Hoffman Switching Sides: Dems Say, Not Surprised
Delaware County prosecutor Eric Hoffman announced this week he will run for re-election next year as a Republican after winning two elections as a Democrat. In a press release, Hoffman described the decision as personal and said he no longer identifies with the national Democrat policies on crime prevention. Delaware County Democratic Party leader Andrew Dale called Hoffman’s departure “the worst-kept secret for some time now” in a release and described the prosecutor’s feelings of being left behind by the Democrats as “odd.” Dale called Hoffman’s decision a statement of values and said voters should consider it when they cast their ballots next year.
Hoffman’s Release here:
From: Eric M. Hoffman, Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney
HOFFMAN ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION
I am proud to announce that I have decided to run for re-election next year as Delaware County’s Prosecuting Attorney. While it is true that the prosecuting attorney is a political office in the sense that the prosecutor is elected by the people they serve, a prosecutor has no public policy to pursue in a political manner. I took an oath to uphold and enforce the law as it is written regardless of what political party I associate with. The fact of the matter is that if a prosecutor holds true to his or her oath of office, fairly enforces the law, and holds people accountable for their actions, the prosecutor’s political party should not even be an issue. I have been elected prosecutor twice as a Democrat. I was raised in a traditional bluecollar, union, middle-class Democrat family where certain moderate core values like God, family, and country were instilled in me. We stood and took our hats off for our national anthem, proudly recited the pledge of allegiance, and respected law enforcement. However, it seems that something has changed. Over the last few years, it has become obvious to me that the national Democrat party has shifted away from those core values that I believe are so very important. To borrow a phrase from President Ronald Reagan, “I didn’t leave the Democrat Party, the Democrat Party left me.” Like many others, I do not feel that there is room under the Democrat tent for a conservative moderate like me. I simply cannot be affiliated with a national party that supports or endorses such things as “defund the police” movements or soft-on-crime policies that accomplish nothing but place police officers and other innocent victims in harm’s way. Therefore, after much thought, consideration as well as consultation with my family and campaign manager Terry Winters, next year when I run for re-election I will be running as a Republican. The Delaware County Republican Party has allowed me to run on the Republican ticket and I am very thankful for the opportunity to do so. This is a personal decision that I have come to over the past few years. I have always been blessed to receive bipartisan friendship and support and I will no doubt continue to do so. My professional record speaks for itself. I have spent my entire legal career pursuing justice, prosecuting those who violate the criminal law, and upholding the rights of victims regardless of party affiliation. I am an ardent supporter of the rule of law and unapologetically hold those who break the law accountable for their actions.The day-to-day operations of the prosecutor’s office will not change. We will continue to hold those who violate the law accountable, uphold the rule of law, and help keep Delaware County a safe place to live and work. During the past seven years, my team and I have accomplished many great things. I have the best team of deputy prosecutors, investigators, and support staff in the state and we work hard as a team to seek justice. I look forward to continuing my service to the people of Delaware County as their Prosecuting Attorney.
Eric graduated from Ball State University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science and then Indiana University McKinney School of Law in 2003 with a Doctor of Jurisprudence. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Indiana, the United States Supreme Court, the Seventh Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, and the Federal District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana. Eric has spent his entire legal career fighting crime and in Delaware County. He first joined the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office in 1999 as a Ball State Intern. Then, in 2001, while attending law school, Eric was hired as a law clerk by the Prosecutor’s Office. In 2003, he was hired as a full time Deputy Prosecuting Attorney within the office. In 2012, Eric was appointed Delaware County’s Chief Trial Deputy Prosecutor. In November of 2018 Eric was elected to his first term as Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney and re-elected in 2022. He personally prosecutes homicide cases and other selected crimes of violence. Additionally, Eric is responsible for training and supervising a staff of 12 deputy prosecutors. Eric’s passion is pursuing justice on behalf of those who have been victimized by crime, especially those who have no voice and cannot protect themselves. Eric has served as a volunteer on many professional and community-oriented boards and committees. Eric frequently speaks on topics involving child abuse and neglect, child fatality, homicide, the insanity defense, and victims’ rights. Eric lives in Muncie Indiana with his 3 children.
Delaware County Democratic Party Release here:
April 17, 2025
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP RESPONDS TO HOFFMAN’S DEPARTURE
MUNCIE, IN — The leadership of the Delaware County Democratic Party has responded to the Delaware County Prosecutor’s departure from the Democratic Party. “The worst kept secret for some time now has been Eric Hoffman’s departure from our local party. It’s odd that he feels left behind by our party when, in fact, the Democratic Party has unequivocally supported him during his past two elections in his role as a candidate for prosecutor,” said Andrew Dale, chairperson of the Delaware County Democratic Party. “What is telling is that, by his own choice, he has served as an on-and-off again precinct committeeperson and, as recently as last July, an active delegate at the Indiana State Democratic Convention where the tenets of fighting for the middle class, the equality of opportunity for all, and a fair and balanced approach to tax reform for Hoosiers were proclaimed,” said Dale. “The bottom line is simple. If Eric Hoffman believes his values and beliefs, as a prosecutor and as a citizen of Delaware County, Indiana, most align with the policies of the National Republican Party, then he’s making a statement of where his values sit. That is something the people of Delaware County should consider when voting for anyone seeking an elected office. Our local Democratic Party is blazing a new path forward, providing voters the ability to convert angst into action, and in 2026 we will be running a competitive and forward-thinking slate of candidates whose values and actions embody the mission of the Democratic Party,” said Dale.
Needs for update, and expansion at Ball Hospital. Appearing on “WMUN’s Delaware County Today” on Tuesday morning, IU Health East Region president Dr. Jeff Bird acknowledged the need for modernizing the Muncie hospital. Hear the entire interview this weekend on This Week in Delaware County, first airing 9 a.m. Saturday on WMUN.
In a guest column for the Ball State Daily News, Muncie Community Schools CEO Dr. Chuck Reynolds highlighted several accomplishments in his first year of leadership, making special note of the increase in preschool enrollment. Muncie had just 50 students enrolled six years ago, and the number jumped to 300 this year. Reynolds wrote that sets a strong base for success in the children’s academic careers.
As we told you first earlier this week, tomorrow’s Easter egg hunt at the Muncie Knights of Columbus is postponed until April 26 at 3 p.m. That day. Hear Brad Robertson as a guest on WMUN’s Come On Over with Tiara Hicks, tomorrow from 8 – 8:30 a.m.
Indiana cities and towns are trying to determine what to do – as for when reductions in property tax revenues hit
Yorktown Manager Chase Bruton, on next steps
Hear the entire interview on WMUNmuncie.com.
A provision in the state budget passed by the Indiana Senate this week would eliminate caseload limits for the Indiana Department of Child Services. The Indy Star reports DCS has overspent its budget in recent years despite regular increases, and eliminating some family case manager positions could save taxpayers significant money. But DCS’ internal reports show the organization already was 135 family case managers short of staffing needs in its most recent annual report. Among the duties of family case managers is the investigation of child abuse and neglect.
Ball State oversees Muncie Community Schools, and we asked BSU Pres. Mearns for his hope, in the wake of funding losses coming
The signing of SB1 includes many angles that continue to be complicated to navigate.
The recently passed property tax bill remains a hot topic across the state. During an appearance on “Delaware County Today” this week, Yorktown town manager Chase Bruton acknowledged there will be some funding questions for municipalities in the future. He also said there’s more research to be done on the bill itself
Listen to “Delaware County Today” Monday through Friday from 8 to 9 a.m. on WMUN.
A former Winchester resident is accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a child. The Star Press reports 36-year-old Bryant Q. Barnes was charged this week with child molesting and child solicitation in Randolph County Court. The crimes allegedly took place in Winchester in 2015 and involved an elementary school student. Barnes, who now lives in Greenville, Ohio, was convicted of nonsupport of a dependant child in Adams County in 2023 and driving while suspended in Randolph County in 2015.
