Daniel Bragg
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Daniel Bragg (Republican Party) ran for election to the Indiana House of Representatives to represent District 32. He lost in the Republican primary on June 2, 2020.
Bragg completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Bragg grew up in Sheridan, Indiana. He attended Penn State University and the University of Northwestern Ohio. As of his 2020 campaign, Bragg was attending Full Sail University and was expected to graduate with his bachelor's degree in August of 2020. His professional experience includes working as a master control supervisor for Nexstar Broadcasting. He served in the United States Air Force from 2011 to 2014.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 32
Incumbent Tony Cook defeated Amie Neiling in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 32 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tony Cook (R) | 75.4 | 26,430 |
 | Amie Neiling (D) | 24.6 | 8,615 | |
| Total votes: 35,045 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 32
Amie Neiling advanced from the Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 32 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Amie Neiling | 100.0 | 2,916 |
| Total votes: 2,916 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 32
Incumbent Tony Cook defeated Daniel Bragg in the Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 32 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tony Cook | 68.8 | 6,606 |
 | Daniel Bragg | 31.2 | 2,997 | |
| Total votes: 9,603 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Daniel Bragg completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bragg's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am 30 years old and a veteran of the United States Air Force. While serving my country, I was stationed for 2 years in Okinawa, Japan, served 6 months in Qatar, and finished my time in Shreveport, Louisiana. I currently live in Sheridan, IN with my wife and son. I currently work in media and am scheduled to graduate Full Sail University in August with my Bachelor's Degree. I'm running for office because I feel a distinct call to service. I believe that the most important responsibility for elected officials is that their constituents feel represented. Ensuring that the voters understand that I serve them is critical.
- It is time that we stop ignoring our teachers. We need to be making efforts to not only address their salaries, but also find ways to help alleviate the monetary strain felt by purchasing school supplies. They need the tools to perform their job, and they need our help.
- Indiana's infrastructure needs to be a major priority. While work is underway to improve some roads throughout the state already, I feel that the work needs to be happening more quickly. We need to find creative ways to expedite these and future projects.
- The State of Indiana can afford to further reduce the tax strain placed on Hoosiers. With spending continuing to go under-budget, Hoosiers should be allowed to keep more of the money that they are earning.
I am personally passionate about ensuring our educators have the tools to succeed, and that includes a more livable wage. Our educators deserve the help they asking for. Our children are our future, and our educators are entrusted with that future, yet we continue to ask more and more from them, without adding resources for them to succeed. No one goes into education to become rich, but what they are asking for is not to become rich. Together, I'd like to work with educators in developing a program that allows for teachers to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket school supplies expenses, up to a certain amount. These reimbursements would be tax-free.
I am also very passionate about our veterans. Our state needs to ensure that we are taking care of our men and women in uniform, both currently serving and veterans. Already, our Guard and Reserve members pay no state income tax while serving on Active Duty. I'd like to see all Active Duty members of the armed forces be free of the state income tax. We also need to develop a better plan to take care of our struggling veterans. The suicide rate for American troops continues to rise yearly, and something must be done to reduce the number of our fallen men and women. We ask the very most from them, and we need to make it a personal mission to see that they are taken care of when they return home.
I am also very passionate about our veterans. Our state needs to ensure that we are taking care of our men and women in uniform, both currently serving and veterans. Already, our Guard and Reserve members pay no state income tax while serving on Active Duty. I'd like to see all Active Duty members of the armed forces be free of the state income tax. We also need to develop a better plan to take care of our struggling veterans. The suicide rate for American troops continues to rise yearly, and something must be done to reduce the number of our fallen men and women. We ask the very most from them, and we need to make it a personal mission to see that they are taken care of when they return home.
Personally, I have always looked up to my mother's father; my Grandpa. My Grandpa is an engineer, dedicating most of his life to building things. He still tries to build things with his hands, despite his family and doctors cautioning him to not lift things over a certain weight. He's an extremely proud man. Dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great GREAT grandfather. He always shows strangers nothing but kindness. I aspire to be half the man that my Grandpa Hinshaw is, and I strive every day to make him proud.
Politically, I look at people like Ron Paul, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington. A lot can be learned from studying our founding fathers. The principles in which they led the American people are inspiring to say the least. They understood that not everything you do will please everyone, but the result is the most important thing.
Politically, I look at people like Ron Paul, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington. A lot can be learned from studying our founding fathers. The principles in which they led the American people are inspiring to say the least. They understood that not everything you do will please everyone, but the result is the most important thing.
This is going to sound corny, but the U.S. Constitution. My political philosophy has always been sculpted by respecting the document, and the men that helped form it.
