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Sheriff John Layton takes the oath of office Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015 (WISH Photo/Ron Nakasone)

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) Marion County Democrats swept the November elections and New Years is the first day in office for the winners.

Six Democrats took the oath of office at the Indiana History Center Thursday. . They include Prosecutor Terry Curry and Sheriff John Layton, who are both entering their second terms in office.

They were joined by two newcomers, Kate Sweeney Bell, who is the new County Recorder, and County Clerk Myla Eldridge, who thanked the late Julia Carson and others for paving the way for her.

To stand right here today on this stage, she said, as the first African American Marion County Clerk.

When asked if she feels like a pioneer, Eldridge said, Yes, I do feel like a pioneer and somewhat a trailblazer.

A number of township elected officials also took the oath of office at the morning ceremony.

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Democrats sworn in as Marion County officeholders

UP with Steve The year in interviews / Republicans, Democrats, Election 2014
UP with Steve: The year in interviews What a year it was. Take a look back at some of the big interviews from UP with Steve Kornacki that made waves in 2014. 9:45 AM 12/28/2014 explore: ...

By: MSNBC News

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UP with Steve The year in interviews / Republicans, Democrats, Election 2014 - Video

By Perry Bacon Jr.

Democratic activists have so far had one message for potential presidential candidates: If you're name isn't Clinton or Warren, we aren't interested.

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have made numerous trips to Iowa and left little doubt they are strongly considering 2016 runs. Virginia Sen. Jim Webb established a formal presidential exploratory committee last month, becoming the only candidate in either party to do so. But the trio has generated little support or interest.

Liberal groups like MoveOn.org who are looking for a more progressive alternative to Hillary Clinton, have bypassed these three candidates to endorse Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has said repeatedly she will not run for president.

Meanwhile, the three are being rejected even by Democrats in their home states. Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont and once one of the leading voices in the party's left wing, announced this month he was endorsing Clinton over Sanders, who was formerly mayor of Dean's hometown, Burlington. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, the Democrat who succeeded Webb in the Senate, told Bloomberg earlier this month he is also backing Clinton.

A few weeks ago, Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski spoke at a "Ready for Hillary" event, a direct sign she is not backing her state's outgoing governor.

These early endorsements are critical for candidates to raise money, hire staff and build viable campaigns. And if they can't build more support over the next few months, O'Malley, Sanders and Webb may either be forced to say they are not following through with full-fledged presidential campaigns or run long-shot candidacies with little to no chance of victory.

Progressives are hungry for a real champion on income inequality, but there are also progressives who are really interested in seeing a woman run and win the presidency

"Finding the oxygen [to compete] will be challenging for these guys," said John Davis, who was an adviser for John Edwards' campaign in Iowa in 2008 and then served as chief of staff to Iowa Rep. Bruce Braley. "At this moment, they've got a lot of work to do."

The dynamic among the Democrats is virtually unprecedented in American politics: one woman the heavy favorite for a party's nomination, another her strongest potential opponent, and three male candidates struggling to compete with them.

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Democrats Eyeing a Clinton Challenge Get Icy Reception

Democrats are resolving to improve their performance after a disastrous 2014 the political equivalent of new year's resolutions to lose weight and save more.

The ritual introspection is both predictable and imperative for parties that have been rejected at the polls, the way the Democrats were in 2014. Two years ago, it was the Republicans engaging in the self-examination.

It's such a staple of losing election seasons that it feels a little bit like the time loop in the movie "Groundhog Day" when the same thing is repeated over and over again, said former state Sen. Dan Gelber, a Democrat whose district included part of south Broward.

"The Republicans become introspective after presidential year losses, and we become introspective after off-year election losses," Gelber said.

Democrats are trying to figure out how to recruit better candidates, examining their use of data and technology, and reconsidering the way they deploy people and money in the field in an attempt to boost turnout of their voters.

Among the reasons for the post-election reviews:

Party activists need something to focus their energy, and to stave off despair.

Donors require assurances that the party is changing to avoid a repeat of their wasted money.

Leaders such as U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, need to show they're listening to voter dissatisfaction and taking it seriously, minimizing any sentiment that they aren't up to the job.

"She needs to be seen as a part of that just to make sure she isn't tainted as a failure," said Charles Zelden, a professor of history and legal studies who specializes in politics and voting at Nova Southeastern University.

Originally posted here:
Democrats seek fixes for voter disapproval

Strengthening the middle class in Wisconsin is a top priority for Assembly Democrats in the 2015-16 legislative session, said Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, last week.

"Most importantly is ... trying to create a better environment for the middle class, trying to ensure that there are more family-supporting jobs, trying to make sure that people have the ability to make a living (and) support their family in dignity," Barca said.

From Democrats' perspective, the policies favored by the Republican lawmakers who carry the majority run counter to that goal.

Barca criticized tax cuts that have benefited the state's wealthiest taxpayers over those in lower income brackets, along with reductions to credits that benefited low-income taxpayers like the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Homestead Credit.

The theme that stands out from the 2013-14 legislative session, Barca said, is the issue of income inequality.

"When you take the trickle-down approach, as theyve done, its just never proven to be effective," he said, adding that Democrats' proposed solution is. "Lets help build the middle class and theyll buy more goods and services. Small business owners will do better if more middle-class people have money in their pockets."

Democrats see a further threat to the middle class in right-to-work legislation, an idea some Republicans have voiced interest in. Gov. Scott Walker has said work on such a bill would be a distraction to other reforms he wants passed.

"The Assembly speaker has indicated that it wont originate in the Assembly," Barca said. "So Im glad to hear that. Im hoping that as people learn more about what it really does and the negative impact it has on the middle class, maybe the bill wont advance. Thats my hope."

Barca also voiced concerns with cuts made to public education funding, along with the possibility of further expansion to the state's school voucher program. He questioned whether taxpayer-funded voucher schools are held to the same level of scrutiny and accountability as public institutions.

Other worrisome Republican proposals, from Barca's perspective, include calls to reform the state Government Accountability Board and its process for John Doe investigations.

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Wisconsin Assembly Democrats focused on strengthening middle class, says Peter Barca