Senator Jean Breaux (D-Indianapolis) delivered a speech on the Senate floor, opposing Indiana’s near-total abortion ban on August 5, 2022. Unfortunately, the Senate Democratic caucus announced that Senator Breaux had passed away. She had been struggling with an infection that prevented her from attending the entire 2024 legislative session. On Monday, her office released a statement confirming that she would be spending her final days surrounded by loved ones.
Senator Breaux served in the Senate for almost 18 years, having been first elected in 2006 to the seat previously held by her mother, Billie Breaux. In her farewell statement, she expressed pride in her work to address issues such as Black infant and maternal mortality, access to healthy food in food deserts, and reproductive justice. Senate Democratic Leader Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis) mourned the loss of Senator Breaux and recognized the impact she had on countless lives.
Brandon Smith, the Statehouse bureau chief, can be contacted at bsmith@ipbs.org or followed on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5. The content is copyrighted to IPB News in 2024.
