Join Team Hicks! Please complete the form, and we will be in touch.
About Demetrice Hicks
I come from humble beginnings, and I understand that hard work, education, and opportunity are the foundations of strong communities and a rewarding future.
I am a public servant, nonprofit leader, and community advocate with real-world experience improving the issues families face every day. I currently serve as an elected township legislative official, where I oversee local government operations, budgets, and essential services that directly impact our neighborhoods.
Professionally, I serve as Director of Clinical Operations for an Indianapolis nonprofit. I oversee assessment, crisis intervention, and community-based mental health services for families and youth. My work places me on the front lines of issues that matter most to Hoosiers—access to mental healthcare, child welfare, public safety, and economic stability.
I have served on multiple governing and nonprofit boards across Central Indiana and remain deeply engaged in community service. I also serve as State Social Action Director for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, where I advocate for the voiceless, support marginalized communities, and help develop the next generation of leaders through civic engagement, mentorship, and service.
I hold an Associate of Applied Science, a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science and Legal Studies, and a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work. My leadership is grounded in both lived experience and professional expertise.
I am running for State Senate to deliver practical solutions, fiscal responsibility, and accountable leadership for Pike Township, Wayne Township, Boone County, and Hamilton County. I am committed to strengthening public schools, expanding access to healthcare and improving affordability, supporting working families, and ensuring every community in District 29 has a strong voice at the Statehouse.
I respectfully ask for your vote and the opportunity to serve Senate District 29 with integrity, transparency, and results-driven leadership.
Advocacy
I live by two simple notions:
“Help, Not Harm.” & “People Before Politics.”
Hicks is:
- An elected official serving within Senate District 29
- A Director of Clinical Operations with real-world experience
- An Adjunct Professor committed to education and opportunity
- A coalition builder who brings people together to get results
- A servant leader
- A two-term elected caucus president with proven political leadership experience
- A leader who works across the aisle without compromising values
- Accountable to the people — not special interests
- A protector of the environment and advocate for safe, clean drinking water
- A supporter of public servants such as firefighter’s, teachers, veterans, law enforcement, and mental health providers
Our community has a right to be represented and our collective voices heard.
Proven Political & Community Leadership
I currently serve as an elected official within Indiana Senate District 29, working every day on behalf of the people. My leadership is grounded in direct accountability to constituents and hands-on experience governing at the local level.
I am proud to be one of the youngest elected officials in the State of Indiana to hold a township legislative seat, and I currently serve as President of the Pike Township Board which is the legislative and fiscal body of the township. In this role, I provide leadership over township operations and decision-making that directly impacts thousands of residents.
As President and a member of the Township Legislative Body, my official responsibilities include:
- Setting the legislative agenda for the township
- Leading legislative priorities that balance community needs with responsible governance
- Providing district representation and constituent services
- Creating and passing township ordinance resolutions
- Approving, rejecting, or amending the township operating budget
- Stewardship of the township government budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency
- Working in conjunction with the Township Executive, Township Judge, and Township Constable as a co-equal branch of government, maintaining checks and balances
Political Leadership & Caucus Experience
I am a two-term elected President of the Indiana Democratic African American Caucus (IDAAC), a statewide political organization focused on civic engagement, voter mobilization, and leadership development. Under my leadership, the caucus:
- Helped elect a record number of minorities and women to county and state offices
- Strengthened candidate recruitment pipelines
- Built coordinated relationships between local communities, county parties, and the Statehouse
- Expanded political education and engagement in historically underrepresented communities
My role required strategic leadership, coalition management, and district-wide coordination. These skills are directly transferable to serving effectively in the Indiana Senate.
Precinct & Grassroots Organizing Leadership
In addition to my elected and caucus leadership roles, I have extensive precinct-level organizing and field experience, understanding that elections are won and governance is strengthened from the ground up.
My precinct-level responsibilities and experience include:
- Organizing and supporting precinct captains and volunteers
- Voter registration, education, and turnout efforts
- Coordinating canvassing, phone banking, and community outreach
- Serving as a liaison between voters, local party leadership, and elected officials
- Identifying community concerns and translating them into policy advocacy
- Supporting Democratic candidates up and down the ballot
This work has given me a deep understanding of:
-
- Voter priorities at the neighborhood level
- How policy decisions impact real households
- The importance of sustained engagement beyond Election Day
HICKS STANDS FOR
Protecting Children, Families & Foster Youth
I have spent years organizing community members, service providers, and state leaders to deliver meaningful reform for Indiana’s most vulnerable families.
In 2019, I helped organize community and agency support for the passage of Indiana Senate Bill 1, a landmark reform that paved the way for improved outcomes for distressed families, foster youth, and Children in Need of Services (CHINS). That work required coalition-building across systems, disciplines, and political lines — and it delivered real change.
