A Rare Campaign for Senate Succession Senate President Pro Tem Sen
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V23, N25 Tursday, Feb. 15, 2018 A rare campaign for Senate succession Senate President Pro Tem Sen. Ryan Mishler in Kenley’s appropria- Long’s announcement sets up tions chair, and Sen. Travis Holdman in battle last seen in 2006, 1980 Hershman’s tax and fscal policy chair. By BRIAN A. HOWEY Unlike former House INDIANAPOLIS – The timing of Senate minority leader Scott President Pro Tempore David Long’s retirement Pelath, who wouldn’t announcement, coming even vote on a suc- in the middle of this ses- cessor, Long is likely sion, was the big surprise to play a decisive on Tuesday. But those of role here. As one us who read Statehouse hallway veteran ob- tea leaves, the notion served, “I think Da- that Long would follow vid will play a large his wife, Melissa, into the sunset was a change and positive role in of the guard realization that began to take shape choosing his succes- with Long’s sine die speech last April. sor. That’s a good For just the third time since 1980, this thing in my view. sets up a succession dynamic that will be fasci- He is clear-eyed and nating. Here are several key points to consider: knows fully what is n Long is taking a systemic approach to Senate President Pro Tem David Long said Tuesday, required of anyone reshaping the Senate with the reality that after “No one is indispensible” and “you know when it’s in that role. And ... November, he, Luke Kenley and Brandt Hersh- time to step down. (HPI Photo by Mark Curry). man will no longer be there. Long has installed Continued on page 4 INSen budget politics By MARK SOUDER FORT WAYNE – The candidates for the hotly contested Indiana United States Senate seat were certi- fed just hours after the budget passed Congress and was signed into law by the president. The vote clearly outlined “The 2018 midterm elections are the battle lines which had already been drawn. a potential target for Russian in- It is increasingly diffcult to see how the Republicans will fuence operations ... and will re- maintain even their razor-thin main a signifcant threat to U.S. margin of 51-49 in the Senate without recapturing the Indiana interests. Russia probably will seat. This is astounding, and be most capable and aggressive depressing, given that 25 sena- tors who caucus as Democrats source of this threat in 2018.” and only eight Republicans are - National Intelligence Director among the third of the Senate up for election in this cycle. Dan Coats, on Tuesday Page 2 This was the cycle to gain ground, We Republicans, however, because the next two will be playing prefer to fght among ourselves. I re- defense. member as a youth in Indiana politics This is also the vice presi- 50 years ago being somewhat sur- dent’s home state and a state that prised when a Republican leader told went overwhelmingly for President me that while defeating Democrats Trump in 2016. To outside observers, was enjoyable, there was nothing this ads to the perception that if the like a good old primary brawl. I think Republicans can’t win here, where are it was the legendary Seth Denbo they safe? Indiana is the most con- who told me that, but if it wasn’t, it Howey Politics Indiana servative state east of the Mississippi certainly represented his view. He’s a WWHowey Media, LLC 405 River and in the North. But anyone good and deserving place to centralize Massachusetts Ave., Suite who spends more than time 300 Indianapolis, IN 46204 at an airport here knows our politics is far more complicated. www.howeypolitics.com Bernie Sanders’ narrow win over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Brian A. Howey, Publisher primary showed that even fe- Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington male pride could not overcome Jack E. Howey, Editor left-wing and anti-Washington establishment passion within Mary Lou Howey, Editor the Indiana Democrat Party. Mark Curry, photography However, given the ineptness of the Indiana Democrats to Subscriptions actually compete in much of Indiana, they more readily HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 unite to back anybody who HPI Weekly, $350 seems even somewhat electable. such stories. Ray Volpe, Account Manager I am suggesting that if Sen. The three Republican 317.602.3620 Joe Donnelly were to lose as did the candidates in this Senate race are email: [email protected] legendary Evan Bayh, that the grow- yet another example of our rowdy ing leftist branch of the Democrat factions. Historically, there were two Party will say, ‘What is the point of basic divisions, going back to the post- Contact HPI compromise if we are going to lose World War II days. The more conser- [email protected] anyway?” Donnelly has repeat- vative faction was primarily located edly split with Bernie Sanders, whom from central Indiana south, versus the Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 Indiana Democrats supported, includ- more urban, northern branch. When Washington: 202.256.5822 