Joe Donnelly currently represents Indiana’s Second Congressional District. The Republican Party, with a majority in both houses of the General Assembly and the office of Governor, redrew Congressional District lines—as is required of each state after the decennial census. The Republicans did what the Democrats have done in the past. The Republicans redrew district lines to maximize the number of Congressional District likely to vote Republican. The Republicans’ goal was to isolate Lake and Marion Counties—areas in which the Democratic Party has high concentrations support—and spread out other areas in which the Democratic Party typically draws the majority of votes.

   The boundaries of the Second Congressional District were redrawn to excise Kokomo and parts of LaPorte County—both typically majority-Democratic Party locales. Elkhart, Miami, Wabash, and portions of Kosciusko Counties—all strongly Republican areas—were brought into the Second.

   In 2010, Donnelly defeated former State Representative Jackie Walorski, a tea partier, in the general election. Walorski once again seeks the GOP nomination in the May 8 primary. Mitch Feikes, a realtor and contractor from the LaPorte are and Greg Andrews, an MD/lawyer from South Bend, also are candidates in the Republican primary. The three candidates have positions on the issues that virtually are identical. They want to repeal the health care act, cut Federal spending, protect Second Amendment rights (from those multitudes who have sought to take firearms away from anyone who wants one), etc.

   The Democratic Party candidate is Brendan Mullen, a West Point graduate who served in Iraq and, after his military service, started his own business in South Bend. His positions on the main issues are largely the same as those of the Democratic National Party.

   Arguably, against the right opponent, Mullen could win the Second. There are a lot of factors that could sway voters there. A big factor is the race for U.S. Senate. If the Democratic National Committee sees that seat as "winnable," a lot of money could be dumped in Indiana, and candidates for Congress could feel a NASCAR® effect—they could be pulled along. In the past, such an effect in politics has been called "riding coattails."

   There is a third party candidate who puts a possible twist to the race.

   Andrew Straw is a civil rights lawyer from Goshen. He was a member of the Democratic Party, but announced his candidacy—a year ago—as a member of the Green Party.  He advocates Medicare for All, free public education from elementary school through Ph.D. if a person is able to achieve the grades for the degrees sought, greater access to public facilities and vocational programs for those with physical disabilities, and the legalization of marijuana.

   If I lived in the Second, I would want to vote for Straw.

   I would WANT to vote for Straw, EXCEPT—with the Second a "likely" Republican District, the votes he "likely" would draw Largely would be traditional Democratic voters. That impairs the Democrat and helps the Republican. One thing Indiana does not need is another member of the House of Representatives with tea bags hanging from her or his hat—I would get the tea bag aspect in one way or another—blocking any legislation unless it is exactly what the fringe wants.

   We need alternatives to the two "major" parties. Now is an inconvenient time to consider that in the Second.

   Please do not miss The Show this weekend. We will make primary election predictions with guest Jon Easter on Sunday. On Saturday, we shall stream "live" from somewhere downtown starting early in the morning.