Governor Mike Pence (R), and State school’s Superintendent Glenda Ritz (D), were both elected almost a year ago. Since then, Pence and Ritz have been at odds regarding how public education should be run, but the feud always remained polite. However, this fall the differing views between the two seemed to greatly intensify. Ritz is the only Democrat on the state school board, of which she serves as chairman. Actually, she is the only Democratic statewide officer in Indiana. Pence and other Republicans have been fighting to remove Ritz of her power on the school board. The position of chairman has always been given to the State Superintendent. Pence created a bill that would allow other board members, whom are all appointed by the governor, to choose their own chairman. The Indiana House approved this bill, 58 to 40, and the bill must now be forwarded to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved due to a Republican majority.

The issue many Hoosiers have over this bill is that it is undermining the people. Ritz received 52% of votes. She received a total of 1.3 million votes which is more than any other candidate on any ballot received statewide.