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Conservative Democratic Rep. Brad Ellsworth says he's running for Bayh's Indiana Senate seat

Dem. Rep. Ellsworth to run for Bayh Senate seat

By KEN KUSMER | Associated Press | February 19, 2010

Democratic Rep. Brad Ellsworth said Friday that he will run for Evan Bayh's Senate seat, giving his party a socially conservative candidate who could have broad appeal with Indiana voters.

Ellsworth, 51, announced his decision to run in his hometown of Evansville. The two-term congressman issued a statement saying the problem-solving experience he gained during his 24 years with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department _ the last eight as sheriff _ would serve him well in the increasingly partisan Senate.

"Sheriff is a job that comes down to protecting families from harm, helping folks solve their problems or resolve their disputes, and just being willing to put your fellow citizens' best interests ahead of your own," Ellsworth said. "When I look at the U.S. Senate these days, I sure think they could use more folks with those same qualities."

Ellsworth emerged as a leading Democratic choice after Bayh's surprise announcement Monday not to run again. He is considered an attractive candidate because he won by big margins in both his campaigns in his largely rural congressional district in southwestern Indiana.

Others mentioned as possible candidates for the Democratic nod are Rep. Baron Hill, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. and former Secretary of State Joe Hogsett.

The state Democratic Party's 32-member central committee will ultimately pick a nominee because no candidate met this week's filing deadline for the May 4 primary. The party has until June 30 to designate its candidate.

Former Democratic Indiana House Speaker John Gregg said Ellsworth represented the party's best chance to hang onto Bayh's seat.

"Aside from being electable, he's really not been in Congress long enough to be termed an insider. He's actually a conservative Democrat, which makes him a moderate, which is what most Hoosiers are _ moderate to conservative. He is a hard worker, he is sincere and he listens," Gregg said.

Ellsworth was one of 11 House Democrats who in January 2009 voted against an $819 billion stimulus bill backed by President Barack Obama. He later backed a scaled down $787 billion version.

Late last year, Ellsworth helped push through a House measure opposed by abortion rights groups that would bar anyone getting federal health subsidies from buying private insurance polices that included abortion coverage.

Abortion rights advocates called the measure the biggest setback to women's reproductive rights in decades.

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Anyone know more about him?


-- Edited by Sanders on Friday 19th of February 2010 11:14:35 PM