Committee to Pick Hill’s Replacement on Ballot

When Bayh announced he was running

The Indiana Democratic Party Central Committee is set to meet Friday to select the party’s U.S. Senate candidate who will appear on the November 8th ballot. Former Senator Evan Bayh is widely expected to be picked to fill the void left earlier this month after former Indiana Congressman Baron Hill dropped out of the race.

Bob Kern, a candidate from Indianapolis who has run for various state and local-level offices in the past, will also be considered.

Bayh confirmed his candidacy July 13th. The party’s choice will face Congressman Todd Young (R-9) on the Republican Party side and Lucy Brenton for the Libertarian Party in the battle to succeed Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.).

Hill’s decision added to a host of other significant changes to the ballot in the hours or days leading up to last Friday’s deadline to lock in candidacy. July 15th saw a flurry of activity that included Governor Mike Pence withdrawing from his re-election bid to be Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s running mate, which touched off moves by other top candidates to forgo their campaigns. Congressman Todd Rokita (R-4), Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-5) and Lieutenant Governor Eric Holcomb are now all running for governor, meaning their spots on the ballot will have to be filled. The GOP replacements are expected to be decided by the Central Committee at a meeting scheduled for July 26 at 10 a.m.