Indianapolis Farm Bureau endorses numerous lawmakers and state legislators

Indianapolis, Indiana – This month, the Indiana Farm Bureau backed a total of fifty-five candidates for the general election in November through its federal ELECT and state-level AgELECT political action committees (PACs).

Both major parties have nominated candidates; the PACs are neutral. Of the candidates, 43 Republicans and 12 Democrats have received endorsements.

However, the PACs avoided contests where their members expected no winners in agriculture. One of those was the GOP contender, a longtime farmer, in Indiana’s Third Congressional District.

This election will have a significant impact on agriculture. As part of the organization’s grassroots advocacy effort, Indiana Farm Bureau endorsements are taken very seriously, according to a news release from Indiana Farm Bureau President Randy Kron.

He went on, “Our PACs support candidates who are prepared to listen and participate in issues affecting agriculture.” “We depend on public servants to speak up for Hoosier agriculture and represent us in the Statehouse and in Washington, D.C.”

According to the press release, county-level Hoosier leaders run a “robust grassroots process” by which the Indiana Farm Bureau selects candidates to support. They interview potential hires and submit their recommendations to the board of directors and the organization’s oversight committee.

In the US House, that meant endorsing a group of Republican hopefuls and incumbents, as well as Democrat Rep. Frank Mrvan.

However, the ELECT PAC decided against getting involved in the Third District in northeastern Indiana, which Rep. Jim Banks left vacant when he decided to run for the US Senate. Marlin Stutzman, the Republican nominee who held the position from 2010 to 2017, will go up against Jarrad Lancaster, the Libertarian, and Kiley Adolph, the Democrat.

According to his campaign website, Stutzman is a fourth-generation farmer from Howe, Indiana. He has worked in agricultural enterprises, producing beef cattle and planting crops like corn, green beans, and soybeans.

He has previously campaigned on his agricultural background, most notably in a “We need a farmer” ad for his failed 2016 Senate bid.

An inquiry for comment was not immediately answered by his campaign.

According to Indiana Farm Bureau spokesperson Heidi Grant, the group’s participants chose “not to engage in that race.”

She stated, “They didn’t think there was a candidate on that ballot who best matched our priorities.”

Additionally, the PAC refrained from endorsing any candidate in Congressional District 7, where Democrat André Carson, the 16-year incumbent, is running against Republican John Schmitz and Libertarian Rusty Johnson.

In the meanwhile, elections are being held for 125 Statehouse seats. Nearly 50 candidates were endorsed by the AgELECT PAC, primarily incumbents.

Rodric Bray, a Republican from Martinsville, was the Senate’s President Pro Tempore. He expressed his gratitude for the group’s support.

“I understand how important farmers are to Indiana’s economy as the owner and operator of a small family farm and as the representative of a predominantly rural district,” Bray stated in the press release. “As farmers, we are deeply ingrained in our identity as Hoosiers, and if elected, I am excited about the prospect of collaborating with Indiana Farm Bureau during my next term.”
House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, and Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, also received nods.

Additionally, the group supported candidates in a number of contests that retiring incumbents left vacant:

• Senate District 24: Republican Brett Clark, who faces Democrat Veronica Pejril. The district includes parts of Hendricks and Putnam counties.

• House District 24: Republican Hunter Smith, who faces Democrat Josh Lowry. The district includes parts of Boone and Hamilton counties.

• House District 39: Republican Danny Lopez, who faces Democrat Matt McNally. The district covers part of Hamilton County.

• House District 51: Republican Tony Isa, who faces Democrat Judy Rowe. The district includes most of LaGrange and Steuben counties.

• House District 53: Republican Ethan Lawson, who faces Democrat Nate Anderson. The district includes parts of Hancock and Madison counties.

• House District 77: Democrat Alex Burton, who is running unopposed. Democrat incumbent. The district includes parts of Posey and Vanderburgh counties.