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To: Interested Parties
From: Madison Andrus, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: May 5, 2026
Subject: The Case Against Barb Regnitz
Voters in Northwest Indiana have a clear choice between Frank Mrvan, a proven leader who fights for his constituents, and Barb Regnitz, another cynical self-serving politician who would be incapable of putting the needs of the Region before D.C. politics.
Frank Mrvan has spent his career fighting for Northwest Indiana’s working families. As one of Congress’ fiercest advocates for organized labor, veterans, and the forgotten middle class, Frank listens to what the Region needs – not D.C. insiders. From launching the Agriculture Advisory Council to hear from Northwest Indiana farmers, to working to ensure that veterans get the health care they deserve, and holding multiple community forums in a day to hear from the people of Northwest Indiana firsthand, Frank is constantly working to make life more affordable for people in the Region.
The best challenge that Republicans could put up against Frank is out-of-touch, opportunistic, extremist Barb Regnitz. Regnitz clearly cares more about what party bosses in D.C. want her to do and how she can personally benefit rather than doing anything to actually support what the people from Northwest Indiana need.
Barb Regnitz Giddily Aligns Herself with the Cost-Raising Agenda Wrecking Havoc on Northwest Indiana’s Economy
As people in the Region struggle with higher prices and a flailing economy, Barb Regnitz rushed to endorse the same policies that are hurting working families. Right after shoppers were crushed by higher costs during the Christmas season, Regnitz proudly claimed that D.C.’s economic policies were “working for the American people.” Even now, while Hoosiers are facing skyrocketing costs at the grocery store, the gas pump, and as Indiana was forced to stop providing food for hungry children during summer break, Regnitz continues to stand by these disastrous economic policies.
It’s no secret why Regnitz supports this cost-raising agenda. With a net-worth of up to $13 million, Barb Regnitz is one of the few Americans who benefit from House Republicans’ catastrophic Big Beautiful Bill, leaving everyday Hoosiers to pick up the tab for tax breaks for folks like her. In Congress, people from Northwest Indiana can bet that Regnitz would continue padding her own millionaire pockets instead of representing their needs.
Meanwhile, Frank has used his office to stand up for Northwest Indiana’s working families, pushing back against policies that are threatening their ability to make ends meet. Frank not only exposed how House Republicans’ cruel Big Beautiful Bill would impact the people of IN-01, but he’s actively working towards bipartisan solutions that uplift Americans everywhere. Frank even secured millions of dollars for Northwest Indiana to invest in critical infrastructure projects, provide resources for the community, improve educational opportunities, and create good-paying jobs.
As the top Democrat on the Congressional Steel Caucus, Frank has been a consistent voice protecting Indiana’s domestic steel industry and workers. Frank also fought to include the strongest Buy America requirements in our nation’s history in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to safeguard Northwest Indiana steel jobs that are central to the Region’s economic success.
Barb Regnitz Applauds the Policies Creating Indiana’s Health Care Crisis
House Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill gut Medicaid funding at historic levels, threatening health care access for hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers. Because of these cuts, 13 hospitals in Indiana (including one in IN-01) are at risk of closing or reducing their services, forcing Hoosiers to either go without or travel much longer distances to get the life-saving care they need.
Additionally, as House Republicans failed to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that serve as a lifeline to affordable health care to so many Hoosiers, Regnitz happily welcomed the support and money of those responsible for the health care cuts. Nearly 60,000 Hoosiers opted to go without health insurance after Republicans let the ACA tax credits expire – a 16% drop in enrollment that’s the fourth highest in the country. This drop led to premiums in the 1st District increasing by an estimated 75% across the board, with older Hoosiers potentially facing increases as high as 173%.
While Regnitz and her D.C. party bosses are busy making care more expensive and harder to access, Frank voted to extend the ACA tax credits for the nearly 32,000 beneficiaries in Northwest Indiana and fought for legislation that would help prevent some of the worst impacts of Republicans’ Medicaid cuts by securing financial stability for Indiana’s most vulnerable hospitals.