Commitment to service, integrity, and leadership. One of the problems that people feel is in our governments today is the lack of "commitment to service". Many elected officials seem to be taking the job simply because they can. They aren't spending real-time in their communities, with the people, understanding what their constituents are looking for out of their elected officials. Understanding the voters is one of the most important parts of being an elected official. Integrity is another big one for me and something that seems to be lacking in government today. Being trustworthy and backing up that trust is imperative. Lastly, our elected officials must be prepared to lead. Even at my youth and inexperience, I'm not looking to be elected and go and follow at the State House. Followers are necessary for there to be leaders, but I don't feel there should be any followers in elected positions.
My desire to better the lives of my fellow man, my passion and drive, and my ability to empathize with people, and trying to find a solution for them.
One of the core responsibilities for a State Representative should be to help build a better future for Hoosiers by passing laws that do not hamper, but rather bolster growth. One of the major responsibilities of a State Representative can be found in the title. Representing your constituents to the best of your ability should always be in the front of our elected officials' minds. Transparency can be a huge contributor to achieving that goal.
I would like to leave a legacy of a common man doing extraordinary things. I know that I do not have a Master's degree, I don't own my own business, and I'm not an executive at a company. Our government has become a job for the already successful in this country. The idea that just an ordinary citizen can hold public office has become a pipe dream in 2020. I'd love to break down that belief. Our government was established by everyday men, and I believe that together, we can do extraordinary things.
The first major historical event that happened in my lifetime that I remember has to be September 11th. I was in 6th grade at the time. I know exactly what class I was in when the towers were hit. I remember watching them fall. I remember the feeling of patriotism that I felt at that moment. However, the most overwhelming memory I have from that day is the fear I witnessed on my parents' faces. I had never seen the look before. Like most parents, they did their best to shield my sisters and me from the cruelty of the world. We were protected from it, thanks to their love. The couldn't protect us from September 11th. It was on that day that I first remember feeling the call to military service. I knew that I wanted to be a part of something that would help ensure that my parents never had to feel that way again. I'm extremely proud of my military service, and the call to service still burns inside me to this day. Again, I was 12 years old.
The very first job that I ever had was washing windows at a local Dairy Queen in Carmel. I made $20 a day, to clean the windows every Saturday morning. I started performing the job when I was around 12 I believe. I loved doing it. As a young person, I made it a personal mission of mine to not be like others my age. I never asked my parents for money to go out with friends, because I didn't want to be a burden on them. Instead, I found a way to earn money for myself. Because of that, my parents seldom had a problem with me going somewhere with friends. They knew that they could trust me. I continued to perform the window washing until I was about 15 when I started doing other things around the store, mostly making ice cream sandwiches and "Dilly" bars. Once again, as more responsibilities were handed to me, the more passionate I became about working. I have never shied away from work, and I will bring that same passion and commitment to the Indiana General Assembly.
"The Call of the Wild" by Jack London. It teaches a lesson about how someone can come from a different life than everyone within a certain group, and evolve to become the leader.
Batman or Ironman. Both were billionaires who decided to use their money and brains to serve and protect their communities. Were they always likable? No, but they knew that they weren't doing it for "Thank You"s. They were serving because they felt it was their responsibility.
"Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra
A struggle in my life has been my drive to learn as much as possible. Because of this, I often am constantly on the move. Not literally, but figuratively. Always trying new things, trying to master them as quickly as possible.
The most important difference between the legislative chambers in any state is that it is the House's responsibility to propose laws that impact voters immediately. With Representatives being elected every 2 years, their focus should be spent on getting things done in the short term. On the contrary, the Senate should be focused on writing laws that have lasting effects on the people. Senators must have more forethought when writing and proposing any actions. Because their terms are 6 years, their impact can be felt much longer that of a Representative.
I think experience in government can be beneficial, but it is not imperative. Our government was set up with the idea that every day people could make big day decisions. Nothing can replace experience, but with experience often comes complacency. It is extremely important for our legislators to not become complacent in their roles as leaders. Elected officials are entrusted with the future of their constituents, and should be constantly thinking about that fact.
Indiana's greatest challenge over the next decade is bolstering our schools, by taking care of our teachers. Many educators are coming to our state for their education and then take their skills to other states where they feel they will be better supported in the short and long term. We must tackle the issues with our education system head-on. We must also continue our focus on improving our infrastructure. Indiana is a beautiful place to live, and the "Crossroads of America". Millions of people travel throughout our state every single year. We must ensure that our infrastructure is prepared for that burden. Lastly, we must continue our push to focus on promoting trade schools. College is not for everyone, and by promoting the trades, we are helping ensure that our state, and our country, are set up for success for generations to come.
The ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature is a working one. I believe that the Governor should lay out his agenda for the legislature, but he should not be strictly enforcing legislative agendas. Legislators and Governors are elected to perform different jobs. Far too often, it seems that the legislative branch is merely doing the Governor's bidding. I would avoid a relationship where one person is simply dictating the lives of Hoosiers.
