Kelly Thompson

Kelly Thompson was born in Palo Alto, California. She earned a high school diploma from Tippecanoe Valley High School and a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida in 1989.

Her career experience includes working as a business owner. Thompson has been affiliated with the following organizations: Planned Parenthood, ACLU, the Working Families Party, and the Indiana Democratic African American Caucus.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Kelly Thompson is a Hoosier business owner, non profit founder, and lifelong advocate for families and children. Kelly graduated Salutatorian from Tippecanoe Valley High School, attended Valporaiso University's Honor's College, Christ College before moving to Florida with her family to graduate with her BS in Business Administration from University of Central Florida. Kelly is a member of the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, NOW, Habitat for Humanity and Human Rights Watch.

Her career experience outside of her business has been as a substitute teacher, a visiting pastor of the local jail ministry where she counseled inmates.

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?

A government of the people, by the people and for the people is still a goal in this country. Working families are struggling to put a roof over their head, food on the table, access medical care, and get a good education. The reason we are all struggling is because for far too long the people in power have not felt our pain. Because of this they both blame us for our struggles and shame us when we bravely ask for our tax dollars to actually work for US. Let's elect people who are both committed to fight for all of us and brave enough to hold the line when pressure to cave to corporate and political influence inevitably comes.As a woman with a business degree and a small business owner I see the defunding and attack on public education as not just insulting and cruel, but unsustainable. A strong and well funded public education system is necessary to compete and survive in a global economy. Not only do we owe it to our kids but we as a country benefit from high quality education. It is a matter of fiscal responsibility and national security. But we can't stop there. We have real needs as a country for skilled and educated labor. To not help our people meet those needs is short sighted and dangerous.We have a uniquely American problem with access to healthcare. The number one reason for bankruptcy in this country is medical debt. On average we pay 12% of our income on medical expenses. We can reduce that to 5% by moving to a single payor system. As a mother, I know the fear of having to make a run to the ER not knowing, even WITH insurance, what my bill will be. As a daughter, I have experienced the frustration of my mother's insurance company making health care decisions, overriding her oncologist, as she is battling breast cancer. Inefficient private insurance companies are taking our premiums, refusing treatment, and cashing bonus checks . It's time to provide heath care to everyone regardless of our net worth.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Kitchen table issues: education, healthcare, worker's rights, climate, childcare, housing, civil rights.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to people who work tirelessly to make the world a better place for all living things. I cannot, and will not pick just a few, because that inevitably leaves out others. There are so many people I have had the privilege to meet who work with no fame, very little money, but are sustained on the sense of purpose and legacy they live and will leave.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, accountability, courage, empathy, curiosity.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To listen to the people of this district and take their needs to Washington DC and fight for the policies and budgets that will protect and benefit them. But my responsibilities are also to come back to the district to tell the people who hired me what is going on in DC. This is a job of service to the people.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I guess when I die I want people to say about me, "she was a lover of life and people. She asked why enough times to find real answers to problems that needed to be solved. She believed in inherent worth and when she interacted with people who caused harm to themselves or others she looked for the reasons for that behavior. She was a believer in second chances and wanted everyone who came in her presence to know that she believed in their ability to go higher, dream bigger, and join the fight to make the world a safer, gentler place."

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember the bicentennial. I was 11. Our country turned 200. I remember visiting the traveling bicentennial train. It felt special and i remember feeling immense pride and awe.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was working at a fast food restaurant, Penguin Point (also where my mother first worked.). I had it for two summers while I was in high school.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I am an avid reader so picking one book is hard. I would say the Bible has most affected my life and who I am today, but I have seen such suffering when that book is wielded as a weapon. So, is it my favorite, I am not so sure. In all honesty, this question has given me the greatest pause. Anything Andrea Gibson has written has changed me in a good way. Jodi Piccoult has written books that always make me see issues from the other side. Dan Brown makes me think. The list goes on. So many books, so little time.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

The biggest struggle in my life is learning what problems are actually mine to solve and what are not. As a mother of 6, and grandmother of 13, my love is huge, and so is my concern. Learning that I cannot control other people has been a journey. I live by the mantra, "The only person I can control is myself. When it comes to others, it is my job to control how I respond to them."

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The defined role of the House of Representatives includes: the power of the purse, the legislation of our laws, and the power to declare war. The fact that the term for representatives is two years is supposed to ensure that the people they represent can make a quick change if they decide that the member of congress is not spending their tax dollars, or legislating as they feel is in their best interest. This is a good thing. Too much is on the line for working families.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. To be honest, part of the reason we are facing the problems that we are is because we believed the lie that only career politicians should be in government. Remember, we are to have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. We need to elect people who have a proven track record of honesty, courage, integrity and public service. Don't elect people who are only telling you they care without a life of lived experiences to back up that claim.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Today we are faced with real problems, many of which are threatening our very survival. Some of these are our outdated and vulnerable electrical grid, climate refugees, food supplies, unregulated AI and cryptocurrency, an untrained labor force, threatened civil liberties, free & fair elections, and terrorism. These are solvable if we can work together. But our current cultural wars divide us. Those financially benefitting from the status quo are intentionally dividing us to keep us from locking arms together to solve these problems. We can do big things. We can do hard things. But only if we stop fighting each other and muster the courage to look at the issues and collaborate to find the solutions our children and grandchildren are counting on.

But I am sad to admit that our very democracy is in danger. We have an unchecked, reckless executive branch. The damage it has done will have to be repaired, rebuilt, redesigned. This will take courage, curiosity, and an ability to collaborate to build back better.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes. The job of the representative is to represent the people. If after the election the people believe that their representative is not representing them well then a change needs to be made quickly.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe we should have term limits for every office including the Supreme Court.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I have respect for many, but currently I am intrigued and inspired by Representative Jasmine Crockett. She is both brilliant and brave. She is steadfast in making sure that she works tirelessly to build a country that works for the common people, the very people who have built and are working every day to build this country.

Both sitting representatives 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?

As a non profit founder who spent over a decade coming alongside families in my community I have many stories. As a candidate in 2020 for the statehouse, knocking on thousands of doors, I was entrusted with many more. And now, running for congress, I again am hearing of the struggles of the people. Some of the stories emphasize the harm done by policies and systems like a story told to me by Jose as he was waiting in line at the Adams County Fair. He told me he and his wife work at a local motel. And while his life had been hard, the story he wanted to tell me wasn't his. He told me a story of two elderly guests that had been staying there. This couple came to him one day in the office to explain that they had just gone to pick up the wife's medications and they were costing them more now than they did before so they couldn't afford the weekly rent. They weren't asking to get a price reduction. They explained that they would be living in their car. Then Jose looked me in the eye and said, "They are both veterans."

But we are facing more than bad policies and systems. At that same fair, standing in the same line, I met a man who asked me for my opinion on the "Israel Gaza situation." I explained that it is never ok to bomb starving children while they are waiting in line for food. He agreed with me. Then told me he could never vote for me because I was running as a democrat. I asked why?

He said, "because of the gays."

After more discussion I realized we weren't going to agree on much else, so I said in closing, "Well at least we agree genocide is bad."

He shook his head and emphatically replied, "Not all genocide."

I asked, "You think some genocide is good? Who do you think deserves to be killed"

"The gays. I am a Christian Nationalist."

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

I believe that cooperation and collaboration are necessary to ensure that we produce the best policies. Sometimes working together feels like compromise. That is ok. Even desirable. But there are issues about which there should never be compromises. Civil rights for one. Our constitution outlines the non-negotiables. We all have unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

I understand the power of the purse. I also am aware that there exist two economies: Wall Street & Main Street. When I see the need to raise revenue I will endeavor to make sure that the Wall Street and not Main Street that foots the bill.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

The House needs to make sure that it is using its full power to be the check on the executive branch that the founding fathers designed it to be. Oversight, investigation, and impeachement for illegality is non negotiable.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Fort Wayne City Councilwoman At-Large Michelle Chambers, My Labor Radio

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

This summer, at a 4H fair I was talking to people in Adams County, Indiana. I was speaking about the housing crisis and a young man spoke up and told me a story I have not been able to forget. He worked in the office of a pay by the week motel. He had an elderly couple that had been staying there. One day the elderly gentleman came into the office and said, "We just went to pick up my wife's medications and the cost was so high we will not be able to stay at this motel anymore. Would it be ok if we slept in our car in the parking lot?" I shook my head, in empathy for both the couple and this young mad telling me the story, but then he added, "Both of the elderly people are veterans."

