BLOOMINGTON – Isaac Chapman Whitehead, president of the Indiana University chapter of College Democrats, has been elected Chair of the College Democrats of America Rural Caucus in a virtual meeting of peer chapters nationwide. He is the only College Democrat from Indiana to hold a Chair position with the National College Democrats.
“Action is the antidote of despair,” said Chapman Whitehead, echoing the Monroe County Democrats’ motto. “Through targeted social media, virtual town halls, focused training, and spotlighting chapters in rural areas, we will organize and mobilize voters. We will replicate the strategies that delivered decisive wins in Virginia this year.”
Chapman Whitehead launched his activism in 2024 as Organizer and Policy Specialist for the Indiana Rural Summit. He briefed Democratic legislative candidates on Republican incumbents’ policy positions and statements, and he helped organize six outreach events across Southern Indiana that brought candidates and aligned community groups together for coordinated action.
He is currently partnering with peers at Indiana universities to raise funds for internships that will support candidates involved in the Indiana Rural Summit.
Chapman Whitehead’s victory reflects sustained outreach to rural-state peers and unanimous support from Indiana College Democrats’ chapter presidents. Indiana College Democrats are active at Purdue, Butler, Indiana University Bloomington, IU Indianapolis, the University of Indianapolis, Indiana State, St. Mary’s College, the University of Notre Dame, Ball State, IU Kokomo, and DePauw College.
“My campaign pledged to equip rural chapters with the resources and tools they need to run effective campus and community mobilization campaigns,” Chapman Whitehead said. “My goal is to train students in civic engagement, activism, and leadership to elect Democrats.”
“We’re going to work relentlessly to activate young voters on campuses and in surrounding communities,” he added. “For too long, young voters have felt disenfranchised. We will change that. As Martin Luther King said, ‘Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.’”
Chapman Whitehead is a junior at Indiana University Bloomington, majoring in law and public policy. He is a graduate of Castle High School.
