COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. — Republican state Sen. Marlin Stutzman, who was considered a front-runner and favored by tea party voters disenchanted with Washington, was chosen Saturday to replace former U.S. Rep. Mark Souder on the November ballot.
GOP officials in northeast Indiana's 3rd Congressional District picked the Howe lawmaker during a caucus. Stutzman said afterward he was confident that his support at the caucus would translate into a strong campaign.
"It's really about the size and scope of our federal government," Stutzman told The Associated Press. "The direction that they have been taking our country with spending is just crippling the economy."
Stutzman impressed many by running a strong campaign and finishing second in a five-way May primary for U.S. Senate that former Sen. Dan Coats won.
A total of 15 Republicans sought the chance to replace Souder, who resigned last month after admitting to an extramarital affair with a staffer. Stutzman will be on the ballot as the GOP candidate for both the general election and a special election to fill the remainder of Souder's current term.
Both elections will be Nov. 2.
Democrat Tom Hayhurst is already on the ballot for the general election. Democrats meet Thursday in Fort Wayne to choose a candidate for the special election, but most expect Hayhurst to win that caucus.
Democrats started dogging Stutzman even before Saturday's caucus, saying his new run at a seat in Washington means he can't claim he isn't a career politician, as he did in the primary. Stutzman, who first won election to the Indiana House in 2002 at age 26, has said he'd rather be running his farm in Howe but thinks Washington needs fresh blood.
Stutzman worked for Souder in the past and has denied allegations that his campaign was involved in publicizing the long-running rumors about the affair that brought Souder down.
Stutzman said he heard rumors of the affair, as did others, but didn't know it was true until Souder admitted it when he announced his resignation.
Democrats are hoping Souder's resignation hurts the GOP's chances of holding onto the seat in November in a year that many expect will favor Republicans. Republicans hope the district's GOP leanings will prevail in the fall; John McCain carried the 3rd District by more than 10 points in the 2008 presidential election.
Hayhurst has said it doesn't matter who his Republican opponent is.
Souder's resignation continues a significant turnover among Indiana's congressional delegation this year.
Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh announced in February he wouldn't seek re-election, saying he had tired of Congress. Democratic Rep. Brad Ellsworth is leaving his southern Indiana seat to run for Bayh's seat. Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer said he wouldn't seek a 10th House term after his wife was diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disease.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
