2 Republican Indiana State lawmakers drop out of election

[IndyOp]

2 state lawmakers drop out of election</a>
[br />By Mary Beth Schneider

Two veteran Republican legislators have withdrawn from November's general election.

State Rep. Ralph Ayres of Chesterton, who has served in the House since 1980, and Rep. Andy Thomas of Brazil, who is finishing his second two-year term in the House, both pulled their names from the ballot before today's noon deadline.

The withdrawals could potentially play a role in whether the Republicans hold on to their slim 52-48 majority over the Democrats in the upcoming election.

"It's always significant when you have departures that you really didn't anticipate," said House Majority Floor Leader Bill Friend, R-Macy.

Friend said that while the district Thomas represents in western Indiana is solidly Republican, Ayres' northern Indiana district "is definitely competitive."

:kick:

[thinkingwoman]

1. Isn't that kind of weird? nt

[IndyOp]

2. Yes it is weird. I wonder if they got pressure from the GOP

to quit - because they want to run neocon-types in their place? Or whether they are quitting because they are sick of what is happening in the GOP - in the Indiana General Assembly or elsewhere?

I think the GOP can name another candidate for the seat at this point - right?

:shrug:

[thinkingwoman]

3. I'm really not sure

I thought they could only name a candidate this late if there wasn't a candidate that ran in the primary, but I could absolutely be wrong about that.

:shrug: