Education funding and the need for real workforce development
📡 Broadband gaps and outdated infrastructure
🏚️ Housing challenges, abandoned properties, and community decline
🚧 Infrastructure systems that haven’t kept pace in decades
⚡ The role of the state when markets fail rural communities

He makes a clear argument:
“One-size-fits-all policy doesn’t work—and it’s leaving rural Indiana behind.”

💬 Key takeaways from this conversation:

✔️ Rethinking economic development beyond corporate tax incentives
✔️ Investing in rural hospitals and mental health systems
✔️ Expanding career and technical education earlier in schools
✔️ Supporting farmers with new tools and diversified income streams
✔️ Treating broadband and infrastructure as essential services
✔️ Addressing housing through vacancy policy and smarter zoning
✔️ Holding government accountable to the people—not just party leadership

Meives also emphasizes something voters across the district are feeling:

They’re not being heard.

And when people stop feeling heard—they stop showing up.

🎯 Then we put it all on the line in Hold ’em or Fold ’em—our rapid-fire segment where candidates take clear positions with no spin:

• Fully funding public schools
• Supporting rural hospitals when markets fail
• Expanding broadband access
• Holding corporations accountable for tax incentives
• Protecting family farms
• Voting against party leadership when necessary

📍 Whether you’re in Logansport, Peru, Miami County, Cass County, or anywhere across Indiana—this conversation highlights the real challenges facing rural communities and the decisions that will shape their future.

👉 Watch the full interview and decide for yourself:
Is this the leadership District 23 needs?

🎙️ About Hold ’em Accountable:
Real conversations. No spin. No scripts. Just the questions voters actually care about.

#IndianaPolitics #AustinMeives #District23 #RuralAmerica #WorkingClass