Megan Banta and Mary Keck, Herald-Times
In a short, concise announcement Thursday morning, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz became the third Democrat to throw her hat into the ring for the governor's race.
She joins former Indiana House Speaker John Gregg, who narrowly lost to Gov. Mike Pence in 2012, and state Sen. Karen Tallian of Portage, both of whom already have announced their intentions to run in the Democratic primary next May.
“Today, in Indiana, we need to move forward,” Ritz said in her speech at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, citing what she called bad policies, promoted by out-of-touch leadership at the Statehouse. “Today, in Indiana, we have a lot of work to do.”
The head of the state’s education department criticized the status quo, saying state government is becoming bigger, more expensive and further removed from Hoosiers’ needs.
Monroe County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Fraley said he thinks Ritz’s focus on education and job creation has the capacity to drum up a lot of local support.
All three candidates so far, though, offer excellent options, he said.
State Sen. Mark Stoops, D-Bloomington, agreed all three candidates have a good shot with local voters.
“I think Glenda Ritz would have a lot of support locally,” he said. “But I also think local voters would really like Karen Tallian. She’s a progressive firebrand in the Senate and very knowledgeable on the issues. John Gregg has the name recognition.”
Fraley said no matter the outcome, a primary contest will prove to be a positive thing.