Democratic gubernatorial candidate Glenda Ritz
On Thursday, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz
kicked off her campaign against Republican Gov. Mike Pence. Ritz, who is the only Democrat to hold statewide office aside from Sen. Joe Donnelly, has had a bad relationship with Pence ever since she took office in 2013. The two came into conflict over education policies, and Pence and the GOP legislature have worked to
diminish Ritz's influence. Pence recently signed a bill that would require the state education board to elect its chair starting in 2017 rather than allow the superintendent to automatically get the post, and it's no surprise that Ritz decided to take her chances in a gubernatorial race rather than seek re-election to a weakened office.
Ritz will face 2012 nominee John Gregg and state Sen. Karen Tallian in the primary. Democrats were initially pessimistic about beating Pence, and Ritz previously planned to run for a second term as superintendent. But Pence posted weak poll numbers after the national backlash over the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and Team Blue is feeling a lot more confident about their chances next year. But Indiana is still a conservative state, and Pence and his allies are hoping that Democrats bloody themselves up in the primary.