* From Indiana state Senator Rod Bray’s Wikipedia page…

In the 2025–2026 United States redistricting debate, Bray announced that he would not convene the senate chamber even though Governor Mike Braun had called a special session due to a lack of votes. This led to stark criticism from President Donald Trump who called Bray “weak” and “pathetic” and needed to be primaried.

* President Trump on February 25th…

It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Jeff Ellington, a terrific Candidate for Indiana’s 39th State Senate District (which I won by a whopping 55 points!). Jeff will be a fantastic replacement for RINO Eric Bassler, who may not even run again because Republicans are so angry with him over his betrayal he committed when he, for whatever reason, voted against Redistricting in Indiana, which essentially made him a partner to the Radical Left Democrats in their quest to take control of the United States House of Representatives, and reverse the great progress we have made in the last year. Bassler and his RINO friends made Indiana, a State I love that is full of Patriots who love America, the only State in the Nation that would rather turn over our Country to Democrats than fight back against their corruption, and finish the job we started over 10 years ago. We could have easily picked up two seats in Indiana, but Bassler, an America Last politician, was played for a fool by the Democrats who want to destroy our Country.

Now, because Bassler looks to be getting “run out of town” by his Voters, Indiana’s Chief RINO Rod Bray has recruited a new “pawn” in his game named Kristi Risk to run for this seat. She, like Bassler and Bray, was nowhere to be found for Republicans during Redistricting, which means she will never be there for you when the going gets tough. She said there were “more important things” than keeping the House Majority, and protecting the progress we have made over the last year to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. No smart, reliable Republican would ever say such a thing because they would never even think it. For that reason, and more, she cannot be trusted any more than the Failed and Weak “Senator” Bassler.

There’s also some polling data in that post which shows a Trump endorsement produces a huge bump for Ellington.

* Bloomberg on March 4…

President Donald Trump met with several candidates for Indiana’s Senate in the Oval Office Wednesday afternoon.

The meeting comes a week after the president publicly endorsed several Republicans to replace state lawmakers who rejected the White House’s plans to redraw Indiana’s maps.

The candidates who joined Trump on Wednesday include Jeff Ellington, Michelle Davis, Brenda Wilson, Paula Copenhaver, Tracey Powell, and Blake Fiechter.

Trump has used his influence to recruit primary challengers against Republicans he believes are unsupportive of his agenda.

Photos and more are here.

* National Politico today…

But fighting longtime incumbents in sluggish state Senate districts poses a challenge for MAGA.

“I will predict that none of them lose,” said Mike Murphy, the former Indiana state Republican lawmaker and Marion County GOP chair, before name-checking the Club for Growth president who mounted failed Indiana gubernatorial bids in 2000 and 2004. “What’s David McIntosh gonna do? Come on TV and say, ‘Hey, I’m David McIntosh. Remember me? I got my *ss kicked’?”

The retribution effort is also notable because the relatively enormous sum of money is being spent in a safe-red state — cash that could otherwise be deployed in a midterm battleground. […]

Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, an opponent of mid-decade redistricting who privately counseled a handful of state senators against it, agreed to appear as a surrogate or have his name listed as a host of fundraisers for several Republican redistricting holdouts before the primary.

Gov. Pritzker had threatened to redraw Illinois’ congressional maps if Indiana redid theirs, so it’s basically a wash - but only if you believe Pritzker could’ve muscled it through. I’m not convinced of that, but the Hoosiers may have been.

To understand those people, you always have to remember that they love to troll Illinois, which is why they could approve a Bears stadium incentive package even though it created, raised or captured several different regional taxes.

In isolation, it’s far better to let Indiana build that stadium. Chicago still receives much of the benefit through its hotels, restaurants, etc. and Indiana picks up the tab.

In the long run, though, an interstate relocation could encourage more capital flight because this move would be so high profile.

* I’ve kinda strayed off topic, but while I’m there I might as well point out that the leader of the Better Government Association wants to allow private sports stadium owners access to a program for government-owned sports facilities…

One possible option: Consider allowing the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority to lend to nongovernmental owners of stadiums inside the city limits, such as the Bears could be. Currently, the IFSA is allowed to finance only government-owned facilities, such as Soldier Field and Rate Field.

David Greising favors the former Michael Reese Hospital site, which the Bears have flatly rejected as being too small.