Indiana Democrat’s forum remarks on Republicans, ICE go viral: ‘We have guns too’

A Democratic candidate for a county council seat in eastern Indiana is drawing national attention after telling viewers of a televised forum that she would “fire all Republicans” and closing with the warning, “We have guns too.”

Jaime West, the Democratic nominee for Fayette County Council District 4, made the remarks Friday during a candidate forum sponsored by LocalTV3 and the Connersville News-Examiner, according to The National News Desk.

Asked what decision she might make in office that some voters would find unpopular, West answered, “Firing all Republicans,” and said she doesn’t talk to them or like them. She blamed Republican voters for the immigration enforcement she said was taking jobs in her community, according to Mediaite.

Ms. West said she had been threatened to her face by supporters of President Trump. She distinguished between “good Republicans” and some in the MAGA movement, whom she described as racist and unintelligent. She also alleged that a sheriff’s nephew had threatened to blow her head off.

Fayette County Sheriff Zac Jones rejected the claim. He told Fox News Digital he has five nieces and no nephews, does not know Ms. West and is certain she does not know what she is talking about. Fox reported it was unclear which sheriff Ms. West meant.

Asked by moderator Amy Graham-McCarty, the News-Examiner’s managing editor, for a final message to voters, Ms. West looked into the camera, said “We have guns too” and raised both hands.

Earlier in the forum, Ms. West said she opposed raising taxes and opposed data centers in the county. She said she would require such facilities to pay each resident $10,000, reported 812NOW. She also said Connersville’s fire chief had told her a firehouse could be lost without a change in direction. Chief Scott Jones disputed that on Facebook. He said no fire station closures are planned and that he has no affiliation with the Democratic Party or its candidates, the outlet reported.

The clip spread widely online after being shared by the conservative account Libs of TikTok, whose post asked whether Ms. West was intoxicated. The suggestion has not been substantiated. West did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News and Mediaite.

Ms. West is running against Republican Gary Keener Jr., who did not attend the forum because of prior business commitments. A statement from him was read by the moderator, according to The National News Desk. Election Day is Nov. 3, per the GoodParty.org voter guide.