President Donald Trump has taken direct aim at a high-ranking Indiana state senator who voted against the congressional redistricting plan by endorsing a potential Republican primary challenger.

A social media post from Trump Thursday night blasted Sen. Travis Holdman as a RINO — Republican in name only — “who, for whatever reason, voted against Redistricting in Indiana, in a District that I won by 39 points, which puts the United States Congress in jeopardy.”

Trump’s post said he would give “my Complete and Total Endorsement” to Blake Fiechter, a Bluffton City Council member whom the post called “a True America First Patriot.”

Holdman, who has been in the Senate since 2008, is the chamber’s third-ranking member as majority caucus chair and also is chair of the influential Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee.

Holdman is seeking reelection in Senate District 19 that includes all or parts of Adams, Allen, Blackford, Jay and Wells counties in northeastern Indiana.

Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Gov. Mike Braun and other redistricting supporters have repeatedly threatened political vengeance against Republican legislators who opposed Trump’s demand for a redrawing of Indiana’s U.S. House maps aimed at helping the GOP win all nine seats.

“We could have easily picked up two seats in Indiana, so Holdman, an America Last politician, put our Majority in the House of Representatives at risk, thereby putting our Country in a very dangerous position in losing some of the magnificent gains that we have made over the last year,” Trump’s post said.

Holdman did not immediately reply Friday to messages from the Indiana Capital Chronicle seeking comment.

Holdman made himself a Trump target in November by announcing: “The message from my district has been clear — they do not support mid-cycle redistricting, and therefore I cannot support it.”

He was among 21 Republicans who joined all 10 Democratic senators in opposing the redistricting plan when it failed in a 31-19 vote on Dec. 11.

Trump’s endorsement of Fiechter is the first the president has made since he started making his political threats months ago.

Fiechter is a real estate broker who is in his first term as an at-large member of Bluffton’s city council after winning election in 2023.

Fiechter did not immediately respond to email messages seeking comment about his political plans.

He had not filed a candidacy for the Senate seat or opened a state campaign fundraising committee by midday Friday, according to Indiana Election Division online records. The candidate filing deadline for the May primary is Feb. 6.

* * *

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

The post Trump posts backing of possible challenger to a top Indiana senator over redistricting appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Kosciusko County Commissioner Brad Jackson, who did not file for re-election for the May primary, announced Friday he will be retiring from the position at the end of his current term.

He also announced he is endorsing fellow Republican Nate Scherer as his replacement. Jackson’s term ends Dec. 31.

Scherer filed for the northern district county commissioner seat and faces Republicans Marcia Baumgartner and County Councilwoman Sue Ann Mitchell in the upcoming primary.

In a statement from Jackson, he said, “After 28 years of serving you, as commissioner, I have decided to retire. I love our county and want to help make sure another leader carries on in service to you.

“Nate Scherer checks the two main boxes I look for in a government leader. He is a Christian and a proven business leader. I have always said we need businesspeople to run our government, not politicians.

“Nate founded, operated and sold a successful manufacturing business. He has a very flexible job with the company that purchased his business.

“Nate is young, has high morals, is accomplished in business, and has the time to dedicate to serving you as the northern district commissioner. This is not a common combination to find in a person.

“Nate was born and raised in Kosciusko County. He is raising his family here and wants to make it a place where our young people choose to stay and raise their children.

“While I have resisted endorsing candidates in the past, I am publicly endorsing and putting my full support behind Nate Scherer as candidate for northern district commissioner,” Jackson concluded.

The post Retiring county commissioner Brad Jackson endorses candidate Nate Scherer appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

COLUMBIA CITY – Former President Donald Trump has given his endorsement to Rep. Jim Banks in his run for U.S. Senate.

The endorsement was posted on Truth Social.

Speaking about the endorsement, Trump said:

“Jim Banks is running for the United States Senate from the Great State of Indiana. I know Jim well, have seen him tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and WIN! Strong on the Border, Crime, our Military and our Vets, Jim will fight for low taxes and regulations, Sanity in Government, and our under siege 2nd Amendment. Jim Banks is respected by all, will never let you down, and has my Complete & Total Endorsement!”

In a response, Banks said the following:

“President Trump was the first president of my lifetime to confront the China threat and put working families in Indiana and across the country first. He strengthened our military and America’s standing on the world stage, secured the border, and grew our economy, but in just two years we’ve seen much of that progress wiped out by Joe Biden and the Democrats’ radical agenda.”

“I’m grateful to President Trump for his support and look forward to fighting for the America First agenda in the U.S. Senate.”

Banks is seeking the 2024 Senate seat vacated by Senator Mike Braun as he enters the race for governor.

The endorsement comes just a day after former governor Mich Daniels said he would not seek to run for the seat.

Banks is the only candidate so far to announce plans to run for the seat.

The post Trump endorses Jim Banks for Senate appeared first on News Now Warsaw.