This country is broken. We have had people in power who have not felt our pain. The systems will never be fixed by those people. This is to be a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Instead it has been of, by and for the corporations.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

I am proud of many things. Surviving for one. But also for the work I have done to improve who I am and how I interact with my world. I am proud of the work I did with my non-profit helping local families. I am proud of the campaign I ran in 2020 for State Rep. And I am proud of the campaign I am running now.

What role should the United States government have in the development or use of artificial intelligence?

REGULATION!

What legislation would you enact related to election administration in the United States?

We need STRONG voting rights legislation that provides all voters access to the polls (time of day, geographic locations, early and mail in voting) without long lines, without voters being incorrectly (and illegally) purged from the rolls, without punishing volunteers providing water to those who are waiting, and that ends political gerrymandering once and for all.

Campaign websiteThompson's campaign website stated the following:PROTECTING FAMILY FARMSPRESERVE FAMILY FARMLAND PROGRAMWe know the best stewards of American farmland are the families who have been taking care of the land for generations. To preserve those families who have sacrificed for decades, we want to make sure that land stays in that family’s hands, and does not get sold to a corporation or a foreign government.When family’s pass their ownership to another individual and not a corporation, our plan exempts that family from the estate tax.This program also prohibits more foreign countries, corporations not identified as an agriculture company with a 55% majority agricultural business investment in their portfolio, or non-profit foundation not identified with a 55% agricultural business investment in their portfolio to own more farmland.Corporations who own land must also commit to 1% of profits every 5 years to local farm stewardship programs to family farms such as the American Farmland Trust, Conservation Stewardship Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Conservation Reserve Program, or Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The IRS will set up a treasury account for the corporations to deposit the funds into directly.HEALTHCARENOT WEALTHCARE FOR FAMILIESAmericans currently spend on average 12%-17% per year of their income on private health insurance.Middle-income groups spend between 19.8% and 23.2% on private health insurance according to a Rand study.Employers also spend an exorbitant amount on healthcare. They pay an average of $7,034 for individual coverage and $17,393 for family coverage, according to The Kaiser Family Foundation.With shifting to a bigger pool and removing the administration costs that currently allow denial claims from private health insurance at an alarming rate of anywhere from 18% to 50% we can cut costs dramatically to both Americans and employers.Americans would be healthier and able to choose where they want to go because in and out of network would no longer be an issue.Going from an average of 15% of out-of-pocket costs plus everything not covered by insurance, such as co-pays, deductibles, co-insurance, vision, dental, and hearing care to a larger pool of everyone paying just 5% and negotiating better costs at a larger rate would dramatically cut costs for everyone.You keep more of your money in your paycheck, and you don’t have to worry about who is in-network and out-of-network. Is my deductible met? What will this bill look like?A study done by the Koch Brothers at The Mercatus Center has shown that the proposal moving us to an all in system would save Americans $2 Trillion dollars.HOUSING IN THE HEARTLANDISSUES​Expensive Housing:Rising construction costs (materials, labor): Indiana is not immune to the national trends of increasing construction costs, which directly impact the price of new homes.Land prices, especially in desirable areas: Urban centers like Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Bloomington, and even smaller cities with growing economies, see increasing land prices.Market speculation and investment: Real estate speculation can drive up prices across Indiana, making it harder for residents to find affordable housing.Interest rates and financing costs: Fluctuations in mortgage interest rates affect Hoosiers' ability to buy homes.Limited AvailabilityInsufficient construction of new housing: Indiana faces challenges in keeping up with the demand for housing, leading to shortages in various areas.Restrictive zoning and land-use policies: Local zoning regulations in Indiana cities and counties can limit the types of housing that can be built.Lengthy permitting processes: Delays in obtaining building permits in Indiana can slow down construction and increase costs."Not in My Backyard" (NIMBY) opposition to new development: Opposition from existing residents to new housing projects can hinder development in Indiana communities.Municipalities selling blighted properties for $1 to small builders: Some Indiana municipalities sell blighted properties for $1 to small builders as an incentive to increase housing supply.Zoning ChallengesSingle-family zoning: A large amount of land in Indiana is zoned exclusively for single-family homes, preventing denser, more affordable options.Minimum lot sizes: Requirements for large lots increase the cost of development and reduce the number of housing units that can be built in Indiana.Height restrictions: Limits on building height can prevent the construction of taller buildings in Indiana's urban areas.Density restrictions: Limits on the number of housing units per acre restrict how much housing can be built throughout the state.Credit Scores and Systemic RacismCredit scores: Lower credit scores can result in higher interest rates or denial of mortgages for Hoosiers, disproportionately affecting low-income individuals and communities of color.Historical discrimination: Redlining and other discriminatory practices have limited wealth-building opportunities for marginalized groups in Indiana, perpetuating disparities.Racial bias in appraisals: Homes in communities of color in Indiana may be undervalued compared to similar homes in white communities.Positive Rental History: There is a growing movement to include positive rental payment history in credit score calculations. This could help Hoosiers with lower incomes or those who have been historically marginalized to build credit and access better housing opportunities.Affordability CrisisStagnant wages: Incomes in Indiana have not kept pace with rising housing costs.Housing costs as a percentage of income: Many Indiana households spend a large portion of their income on housing.Lack of affordable housing options: There is a shortage of housing in Indiana that is affordable to low- and moderate-income households.SOLUTIONSIncrease Housing SupplyStreamlining permitting: Reducing bureaucratic delays and simplifying the approval process for new construction in Indiana.Zoning reform: Allowing for greater density and a mix of housing types in more areas across Indiana.

Legalize accessory dwelling units (ADUs)

Allow for the construction of townhouses, duplexes, and small apartment buildings in more Indiana neighborhoods.

Eliminate minimum parking requirementsIncentivizing development: Providing tax breaks or subsidies for the construction of affordable housing in Indiana.

Tax incentives for small builders: Reducing or eliminating capital gains taxes for small builders who construct homes under a certain price point (e.g., $200,000) to encourage the development of more affordable housing options in Indiana.Public investment: Government funding for the construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing in Indiana.Preserving existing affordable housing: Preventing the loss of affordable units through demolition or conversion to market-rate housing in Indiana.JOBS AND ENERGYSAFETY AND SECURITY FOR THE NEXT AGE​The issue: The aging energy grid is a security issue according to the Pentagon This is a civilian, emergency services, and military security risk. Without power, communities, their ability to manage disasters, and communicate effectively between those sectors.This puts our service members, our emergency services teams, and our civilians at risk for cyberattacks from foreign and domestic terrorism.The energy grid is aging and hasn’t been properly invested in for decades.The technology for our energy grid is old, outdated, and not future-proof for newer or mixed energy sources as our country’s terrain demands.We also recognize that not every person is designed to work in a job behind a desk. Some Americans are engineers, and builders who are wired to build things. This program helps us do both.​​Our Program: Upgrading our grid, providing jobs, allowing for a mix of varying energy sources, and investing in our future tech and manufacturing for the stability of the United States to be energy self-sufficient.Allow Net- Metering on a federal level for all 50 states for residential homes. Let homeowners put solar panels on their homes, and sell back the energy they use to the energy companies to offset utility costs.Build another solar farm in the deserts of Nevada, Arizona, and Utah where the land is uninhabited because water is hard or too cost prohibitive to move to. Much like the Kern Solar farm in California that already powers 250,000 homes.In places where solar is not feasible, such as mountainous areas, - invest in mini nuclear plants. To bury the nuclear waste, we would invest in upgrading the maintenance of our rail and steel systems. We would bury the nuclear waste under the solar facilities in the desert. This moves nuclear waste away from civilian areas and under empty facilities already monitored.Build wind turbines off the coasts like Europe has. Europe has allowed for wind turbines to be built off the coasts of their countries. The Department of Energy's Wind Energy Technologies Office estimates that the technical potential for offshore wind in the US is over 4,200 gigawatts, which could produce 13,500 terawatt-hours annually. This is equivalent to about three times the total electricity consumed in the US each year.Oil. The truth is, we will never not need oil and gas. We will always need petroleum products for healthcare, for food safety, for the tires on our cars. But and a reduced rate. Even at our most “clean” energy grid, we will still need oil. The reduced need however will translate into jobs from the oil industry into our new infrastructure need. We have a lot of building to do!Jobs: The people required for this undertaking and maintenance would be massive. Not doing it, is negligence to the safety and security of our people, our emergency services, and our military.