Race for Sen. Bayh’s seat officially underway

U.S. Senate elections are a complex process that take months to prepare for, and considering U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh’s decision to retire from public office, the whole process has become a conundrum.

Candidates-to-be must get 500 signatures in each of Indiana’s nine congressional districts, a total of 4,500 signatures. Then, each party usually holds a primary election in which their candidates will face off for one of Indiana’s Senate seats.

Two Republican candidates, Sen. Marlin Stutzman from Howe, Ind., and financial adviser Don Bates, Jr. from Richmond, Ind., secured their spots in the May 4 primaries. However, former U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, former U.S. Rep. John Hostettler and AttaBoy Plumbing Company owner Richard Behney are all filing petitions to be included in the primaries since they entered the race late.

On the Democratic side, none of the candidates-to-be reached the 4,500 signatures mark, and incumbent Sen. Bayh decided not to run for congress again.

Since no Democrats are on the ballot, the Indiana Democratic State Central Committee has to pick a candidate by June 30. 

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott, Jr. said he will seek the Democratic candidacy.

Other Democrat names being thrown in the mix are Baron Hill and Brad Ellsworth.

— Mehdi Ayari