George Hornedo is a Democrat running for Congress in Indianapolis. But party leaders are denying him access to the basic tools nearly every Democratic campaign uses because he’s challenging the status quo.

 

Despite following every step, citing the law, and qualifying under state statute, Hornedo’s campaign was denied access to the Democratic voter file (VAN)—the infrastructure used by campaigns to reach voters, mobilize volunteers, and compete on equal footing.

 

The decision wasn’t based on any rule, policy, or bylaw. There were no hearings. No consistent rationale. Just shifting excuses and an insider apparatus trying to protect itself.

 

And VAN is just the beginning.

 

What’s Happening

This isn’t one incident. It’s part of a pattern.

 

• VAN Access Denied: Despite meeting legal and procedural standards, Hornedo’s campaign was blocked from accessing VAN. The party cited a non-public flowchart, misapplied a DNC policy that doesn’t even govern state parties, and changed its reasoning multiple times.

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• Personal Retaliation: A former party official told Hornedo directly, “If you run, you’re going to get hurt.” That official sits on the Indiana Election Commission, the body that would rule on any ballot access challenge.

 

• Event Access Blocked: Hornedo was denied entry to a Democratic event he RSVP’d for—another informal but intentional act of exclusion.

 

• Latino Caucus Pressure: Hornedo was told that unless he resigned from his longtime role on the Indiana Latino Democratic Caucus, he would be expelled despite years of service and no violation of caucus bylaws.

 

Together, these actions form a coordinated pattern: protect the incumbent, punish the challenger, and send a warning to anyone else thinking of stepping up without insider permission.

 

Read the Memo: Want the full story? We’ve documented everything: emails, timelines, statutes, and all.

Why It Matters

 

This is bigger than one campaign.

 

If running for office brings this kind of institutional pushback for someone with deep Democratic experience, what does that mean for the next teacher, nurse, or organizer who dares to lead?

 

Power is protecting itself. Not through votes or debate, but by controlling access, twisting rules, and keeping challengers out of the game.

 

We’re not here to play by rigged rules. We’re here to rewrite them.