In 2022, I leveraged strong partnerships at both the community level and the Statehouse to advance bipartisan legislation removing barriers for foster youth, resulting in new policies that help young people in foster care obtain driver’s licenses and affordable car insurance — practical tools that promote independence and long-term stability.
As your State Senator, I will continue to fight for policies that put children and families first — not bureaucracy.
Mental Health
As a Director of Clinical Operations for an Indianapolis nonprofit, I understand how policy decisions impact real people.
In 2022, I stood alongside service providers and advocates in support of House Bill 1222 to strengthen Indiana’s behavioral health system by expanding access to community-based mental health services through Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. The approved measure made it easier for Hoosiers to get help where and when they need it. This was not accidental; it was the result of intentional organizing, sustained advocacy, and collaboration.
Standing Up for Local Control & Public Safety
In 2024, I fought on behalf of communities in Senate District 29 against Senate Bill 54, which would have allowed Indianapolis to force the merger of fire departments in Pike, Decatur, and Wayne Townships with the Indianapolis Fire Department.
I worked with township leaders, firefighters, and residents to oppose this bill because:
- It undermined local control
- It threatened public safety response times
- It ignored the voices of affected communities
That effort was successful — the bill never received a committee vote and was effectively stopped for the session.
Protecting & Strengthening Public Education
As both an Adjunct Professor and community leader, I understand the importance of strong public schools not just academically, but as anchors for neighborhoods and opportunity.
In 2025, I organized and led a coalition to protect public education. We successfully defeated HB1136 and stood up to policies that would have weakened our schools. That coalition successfully pushed back and protected students, educators, and families.
As State Senator, protecting public education will be a top priority — not a talking point.
Hicks’ State Legislative Priorities
- Protect and fully fund public education
- Support teacher compensation increases
- Expand state resources for students with special needs
- Oppose efforts that weaken local schools or divert critical funding
- Reduce healthcare costs by lowering immediate out-of-pocket expenses
- Expand eligibility for financial assistance programs
- Fight to reverse detrimental cuts to ABA Therapy waiver services through Medicaid that have harmed Indiana families
- Incentivize managed care entities to improve affordability and access
- Continue investing in mental health, recovery services, and prevention
No young person should age out of Indiana’s foster care system into homelessness, unemployment, or instability. That is a failure of government , not the child.
As Your State Senator, I Will:
Support and hold the Indiana Department of Child Services and contracted providers accountable for delivering real outcomes, not just checking boxes. Success must be measured by housing stability, employment, life skills and educational attainment for youth leaving care.
Invest in education and workforce pathways for foster youth, including tuition assistance, job training, apprenticeships, and partnerships with employers that lead to real careers.
Conduct county field visits to hear directly from frontline staff about what’s working, what’s broken, and what support is needed.
Regularly attend the Indiana Youth Advisory Board meetings to ensure youth with lived experience help shape policy and oversight decisions.
Affordable, dependable child care isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for working families and a critical part of strengthening our workforce and economy.
Right now, Indiana loses billions in productivity each year because too many parents cannot access affordable care. With strong state revenues and reserves, we have the opportunity and responsibility to make meaningful investments.
As State Senator, I will:
- Expand affordability. Use surplus and budget appropriations to grow eligibility for child care assistance and reduce out-of-pocket costs for families.
- Grow the workforce. Provide tax incentives so child care providers can recruit and retain skilled staff.
- Innovate care models. Support employer-partnered child care solutions, flexible scheduling, and extended hours to meet the needs of today’s workforce.
- Ensure child care investments are included in both biennial budgets and targeted surplus allocations.
By making child care more affordable, we unleash the potential of parents, expand our workforce, and strengthen our economy.
Too many Hoosier families are being priced out of safe, stable housing. In communities across Marion, Boone, and Hamilton Counties, working people deserve the security of a home they can afford.
Our state has the financial strength to act with billions in projected surplus funds through 2027, and we must invest that strength into real solutions now.
As State Senator, I will:
- Build more affordable homes. Launch targeted incentives for developers to build mixed-income and workforce housing near transit and job centers.
- Protect families from losing their homes. Expand eviction prevention and rental assistance so temporary hardships do not become long-term displacement.
- Focus on long-term stability. Fund evidence-based rapid re-housing programs to move people from crisis to stability quickly.
- Leverage surplus dollars. Advocate for strategic budget and supplemental appropriations using surplus funds to support housing programs and end chronic homelessness.
Hoosiers should not be one paycheck away from being unhoused. As your State Senator, I will use every budget and policy tool available to safeguard families and strengthen communities.
- Advocate for state matching grants for:
- Road reconstruction
- Intersection improvements
- Prioritize safety, accessibility, and long-term planning for growing communities
Our veterans answered the call to serve, and Indiana has a responsibility to ensure they are supported long after they return home.
