Former Rep. Lee Hamilton, who represented Indiana’s 9th Congressional District from 1965 to 1999, has endorsed Shelli Yoder, the Democratic candidate running for the post Hamilton held for more than three decades.
“This fall we have an extraordinary opportunity to elect a woman with an impressive record of community service who understands thoroughly the challenges that Hoosier families face, and who will fight for her constituents and against the special interests that work against them,” Hamilton said in a press release.
Yoder, who is a newcomer to the political scene, was the 1992 Miss Indiana and associate director of professional development at the IU Kelley School of Business.
Hamilton said Yoder has been building a strong professional reputation for 15 years, specifically as the director of a shelter for at-risk youth in South Bend, Ind.
Hamilton also mentioned Yoder’s experience as the executive director of the Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee, created to raise awareness and fight eating disorders.
“I am impressed with her deep commitment to help others,” Hamilton said in the release. “She will fight for the middle class and support measures to grow the Hoosier economy through job creation, empowering teachers, preserving and protecting Social Security and Medicare and promoting innovation to lower the cost of health care.”
Yoder will run against Republican 9th District U.S. Rep. Todd Young in the November general election.
— Mark Keierleber
