On the steps of the Indiana Statehouse, US Representative Todd Rokita, R-Brownsburg, announced Wednesday he will be running for the United States Senate.

The seat is currently held by Democrat Joe Donnelly.

“Hoosiers want a commonsense Senator willing to take on tough fights. Hoosiers want a conservative Senator who shares our values and works with President Trump and Vice President Pence to turn the country around. Hoosiers want a Senator who votes the interests of Hoosiers, not the Washington elite. We don’t have that in Joe Donnelly, and too much is at stake to accept it. That’s why I am announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate,” Rokita said.

“Joe Donnelly claims to be moderate, but when it matters, Donnelly is with Washington liberals. Donnelly supported ObamaCare, the Iran Deal, the failed stimulus that created jobs in China, taxpayer-funded abortion and President Obama’s gun regulations. And just recently we found out, despite all his rhetoric about protecting American jobs, Donnelly was profiting from jobs his family business outsourced to Mexico.  Joe Donnelly is a liberal.  Joe Donnelly is the Washington elite.  It’s time to defeat the elite, starting with Joe Donnelly” Rokita added.

Rokita’s Senate campaign announcement tour includes stops in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Elkhart, Munster, and Evansville. Future August announcement events include Jeffersonville, Kokomo, Lafayette and Terre Haute.

US Congressman Luke Messer, R-Ind. announced on July 26 via Twitter that he is also running for the Senate.

Donnelly for Indiana Campaign Manager Peter Hanscom issued the following statement on the Indiana Senate race:

“As Congressman Rokita has said, we need hard workers representing our state in the Senate. Joe Donnelly has built his career on reaching across the aisle to find the best solutions for Hoosiers, and he’s worked every single day to strengthen his connection to the people he represents. He spends as much time as he can back home in Indiana when the Senate’s not in session because there’s no substitute for hearing Hoosiers’ concerns firsthand. This race will come down to whomever has a strong connection to Indiana—we’ve been glad to see that both Congressman Rokita and ourselves feel that Joe Donnelly is that candidate, and we appreciate his praise.”