Indiana Public Broadcasting's Brandon Smith sat down with Mike Braun to discuss issues in the Indiana Republican primary for U.S. Senate a race that's been called one of the nastiest in the nation.

Two sitting congressmen and a former state lawmaker are locked in tight competition for a chance to unseat Democrat Joe Donnelly in November.

Candidates Todd Rokita, Luke Messer and Mike Braun explored common ground through much of the evening.

Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Brownsburg) reversed a previous decision, announcing Tuesday he will participate in a Senate GOP primary debate organized by the nonpartisan Indiana Debate Commission.

Indiana's three Republican Senate candidates continue to voice support for President Donald Trump's trade brinkmanship with China.

The nonpartisan Indiana Debate Commission is hosting the first televised debate for race for the Republican nomination on April 30.

The commission has hosted 18 debates for statewide elections in Indiana over the group's 10-year history. Rokita is the first candidate to skip one of the commission's debates.

Apart from the traded attacks, the 90 minute exchange, sponsored by conservative group Americans for Prosperity-Indiana, was heavy on policy.

The GOP primary's tone has been described as nasty and rancorous. Political analyst Laura Merrifield Wilson says that's unlikely to change in the debate.

Congressman Luke Messer emerged the victor Saturday of a straw poll of Republican U.S. Senate candidates.