Preview: Primary candidates for U.S. Senate talk to ABC 57 News

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Could 2018 be the Republican Party’s year?

A crowded room full of supporters Wednesday believed so.

They rallied around the three candidates looking to pull off an upset in November during a local GOP party fish fry at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds.

While the campaign ads against their Republican opponents have been fiery, all three primary candidates say they’re pulling no punches against incumbent Senator Joe Donnelly.

Businessman Mike Braun is running on his record as the CEO of Meyer Distributing for several decades.

Although he is a former state legislator, he says he's appealing to voters looking to get an outsider in Congress.

“I’m hoping more people like me stick their necks out and do this so we can turn things around in Washington,” said Braun.

Todd Rokita might not be an outsider as he’s been in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2011 and previously served as Indiana's Secretary of State, but he’s hoping to win over voters with his commitment to shaking up the Senate.

“Senate is not getting anything done, it’s filled with cowards, I’m a courageous conservative,” said Rokita.

U.S. Rep Luke Messer has been with the House since 2013 and in Indiana's Statehouse since 2003.

He says he’s running on his values.

“I’m an authentic conservative who has a record of supporting president trump and frankly that’s what most Hoosiers want to see out of their United States Senator,” said Messer.