Indiana Dems to hold caucus for Second Congressional District special election

The Indiana Democratic Party will hold a caucus Tuesday for the state’s Second Congressional District special election, the party announced Friday. The seat, covering South Bend and Elkhart, has been vacant since Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski’s traffic death earlier this month.

“Democrats look forward to nominating a proven and honest leader who will work to create a better future for Hoosier families — not cater to special interests or endorse extremism,” said party chair Mike Schmuhl in a news release.

The special election to complete Walorski’s unexpired term will be held concurrently with the general election on Nov. 8, according to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s executive order. Her position for the current term must be filled under U.S. and Indiana law because the vacancy occurred more than 74 days before the general election.

Walorski was already set to seek another term, beginning January 2023, in a race against Democratic challenger Paul Steury in November. Twelve Republicans filed for the vacancy — including controversial figure Curtis Hill, a former state attorney general briefly punished by the state supreme court for groping four women.

Schmuhl was critical.

“Unfortunately, Hoosiers are not seeing a lot of respect across the aisle. An accused sex offender and extremist wackos headline a group of Republicans vying to replace an established member of Congress,” he  said. “I join a number of Second District residents when I share my concern that Indiana Republicans could nominate someone who puts the desire to be relevant or powerful ahead of the interests of the people of north-central Indiana.”

The Democratic caucus will take place behind closed doors, at an engineers union building in Lakeville.