Congressman Todd Young's (R-9th) announcement he‘ll run for the Senate creates a second open U.S. House race in Indiana next year. Senator Erin Houchin (R-Salem) says she‘s considering a bid for Young‘s seat. She was U.S. Senator Dan Coats‘ regional director before running for office herself last year, and was Ninth District Republican Party chair when Young wrested the seat away from Democrat Baron Hill.
Houchin says she doesn‘t have a timeline in mind for a decision, but says constituents have been encouraging her to make the race.
"We are preparing having those conversations, getting ready to make the decisions," Houchin says.
She says there‘s a need for someone in Washington to, in her words, "fight back against the liberal agenda." Attorney General Greg Zoeller is a New Albany native, and has said in the past he‘d consider a run if Young gave up the seat. He‘s up for reelection next year. Houchin‘s Senate seat isn‘t on the ballot again until 2018. Coats‘ decision to retire from the Senate next year has opened up two House seats. Like Young, Congressman Marlin Stutzman (R-3rd) is passing on reelection to run for Coats‘ seat.
