Rep. Luke Messer, R-6th District, officially embarked on his U.S. Senate campaign Saturday at the sixth annual Messer Family Barbecue in Morristown, Indiana.
Messer is one of five candidates so far to announce their candidacy for the 2018 Republican primary.
Republicans hope to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, who is vulnerable in a state President Trump carried by almost 19 percent in the 2016 general election.
“Friends, it's really pretty simple,” Messer said in his speech. “Hoosiers need two senators who will vote yes for Indiana's working families."
He cited Donnelly’s health care voting record and accused him of not being genuine in his representation of his constituents. In May, Messer voted with a majority of House Republicans to pass a repeal of the Affordable Care Act. The vote took place before the Congressional Budget Office released its analysis of the repeal bill’s effect.
In a fundraising email Tuesday, Donnelly appeared to express anxiety about the race, citing a CNN story which named his seat the third most likely to flip in the 2018 election.
Messer’s congressional district was previously represented by former Indiana governor and current Vice President Mike Pence. Greg Pence, the vice president's brother, serves as the Messer campaign's finance chair and spoke at the barbecue.
“Luke Messer is the only candidate who can unite our Party, defeat Joe Donnelly, and help President Trump and my brother Mike Pence deliver results for Hoosiers,” he said.
Other contenders in the Republican primary include Rep. Todd Rokita, R-4th District, a fellow graduate of Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
