J.D. Ford

J.D. Ford lives in Wayne Township, Indiana. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and criminal justice from the University of Akron and a master's degree in education from Purdue University. Ford's career experience includes working as the senior director of recruitment and expansion with Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

J.D. Ford is an experienced two-term IN State Senator and candidate for Congress in IN’s 5th Congressional District, bringing a working-class perspective to Washington.

J.D. Ford entered the Indiana Statehouse in 2018 as a rare kind of public servant–one determined to do more than cast votes, but to show up, listen, and deliver for his constituents. As a legislator who isn’t independently wealthy, J.D. knows firsthand what Hoosiers face every day: rising healthcare costs, higher grocery bills, and policies too often written for the wealthy instead of working families.

He flipped a long-held red district—Indiana Senate District 29—by outworking and doing his best to connect with voters. They chose a leader focused on service, not status—someone willing to fight to lower the cost of lifesaving medication, strengthen public education, and ensure every Hoosier gets a fair shot.

J.D. learned the value of hard work from his parents – his father was a union truck driver and his mother an assisted living administrator. From his grandparents, who served their community as local officials, he learned early that public service is about people, not power. Those values guide him through his nonprofit career and his work in the Senate.

J.D. is the first, and so far only, openly LGBTQ+ member of the IN General Assembly. He lives with his dog, Stella, and his cat, Sir Aaron Purr. Outside the legislature, he enjoys sports, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

AFFORDABILITY - Whether you're in Carmel or Kokomo, you feel the squeeze at the checkout line and in your monthly bills because a few giant corporations value record profits over your budget.

We have a monopoly problem, and I’m going to tackle it by restoring competition to the market. I’ll work to block anti-competitive hospital and insurance mergers, block grocery mega-mergers that kill local choice, and ensure our utility bills don't skyrocket just to subsidize energy-hungry data centers for massive corporations.

An economy that only works for those at the top is a rigged economy, and you deserve a representative who fights to put that power back into your hands.CARE - Whether you’re looking for a good daycare or a quality senior living facility, the weight of providing care shouldn't break your spirit or your budget.

Let's expand the child and dependent care tax credit, establish national minimum staffing standards for nursing homes to ensure safety, and lower healthcare premiums by stopping anti-competitive hospital mergers. We must treat these services as essential infrastructure by investing in the people who provide care and capping the costs for the families who need it. No one should have to choose between a paycheck and a loved one’s well-being.

Hoosiers look out for one another, and we need a government that does too.HOOSIER VOICES - D.C. feels like a closed room where decisions are made about us, but never with us.

But, you are the expert on what our community needs, which is why I’m bringing Hoosier Voices directly to the halls of Congress. I’ll maintain the same open-door policy I had in the Statehouse, hosting regular town halls, being the most accessible representative you've ever met, and ensuring our federal policy is driven by your lived experiences rather than special interest demands.

I’m not asking for your vote just to go to D.C.; I’m asking to bring you with me. You deserve a government that actually listens, and together, we’re going to make sure the 5th District is never left out of the conversation again. Reach out with your concerns.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Affordability, Healthcare, Social Security, LGBTQ+ protections, reproductive freedom for women, respecting and protecting our environment, holding government officials accountable, fighting for our democracy/

protecting our elections, upholding the ideals of our Constitution, fighting back on corruption in Congress, cannabis/hemp (ag policy), supporting our veterans, union rights/protecting pensions, student mental health, common sense gun policy and higher ed policy.

J.D. Ford did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

1) Education

2) Election Reform

3) Economy[6][7]

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

Education has always been important in my family. I currently hold a Master of Science in Education from Purdue University. I know that a solid system of public education is the bedrock for creating successful citizens. As a state legislator, it will be my duty to ensure that our public schools are strengthened and students have all the resources they need to excel.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[7]

[the profile publisher] also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. J.D. Ford answered the following:

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am passionate about improving the lives of my fellow Hoosiers. Every day I walk onto the State Senate floor, I will be thinking about the people I serve. The qualities I believe I can bring to the office and to the legislature are:

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Honesty and Integrity

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Pragmatic problem-solver

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Strong Work Ethic

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Accessible to Constituents[7]

What process do you favor for redistricting?

For re-destricting reform, I would like to see a non-partisan committee of experts who remove the interests of politicians and truly put people first. For far too long, our politicians have been drawing the maps and choosing the people they'd like to serve. Many districts in Indiana, including State Senate District 29, are drawn in a way that does not serve the public interests and, frankly, disenfranchises voters. I believe that every issue Indiana faces stems directly from gerrymandered districts.[7]

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you've heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

One of the most impactful stories I can share is about a family who lived in Senate District 29 who had complained about a dangerous grate located in their backyard. This family, for years, had been trying to get this issue fixed as it was a serious safety hazard to their small children. After knocking on this family's door and becoming aware of this issue, I stayed persistent to help them cut through bureaucratic red-tape, which too many people experience. I wanted to make sure we achieved a resolution for this family so they could have peace of mind. Voters in my district can expect a strong work ethic from me, paying attention to detail, and staying persistent.[7]

Ford's website emphasized the following campaign themes:[8]

Education

Excerpt: "Our youth are our future. If elected, I will advocate tirelessly for Hoosier children. As education constitutes over half of our state's budget, I believe we ought to spend more time talking about it."

Veteran's

Excerpt: "We owe our active duty servicemen and women and veterans a debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice. When they are finished, I want to make sure that Indiana has jobs waiting for them upon their safe return. I will tirelessly work for them as they have worked for us."

Mass Transit

Excerpt: "Simply put, improving our public transportation options would make Central Indiana more attractive for potential businesses, which is a long-term investment for the economy of Indiana."

Economy and Jobs

Excerpt: "I believe that this process starts with providing more education opportunities for the people who need jobs the most. Indiana currently ranks 40th out of 50 states in terms of workforce education- let's support our workers with more opportunities to learn."

Mental Health Services

Excerpt: "I do not believe that mental health is an area that is addressed well at the government level, and I would like to change that if elected. I will continue to work with mental health professionals to ensure that we are doing everything we can."

Marriage Equality/HJR-3

Excerpt: "I believe LGBT rights are the civil rights movement of our time and will work hard to provide equality to all Hoosiers. However, before we can accomplish this important goal, we must reject HJR-3, an amendment to our state's constitution that would require the state to recognize only marriages between one man and one woman as valid."

Women's and Reproductive Issues

Excerpt: "I am pro-choice and believe that a woman should make decisions about her body-not government. I also support equal pay for equal work."