Carson Kitchen, a Huntington North High School alum, is currently honing his legislative skills as an intern for the Indiana Senate Majority Caucus in the 2025 session. The statehouse role has him working directly under State Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington), according to information from a Indiana Senate Republicans announcement.
Originally from Huntington, Kitchen's academic journey included a local start at Huntington North followed by a focus on entrepreneurial small business management at Huntington University, where he's currently a senior. The internship embeds him deep into the legislative belly, with responsibilities that include tracking bill data, staffing committee hearings, and conducting policy research—a tall order for a young intern aiming to cut his teeth in the throes of state politics.
State Sen. Zay highlighted the dual benefits of the internship program, emphasizing that interns like Kitchen are crucial during the "busy legislative session," helping "the Senate run smoothly" while simultaneously gaining valuable professional experience. These interns are not just supplementary gears in the legislative machine; they're also students in the classroom of governance, learning the intricacies of policy-making first hand, as per the Indiana Senate Republicans.
Kitchen expressed enthusiasm about his role and the insight it affords him into state operations. "I am thrilled to be a part of the legislative process in Indiana and create a better future for Hoosiers," Kitchen said, in a statement echoed by the Indiana Senate Republicans. His stint at the statehouse is more than a mere internship—it's an avenue to witness and partake in the crafting of policy intended to shape the lives of his fellow Indiana residents.
The internship is not just a brief interlude; it spans the entire legislative session, expected to adjourn by April 29. Throughout this period, Kitchen and his peer interns are likely to encounter the complex realities of governance—a process often veiled from the public eye yet critical to the function of the state.
