With 16 Candidates, It’s Clear Republicans Are In For A Messy Primary
Today’s Indiana candidate filing deadline closed with *16* Republican candidates filed to run in the 5th Congressional District. Now the Indiana GOP is faced with a looming primary that is already being described locally as “bruising.” Hoosier Republicans are increasingly anxious about holding the once reliably Republican seat and are unnerved by what this “crowded field” will mean for their chances. So jittery that one GOP consultant called the race “Disasterville.”
“The stark reality is that Republicans are nervous about keeping this seat they once easily carried. Instead of a clear field, they have an absolute clown car of weak candidates lining up to tear each other to shreds, and light the precious few dollars they have raised on fire while they do it,” said DCCC Spokesperson Courtney Rice. “No matter who emerges from this muddled mess of a primary, the Republican nominee will be bruised and penniless for the general.”
What Indiana Papers and Republicans Are *Already* Saying About This Messy Primary That Has Just Barely Begun:
Importantville: One GOP consultant recently described the “largely undefined Republican” as “Disasterville.”
Associated Press: “Republicans could see a bruising campaign for the party’s nomination in the May primary […] But Democrats have had some recent local election success in the district and many party leaders are backing lieutenant governor nominee Christina Hale for their nomination.”
Indy Star: “For the second quarter in a row, Democrat Christina Hale raised more money than any Democrat or Republican running for the 5th Congressional District seat that Congresswoman Susan Brooks will be vacating.”
Christina Hale was recently added to the DCCC’s competitive Red to Blue program and has been endorsed by EMILY’s List, Latino Victory Fund, BOLD PAC, and NARAL.