As State Senator, I will fight to:
- Expand access to mental health and behavioral health services for veterans, including trauma-informed care and substance-use treatment
- Strengthen employment pipelines that connect veterans to good-paying jobs and apprenticeship programs
- Improve access to housing stability, healthcare, and benefits navigation, especially for veterans facing homelessness or transitioning back into civilian life
- Ensure state programs work in coordination with federal VA resources, so veterans aren’t left navigating bureaucracy alone
Supporting veterans means delivering real services, not symbolic gestures.
Indiana’s economy runs on the strength of working people. Union workers build our communities, protect our public safety, and keep essential services running every day.
I believe workers deserve:
- Fair wages, safe working conditions, and strong benefits
- A seat at the table when decisions are made that affect their livelihoods
- Respect for the right to organize and collectively bargain
As State Senator, I will:
- Support policies that protect collective bargaining rights
- Advocate for prevailing wage standards on public projects
- Invest in apprenticeships, workforce training, and career pipelines
- Stand with firefighters,police, teachers, healthcare workers, tradespeople, and public employees who keep our communities strong
When workers thrive, communities thrive.
Seniors deserve to age with dignity, independence, and security, not fear about healthcare costs, housing, or basic needs.
I will work to:
- Protect seniors from rising healthcare and prescription drug costs
- Expand access to home- and community-based services so seniors can age in place
- Strengthen oversight of long-term care facilities to ensure safety and accountability
- Support property-tax relief and utility protections for seniors on fixed incomes
- Invest in transportation options that keep seniors connected to their communities
Our elders built Indiana. We owe them policies that honor their contributions and protect their quality of life.
Senate District 29 is home to some of Indiana’s largest wetlands, waterways, and green spaces — natural resources that protect our drinking water, reduce flooding, and strengthen our communities.
As State Senator, I will:
- Protect wetlands and green spaces that serve as natural flood control and water filtration systems
- Safeguard clean, safe drinking water by supporting strong environmental protections and infrastructure investment
- Oppose policies that weaken environmental standards or ignore local input
- Support responsible growth that balances economic development with conservation
Protecting our environment isn’t optional, it’s about public health, quality of life, and leaving future generations with a cleaner, safer Indiana.
Protect Townships and Local Decision-Making
Townships know their communities better than distant bureaucracies. Decisions about public safety, land use, infrastructure, and community services should be made as close to the people as possible.
As a state senator, I will:
- Defend township authority from unfunded mandates and one-size-fits-all state policies.
- Ensure local governments have a real seat at the table before state laws are passed that impact them.
- Oppose policies that strip local control
Every dollar spent by the government is a dollar entrusted by the public. Transparency and accountability are not optional; they are essential.
I will work to:
- Strengthen public reporting requirements so residents can easily see how funds are allocated and spent.
- Require clear performance metrics for state-funded programs.
- Eliminate waste, duplication, and unnecessary administrative costs.
When taxpayers can follow the money, the government earns trust—and better decisions follow.
Townships know their communities better than distant bureaucracies. Decisions about public safety, land use, infrastructure, and community services should be made as close to the people as possible.
As a state senator, I will:
- Defend township authority from unfunded mandates and one-size-fits-all state policies.
- Ensure local governments have a real seat at the table before state laws are passed that impact them.
- Oppose policies that strip local control
Indiana’s economy is strong and showing GDP momentum, Fortune-500 leadership in sectors like health care, life sciences, and manufacturing, and a thriving small business community. But growth must be inclusive and built on local opportunity.
As State Senator, I will:
- Advocate for policies that help Hoosier businesses grow, hire, and innovate.
- Fuel small business growth. Expand access to capital through grants, low-interest loans, and mentorship programs – especially for diverse and emerging entrepreneurs.
- Connect workers to jobs. Partner with community colleges, trades and employers to expand apprenticeships, workforce training, and career pathways that lead to high-wage work.
- Invest in infrastructure that attracts jobs. Direct surplus funding and budget priorities toward broadband, transportation, and redevelopment of key economic corridors.
- Reward quality jobs. Support economic incentives that reward businesses for creating stable, high-paying positions within our local communities.
Indiana’s economic success should be everyone’s success – from startup founders to the workers they employ.
- Freedom Means Choice: Women have the right to make their own healthcare decisions, period.
- Trust Patients & Doctors: These decisions belong between a patient and their provider, not politicians.
- Protect Access: Ensure access to safe, legal reproductive healthcare, including contraception and the full range of essential care services.
- Equality for All: Every Hoosier deserves dignity, respect, and equal protection under the law.
- End Discrimination: No one should face discrimination in jobs, housing, healthcare, or education because of who they are.
- Freedom Means Everyone: True freedom means being able to live openly and love authentically without fear.
News & Media
Contact Us
Do you have questions for Demetrice or about his campaign?
We’d love to hear from you! Leave a message and we will get in touch with you shortly.