While neither Luke Messer nor fellow GOP Rep. Todd Rokita has announced that they will challenge Indiana Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly this cycle, both men have given every indication that they’re planning to run, and they have even already begun exchanging blows in the press. However, the local political newsletter Howey Politics reports that three other Republicans are interested in getting in. State Attorney General Curtis Hill, who served as Elkhart County prosecutor from 2003 until his statewide win last year, hasn’t said anything publicly. However, Howey reports that Hill is making phone calls about a possible bid and staffing up.
Howey also says that state Rep. Mike Braun is “reportedly making calls” about a possible bid, though he also hasn’t said anything publicly. Braun had a long business career before he won office in 2014, including a decades-long stint as owner of the distribution company Meyer Distributing, which has locations in 34 states. It’s possible that if Braun is interested, he has the connections to raise a serious amount of money and the ability to self-fund.
Last cycle, state Sen. Mike Delph flirted with running for Indiana’s other Senate seat, but ultimately passed after anti-establishment groups like the Club for Growth consolidated behind Rep. Marlin Stutzman’s unsuccessful bid. Delph isn’t ruling out a campaign this time, telling Howey that he’ll “address 2018” after his daughter’s June 25 wedding.
As for Messer and Rokita, we may not need to wait too long for their official decisions. Back in March, Messer said he was “probably a couple of months away from making a final decision,” which would put his announcement around… about now. As for Rokita, “sources close to” the congressman tell Howey they expect him to declare he’s running in the early summer.