Six candidates compete in a Republican caucus in Zionsville tonight to fill an open Indiana House seat.
Rep. Steve Braun (R-Zionsville) resigned immediately after his reelection to become Governor Pence‘s workforce development commissioner. The district is evenly divided between Zionsville and Carmel, and so are the six candidates.
Zionsville Town Councilwoman Susana Suarez is the only elected official in the group, but the field also includes former Hamilton County party secretary Donna Schaibley, and Elise Nieshalla, the daughter of former Rep. Cindy Noe (R-Indianapolis).
Also running are Zionsville anesthesiologist Alex Choi, Carmel speech pathologist Raju Chinthala, and Carmel attorney Keith Griffin.
The last-place candidate will be dropped from each ballot after the first one until someone gains a majority.
The caucus is one of three to fill the seats of Republican legislators who announced before the election they wouldn‘t serve. Sen. Amanda Banks (R-Columbia City) was unanimously selected last week as a temporary fill-in for her husband Jim while he‘s on active duty with the Navy.
On Monday, precinct leaders will choose a replacement for Rep. Eric Turner (R-Cicero). So far, former Hamilton Heights school superintendent Tony Cook is the only candidate for that seat.