Sunday, July 12, 2015

Todd Young Enters Senate Race


Ninth District Congressman Todd Young becomes the third major candidate to join the 2016 Republican primary race to succeed retiring Sen. Dan Coats. His campaign uploaded a video to YouTube today touting his candidacy, which includes his parents and wife. Between his family connection to former Vice President Dan Quayle and his ties to the military/industrial complex, he will likely have more money to spend on the race than other candidates. He has already raised over $1 million in campaign contributions this past quarter for the race and begins the race with more money than any other candidate.

Young is a Naval Academy graduate, completed naval intelligence officer training and was commissioned to the U.S. Marine Corps where he served until he was honorably discharged in 2000 with the rank of captain. He practiced with the law firm of Tucker & Tucker in Paoli for a short while following his graduation from IU's law school in Bloomington in 2006.

Young joins former Indiana State GOP Chairman Eric Holcomb and U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, who previously announced their candidacies. The Republican Senate race will produce two new members of Indiana's congressional delegation, if nothing else. A crowded field of Republican candidates are running to replace Stutzman in Indiana's Third District, including State Sen. Liz Brown and State Sen. Jim Banks. Attorney General Greg Zoeller is reportedly interested in running for Young's House seat. State Sen. Mike Delph has expressed an interest in the Republican Senate race as well, although some would prefer if he ran for Attorney General if Zoeller runs for the 9th District seat.

Former Ninth District U.S. Rep. Baron Hill is seeking the Democratic nomination for Senate. State Rep. Christina Hale, an Indianapolis lawmaker, opted against challenging Hill in the primary. Rep. Young easily vanquished Hill when he first won election to Congress in 2010.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please tell us who the Indiana party faithful will not support and I will send a check and lend a hand

Gary R. Welsh said...

Each of these candidates can claim some support from members of the party faithful. I would not consider any of them anti-establishment if that is what you are getting at.

Anonymous said...

I think Delph would make a good AG! But I don't think the Indiana Republican Establishment wants him there!

LamLawIndy said...

Gary, wouldn't Rep. Young & Eric Holcomb draw from the same "pool" of supporters (Establishment GOP, business interests) & leave Rep. Stutzman an opportunity to win amidst a divided field? Rep. Stutzman ran a masterful campaign in 2010 and -- IMHO -- may have won if he only faced Sen. Coats head-to-head.

Anonymous said...

I think 10:11 is correct and the reason would be self preservation..

Gary R. Welsh said...

You could look at it that way, Carlos, but some think Young entering the race actually helps Holcomb's chances.

Eric Morris said...

Which one of these people has sworn the most fealty to the real masters in AIPAC? That should tell you who will win.