Wanted: Democrat to run for Congress in the Eighth
And yes, it's an uphill battle in a heavily Republican-dominated region.
"We are trying to find the most qualified, most appealing candidate — someone who has been a face in the district and has a track record they can run on. They've got the time, the focus, the energy," said Dave Crooks, chairman of the 8th District Democratic Party.
And, it will take a lot of money.
Crooks has reached out to media outlets in an effort to seek that candidate.
Much of that candidate's time would be spent raising money for a campaign. It's important the candidate has availability during the day to talk to donors and potential donors, Crooks said.
"You have to give it every hour you can every day," he said.
The 8th District includes 21 southwestern Indiana counties and sprawls from the Ohio River to Interstate 74 in Fountain County.
It's solidly Republican — one of the most Republican congressional districts in the nation, according to the Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index, as reported by the Evansville Courier & Press.
Sixty-five percent of 8th District voters backed Donald Trump for president, compared to 33% for Joe Biden, in 2020, when Trump lost the presidency by 7 million votes nationwide.
In the 2024 8th District race, Republican Mark Messmer won with 68% of the vote, while Democrat Erik Hurt had 29.5%. Richard Fitzlaff, Libertarian, had 2.6%.
Messmer won the seat previously held by seven-term Congressman and Republican Larry Bucshon, who decided not to seek re-election.
"It's a tough district, there's no question," Crooks said.
It's the largest geographic district in Indiana and has about 750,000 people.
A candidate may need to generate millions in campaign funds to compete in the Evansville and Terre Haute media markets, the Courier & Press reported.
Mass communication is critical, Crooks said, and that takes fundraising.
Crooks does believe that as a first-term congressman, Messmer is vulnerable.
A Democrat winning the seat may be possible if enough voters have concerns about Republican budget and policy decisions, both at the state and federal level.
"I think the Republicans will be in trouble next year" when people, especially lower income, feel the results of federal and state budgets cuts, fewer services, and federally-imposed tariffs, Crooks said.
People "are not seeing relief in prices for the most part; these tariffs are basically a tax on the consumer," he said.
The last time a Democrat was elected as the 8th District congressman was in 2006 and 2008, when former Vanderburgh County Sheriff Brad Ellsworth won the seat by margins of 61% and 65%.
Looking toward the 2026 election, while one individual has filed as a Democrat, Crooks said he wasn't sure the individual would qualify to run as a Democrat in the district.
That individual is Rosedale resident Daniel George, who has filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. The Tribune-Star has attempted to contact George.
Potential candidates must be able to show they voted in two consecutive Democratic primaries, Crooks said.
To be elected, a representative must be at least 25 years old, a United States citizen for at least seven years and an inhabitant of the state he or she represents.
For those Democrats interested in running in the 8th district race, Crooks can be contacted by email at Indems8chair@gmail.com.
Matt Bergbower, Indiana State University professor of political science, believes Democrats ought to have a good year nationwide in 2026.
"Traditionally, the party in power at the White House loses seats in mid term elections," Bergbower said. Also, President Donald Trump's agenda "is not overwhelmingly seeing approval."
That being said, "The 8th district will be tough to win for a Democrat," according to Bergbower.
Democrats should put forward a candidate who is serious and try to win the seat, he said. The 2026 general election is 17 months away and "you never know what could happen," Bergbower said.
But in counties that make up the 8th district, the numbers don't seem like they could add up to a Democratic victory right now, Bergbower said.
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