Todd Young Officially Enters Senate Race

INDIANAPOLIS – Republican Rep. Todd Young announced officially Sunday that he will run for U.S. Senate – crowding the GOP primary field that already includes U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman and Eric Holcomb.

The move means Young won’t be seeking reelection to his 9th District seat in the U.S. House.

Young made the announcement through a video he texted to supporters.

“Everything in my life, I owe to God, my family, the Naval Academy, and the Marine Corps,” Young says in the video. “The best way I can think of to give back is to ensure that every Hoosier family enjoys a better future. That’s why I’m running for U.S. Senate.”

The announcement comes less than a week after Young’s campaign revealed he’d raised more than $1 million in the second quarter of the year, a number his staff said is a record for congressional candidates in Indiana. He starts the campaign with more than $2 million in the bank.

Stutzman, who represents the state’s 3rd District, raised $600,000 during the same period. His campaign manager, Brendon DelToro, said about Young’s announcement that “Hoosiers don’t need a senator who will say one thing to get elected and then go to DC and become part of the problem.”

And Holcomb, a former state Republican, chairman raised about $200,o00. His campaign spokesman, Pete Seat, said the campaign welcomes Young to the race “and look forward to crossing paths with him on the trail.”

Democrats said in a statement Sunday that Young is another Republican candidate who is “out of touch” with Hoosiers.

“Rep. Todd Young has time and again placed his ideology and loyalty to congressional leadership ahead of responsible governing for the middle class Hoosier family,” Indiana Democratic Chairman John Zody said in a statement. “Democrats look forward to having this debate as we know Hoosiers want someone who would unite the state and help improve and include the lives of all everyday families in Indiana.”

Former congressman Baron Hill is running on the Democratic side. The candidates are vying for the seat opened by retiring Sen. Dan Coats, R-Indiana. Holcomb is a former Coats’ aid.

Young has scheduled an event to launch the campaign at 10 a.m. Saturday in Sellersburg.