As Corruption Plagues Washington D.C., Barb Regnitz Has Already Gotten a Headstart
As one of her first acts as County Commissioner – before even getting sworn into the job – Regnitz spent thousands of taxpayers dollars renovating a new cushy office space for herself. While people from Northwest Indiana are facing tough decisions about how to put food on the table, afford housing, or get the health care they need, Regnitz spent $4,000 on new office furniture. When faced with questions about her lavish upgrades, Regnitz defended her spending as “especially needed,” while her fellow Republican admitted Regnitz’s upgrades were merely “cosmetic changes.”
Frank is working to restore trust in Congress and end the corruption that is plaguing Washington. Frank was unapologetic in calling out a “corrupt taxpayer funded cash grab” as Senate Republicans attempted to selfishly take Hoosiers’ hard-earned tax dollars for their own personal benefit. And when Republicans embarked on their redistricting war to subvert the will of voters, Congressman Frank Mrvan again took a stand and fought for voters’ rights to choose their representatives – not the other way around. When Indiana Republicans in the State Legislature bravely stood up against partisan gerrymandering, Regnitz stayed silent.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Post-Tribune: Rep. Frank Mrvan urges BP to end lockout in letter to CEO [Post-Tribune, 4/4/26]
“U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, sent a joint letter with Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Illinois, to BP CEO Meg O’Neill, urging the company to end the lockout at the Whiting refinery.
‘We write to express serious concerns regarding the ongoing lockout of union workers at the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana,’ the letter says. ‘Skilled workers are vital for the operations and maintenance of this critical facility, and we have received outreach from community members expressing concern that this lockout jeopardizes health and safety, the region’s economic stability, and our nation’s energy security.’”
NWI News: Rep. Mrvan pressed Energy Secretary on order keeping NIPSCO coal plant open [NWI News, 4/17/26]
Post-Tribune: US Rep. Frank Mrvan plants seeds for discussing ag issues with new advisory council [Post-Tribune, 1/30/26]
“Energy costs, tariffs and other financial issues are putting the squeeze on farmers, U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan was told Wednesday. Mrvan, D-Highland, convened his newly created Agriculture Advisory Council in Crown Point to get input from experts in their fields.
‘I wanted to have real-life conversations on the fed government and how it’s impacting farming and the ability to produce,’ Mrvan said.”
Post-Tribune: Mrvan answers questions on Iran, election and ICE in St. John [Post-Tribune, 3/10/26]
“During the community conversation, Mrvan explained why it’s important for him to meet with constituents. ‘I do my very best to absorb it and move forward,’ Mrvan said. ‘Never give up hope that our government isn’t about engagement and civil activity, meaning being involved. Never, ever give up hope on that.’”
Post-Tribune: Mrvan secures funding Ivanhoe demolition, expand Gary airport [Post-Tribune, 1/24/26]
Post-Tribune: Porter County commissioner embarked on office refresh before she was in office [Post Tribune, 2/4/23]
“Before Barb Regnitz had even been sworn into office as Porter County’s newest commissioner, representing Center District, she had already embarked on an office renovation.
…
“Neither Regnitz’s predecessor in the office space, fellow Republican Jeff Good, who chose not to seek a third term in office, nor the other two commissioners, Jim Biggs, R-North and Laura Blaney, D-South, invested any county funds in sprucing up their offices.”
PATH TO VICTORY:
Thanks to his deep ties to the community and clear record of service, Congressman Frank Mrvan has twice won this competitive seat in political environments that were unfriendly to Democrats, including overperforming the top of the ticket in 2024 by eight points. In that same election, Frank improved on his own 2022 margin by nearly three points, proving that his support is only growing with his time in office.
Heading into November, Frank is facing an out-of-touch, uninspiring opponent in a political environment where frustrated voters are more open to supporting Democrats than ever before as people from Northwest Indiana continue to face the impacts of D.C. Republicans’ price-spiking agenda.
A racially-diverse district, more than one third of IN-01 is non-White, Frank has worked to consistently deliver for Black and Latino voters, regularly meeting with community leaders in towns like Gary and East Chicago. Almost two-thirds of the district’s voters live in Mrvan’s home county of Lake, where he has won a clear majority in every cycle since he first ran for the seat in 2020.
As an historic overperformer who is building on positive momentum and an indisputable record of fighting for the Region, Frank is in a strong position to win re-election in 2026. |