Building relationships with other legislators is crucial to any legislative success. All legislators are elected to work for their constituents. By not having a solid working relationship with other legislators, that official is doing a disservice to his/her constituents. Being able to work, bipartisanly, in the legislature is huge to the success and future of the people.
Two committees that I would want to be a part of right away would be Education and Veteran Affairs and Public Safety. My passion for those two specific committees is crucial to my motivation to service my community, and my state. I feel that I would do an excellent job performing on those committees.
I'm very interested in joining the leadership of the legislature. I feel ready to tackle whatever role that may be assigned to me.
On a state level, no. I feel that modeling myself after someone would hamper my contribution to the legislature. We are all individuals, and I feel that my individuality is one of the things that defines me as a person.
At this time, I cannot say whether or not I'm interested in running for a different political office. My full commitment is currently to Indiana and the constituents of District 32.
I have not heard any real personal stories from the residents of my district to this point, but I'm very excited to get out and meet with the lovely people and connect with them on a human level.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 13, 2020.
Current members of the Indiana House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Todd Huston
Majority Leader:Matthew Lehman
Representatives
District 1
Carolyn Jackson (D)
District 2
Earl Harris (D)
District 3
Ragen Hatcher (D)
District 4
Edmond Soliday (R)
District 5
Dale DeVon (R)
District 6
Maureen Bauer (D)
District 7
Jake Teshka (R)
District 8
Ryan Dvorak (D)
District 9
Patricia Boy (D)
District 10
Charles Moseley (D)
District 11
District 12
Mike Andrade (D)
District 13
Matt Commons (R)
District 14
Vernon Smith (D)
District 15
Harold Slager (R)
District 16
Kendell Culp (R)
District 17
Jack Jordan (R)
District 18
David Abbott (R)
District 19
Julie Olthoff (R)
District 20
Jim Pressel (R)
District 21
Timothy Wesco (R)
District 22
Craig Snow (R)
District 23
Ethan Manning (R)
District 24
Hunter Smith (R)
District 25
Becky Cash (R)
District 26
Chris Campbell (D)
District 27
Sheila Klinker (D)
District 28
Jeffrey Thompson (R)
District 29
District 30
District 31
Lori Goss-Reaves (R)
District 32
District 33
John Prescott (R)
District 34
Sue Errington (D)
District 35
Elizabeth Rowray (R)
District 36
Kyle Pierce (R)
District 37
Todd Huston (R)
District 38
Heath VanNatter (R)
District 39
Daniel Lopez (R)
District 40
District 41
Mark Genda (R)
District 42
Tim Yocum (R)
District 43
Tonya Pfaff (D)
District 44
Beau Baird (R)
District 45
Bruce Borders (R)
District 46
Bob Heaton (R)
District 47
Robb Greene (R)
District 48
Doug Miller (R)
District 49
Joanna King (R)
District 50
Lorissa Sweet (R)
District 51
Tony Isa (R)
District 52
Ben Smaltz (R)
District 53
Ethan Lawson (R)
District 54
Cory Criswell (R)
District 55
District 56
Bradford Barrett (R)
District 57
Craig Haggard (R)
District 58
Michelle Davis (R)
District 59
Ryan Lauer (R)
District 60
Peggy Mayfield (R)
District 61
Matt Pierce (D)
District 62
Dave Hall (R)
District 63
Shane Lindauer (R)
District 64
Matt Hostettler (R)
District 65
Christopher May (R)
District 66
Zach Payne (R)
District 67
Alex Zimmerman (R)
District 68
Garrett Bascom (R)
District 69
Jim Lucas (R)
District 70
Karen Engleman (R)
District 71
District 72
Edward Clere (R)
District 73
Jennifer Meltzer (R)
District 74
Steve Bartels (R)
District 75
Cindy Ledbetter (R)
District 76
Wendy McNamara (R)
District 77
Alex Burton (D)
District 78
Tim O'Brien (R)
District 79
Matthew Lehman (R)
District 80
Phil GiaQuinta (D)
District 81
Martin Carbaugh (R)
District 82
Kyle Miller (D)
District 83
Christopher Judy (R)
District 84
Bob Morris (R)
District 85
David Heine (R)
District 86
Edward DeLaney (D)
District 87
Carey Hamilton (D)
District 88
Chris Jeter (R)
District 89
Mitch Gore (D)
District 90
Andrew Ireland (R)
District 91
Robert Behning (R)
District 92
Renee Pack (D)
District 93
Julie McGuire (R)
District 94
Cherrish Pryor (D)
District 95
John Bartlett (D)
District 96
Gregory Porter (D)
District 97
Justin Moed (D)
District 98
District 99
Vanessa Summers (D)
District 100
Robert Johnson (D)
Republican Party (70)
Democratic Party (30)
