Stutzman Joins GOP Senate Race

The Republican race to replace U.S. Sen. Dan Coats has another competitor.  Third district Congressman Marlin Stutzman announced his Senate bid on Saturday.

With his announcement event occupying a whole block in downtown Roanoke, Ind.,  Stutzman talked to a crowd of supporters about a wide range of issues, from Iran to the national debt, Benghazi to healthcare.  And he says he’s seeking to move up the capitol ladder from House to Senate because Washington needs leaders who stand proudly for their conservative beliefs.

“I will never apologize for being a God-fearing, gun-packing, common sense conservative,” Stutuzman told the cheering crowd.

Stutzman, who served eight years in the Indiana House before joining Congress five years ago, joins Eric Holcomb in the Republican primary.  The 3rd district Congressman previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2010, losing in the primary to the man he now seeks to replace, Dan Coats.

Republican state Sen. Jim Banks of Columbia City announced Monday that he's running for the northeastern Indiana House seat that Stutzman is giving up.

Banks confirmed to radio station WOWO News Monday that he was running for the 3rd District seat. Banks scheduled a formal announcement in Fort Wayne for Tuesday.

Stutzman announced Saturday he would seek the U.S. Senate now filled by Dan Coats. Coats isn't seeking re-election.

Banks has served in the Indiana Senate since 2010.

He returned to Indiana in April from an eight-month deployment to Afghanistan as a member of the Navy Reserve. He submitted a letter of reinstatement to his legislative duties on Friday. His wife, Amanda, filled the seat while he was deployed.