Hill Makes It Official: He's Running For Senate

INDIANAPOLIS — Former U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, a Democrat, made his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat official Wednesday – the same seat that his former opponent Republican Dan Coats is leaving vacant.

Hill and Coats vied for the seat in the 1990 election, but Coats – who had been appointed to the position two years earlier – won the race.

Now Coats is retiring and a number of candidates are scrambling to win the seat. So far, Hill is the only announced candidate in the Democratic primary.

Hill served the 9th District for five years before losing to Republican Todd Young in 2010. Young is also considering whether to run for Senate.

In his announcement, Hill said that Hoosiers need a fighter for them in the capitol – and that he is just that.

“We face a crisis today as a people and as a nation,” Hill said.

“We can either put our heads in the sand, or we can fight to restore the American Dream, the middle class, and what’s great about Indiana,” Hill said. “I know we can do better, and I believe we can build an economy where everyone has the chance to succeed. That’s what I’ll fight for as a senator representing Indiana.”

Although Hill is the only Democrat running for the open seat, Republicans Eric Holcomb, former state GOP chairman, and U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-3rd District, have announced they are running.

Katie Stancombe is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.