Rep. Joe Donnelly to run for Senate

Northern Indiana Democratic Representative Joe Donnelly has announced that he will seek the Democratic Party's nomination for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Richard Lugar, who is facing a challenge by Tea Party-backed Richard Mourdock, Indiana's current state Treasurer.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee states on its website that this primary challenge could weaken Republicans' attempts to hold the seat, making it a potential pick up for a Democrat.

Donnelly has been a U.S. Representative for Indiana's 2nd Congressional District since 2006, when the Democrats retook control of the House of Representatives from the Republicans.

The 2nd District has been remapped because of the redistricting process that happens every ten years. The Republicans in the statehouse — who control the redistricting process because they have a majority in both the state House of Representatives and the state Senate — have targeted Donnelly's seat by including more politically conservative areas in his District.

Democrats did not field a candidate in 2006 when Lugar was last up for re-election.

A moderate Democrat, Donnelly is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of moderate Democrats in the House of Representatives. He has supported pro-life legislation in the past and has consistently received the support of the National Rifle Association.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee sent out a press release stating, "For Hoosiers who like higher taxes, a record debt and ObamaCare, they will love Joe Donnelly."

— Zach Ammerman