ing on abortion and this budget vote. I aligned with the more conservative Business Offce: 317.602.3620 Donnelly also made it crystal clear faction, legendary Fort Wayne boss that he viewed avoidance of a govern- Orvas Beers blasted me for siding with © 2018, Howey Politics ment shutdown trumped fxing the the “south of 40” crowd. so-called “Dreamer” issue. Issues caused shifting from Indiana. All rights reserved. Because Donnelly repeat- time to time, and 40 north overpow- Photocopying, Internet forward- edly stressed the importance of ered 40 south in population. Dan ing, faxing or reproducing in compromise and avoiding a shutdown, Quayle was a northerner, but through any form, whole or part, is a he polished his moderate credentials his Pulliam connections and father violation of federal law without in front of the entire nation. The fact was an active member of the conser- that he was able to do so and avoid vative faction. By the time Dan Coats permission from the publisher. getting blasted by Indiana Democrats became a senator, the more conserva- shows that the left fank is holding tive faction had mostly absorbed the their tongues for now. They will sell newly powerful social conservative their soul for a win. A less ideological movement. view, suggests that they instinctively Nothing better illustrates the know that Donnelly isn’t the leader of conservative tilt of this state than the their party, Schumer and Pelosi are. fact that the Keith Bulen-led faction, With a Democrat majority, the moder- which backed Dick Lugar in Indianap- ates won’t be in charge of policy. olis and included the kid Mitch Dan- Page 3 iels, was viewed as the liberal faction. They were hardly Rokita and Messer both have pulled contributions from liberals, though on some issues they compromised more around the state, showing they have strong support for than conservatives would have liked. Emphasis on social being the nominee. But Rokita’s money comes dispropor- issues became a new dividing line. tionately from Northwest Indiana and from his congressio- Generally, the two major candidates in Re- nal district. Messer’s comes from within his district but also publican primary would have a base in one of those two showed more support not only from Hamilton and Marion factions, and whoever could gain enough crossovers would counties, but some important support from Allen, Elkhart win. The statewide victories of Quayle and Coats would be and Kosciusko counties in northeast Indiana. examples of the conservative fank winning; Daniels gained Braun has demonstrated the power of a newer the support of enough of the social conservative leaders force in Indiana politics: Personal wealth invested in for a sound triumph over Eric Miller. Lugar did not receive extraordinary amounts. Congressman Trey Hollingsworth, such support during his fnal losing primary battle with who represents southeast Indiana, demonstrated that Richard Mourdock, for a variety of enough money can overcome endorse- reasons. ments, long-term involvement and name The 1998 Senate primary recognition. He used his money to go was a rare time when three candi- directly to voters about issues. Name ID can dates faced off with strong support. be purchased. Paul Helmke of Fort Wayne, whose The budget vote in Washing- father had been one of the political ton has re-set all the dividing lines of this leaders that built the more powerful Republican primary. Messer is the conserva- northern urban coalition, won the tive insider, with the endorsements. While primary with 35.1% of the vote. John he’s raising plenty of money, it has been Price of Carmel led the traditional more diffcult than one would expect for the southern conservative wing with the “establishment” candidate. If he’s really newly powerful social conservatives the “establishment,” where’s the fnancial providing ground troops. Price fn- dominance? What is more accurate, is that ished second with 33.7% of the vote. some of his key supporters are the ultimate The third-place fnisher had establishment fgures in Republican politics, actually been the favorite to prevail, though many are not. Peter Rusthoven. He had traditional Messer, as the elected leader establishment support. Brian Howey of the Republican Conference, presumably described it this way in April of 1998: was included in at least some if not most of “Rusthoven is a victim of the Repub- the leadership meetings decided the House lican establishment that urged him to would support the Senate-passed budget. get into the race. He has the backing of some of the top Whether or not he personally agreed with the conclusion, names in GOP politics – like Rex Early and Mitch Daniels as conference chairman (and who prominently sat next to … He put a campaign committee together that reads like Whip Steve Scalise at the State of the Union Address) he the who’s who of Republican politics.” Rusthoven fnished also would have been expected to help round up enough third, with 31.2%, in spite of having people from the eco- Republicans to pass the bill.