Portage Senator Karen Tallian is expected to enter the race for governor this week, giving Democrats a contested primary for the second time in three elections for the office.
2012 nominee John Gregg has already declared his intention to run, and at least two other Democrats have said they‘re considering it.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz says she‘ll decide next month whether to challenge Pence.
And House Minority Leader Scott Pelath tells Howey Politics Indiana he‘s looking at the race as well.
IPFW political scientist Andy Downs says all four current and prospective candidates bring a mix of pluses and minuses.
Downs says people generally view northwest Indiana as more liberal than the rest of the state, and says that could work against Tallian or Pelath.
"For Tallian maybe a little more so than Pelath," says Downs. "If you look at the legislation they have proposed over the years it's a little more left-leaning than probably the state is looking for in its governor. That does not mean that they're wouldn't be some folks around the state who would see that as kind of refreshing."
Downs says John Gregg can point to his narrow loss four years ago as reason for hope, but he still lost -- and some Democrats fault him for waiting too long to go after Pence directly.