​Upgrading the energy grid is expected to generate a substantial number of jobs. In total, the clean energy transition is expected to generate 10.3 million net new jobs around the world by 2030. The initial job creation will be 13 million jobs with the net turnover of 3 million jobs from coal being lost. Those jobs will be retrained into maintaining the grid, through job recertification and retraining in a new career. Coal is an industry we can all agree nets us no benefit including the harm it does to its people and the land around it​The bottom line: Jobs, security, the future. This protects us from threats, makes our energy stable and self-sufficient, and reduces our reliance on an industry that harms our fellow Americans. Let’s put America to work!LEGALIZATIONCANNABIS FREEDOM BILLThe issue is the remaining states not legalizing either medicinal or recreational cannabis usage in the United States have used the Schedule 1 classification as a reason to not allow their legislative bodies to utilize this tax potential and research potential for research.This policy fully allows reschedule of Cannabis, and removes it from Schedule 1. Allows full research on the medical benefits, however, all patents remain with the government and must be released to the American people without charge as the research is done with federal dollars.Further, any pharmaceutical derivatives of the formulation of Cannabis from this research that is attempted to be used for commercial gain will be prosecuted. Cannabis is a naturally occurring plant that was used to prosecute individuals for centuries and will not be used further to financially harm Americans. Additionally: This bill decriminalizes and fully federally legalizes Cannabis or Marijuana as legislative identifies. Specifically, it removes marijuana and cannabis from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana or cannabis. The policy also makes other changes, including but not limited to the following:Replaces statutory references to marijuana and marihuana with cannabis,Requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees,Imposes an excise tax on cannabis products produced in or imported into the United States and an occupational tax on cannabis production facilities and export warehouses,Makes Small Business Administration loans and services available to entities that are cannabis-related legitimate businesses or service providers,Prohibits the denial of federal public benefits to a person on the basis of certain cannabis-related conduct or convictions,Prohibits the denial of benefits and protections under immigration laws on the basis of a cannabis-related event (e.g., conduct or a conviction),Establishes a process to expunge convictions and conduct sentencing review hearings related to federal cannabis offenses,Prohibits use of or sale to Cannabis to anyone under the age of 21MONOPOLIESREFORMING SECURITIES REGULATION TO COMBAT MONOPOLIES AND OLIGARCHIC TRENDS1. INTRODUCTIONThe increasing concentration of economic power in the hands of a few entities poses a significant threat to fair competition, innovation, consumer welfare, and the democratic principles of the United States. This policy proposal outlines a series of legislative and regulatory actions focused on the securities markets to address and curb the growing trend towards monopolies and oligarchies. The securities markets are a critical nexus for capital formation, corporate control, and wealth accumulation; therefore, their proper regulation is essential to ensuring a more equitable and competitive economic landscape.This policy aims to modernize antitrust enforcement, enhance transparency, empower regulatory agencies, and adapt legal frameworks to the realities of 21st-century markets.2. CORE PRINCIPLESPromoting Fair Competition: Ensuring that markets are open and competitive, providing a level playing field for all participants.Protecting Consumer and Public Interest: Prioritizing the welfare of consumers, workers, and the broader public over narrow corporate or shareholder interests when these conflict with overall economic health.Enhancing Transparency: Increasing visibility into corporate ownership, market structures, and financial dealings to deter anti-competitive behavio