Key Indiana democrat criticizes Ritz, Washington PAC praises her

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Governor Mike Pence was put on notice Tuesday by Emily’s List.

Emily’s List is a Washington-based political action committee that supports Democrat women and it may be making donations to Glenda Ritz.

That’s the good news for Ritz. The bad news is that a well-known Democratic county chairman is calling her campaign divisive.

Regardless, the Ritz campaign is just five days old and it already has a national profile.

“We are very excited about Glenda Ritz,” said Marcy Stech of Emily’s List.

The Emily’s List website names Mike Pence as a prime target in 2016. It could mean nationwide support for Ritz.

“Right now we’ve had some initial discussions with her and her team,” said Stech.

But the message from Washington, Indiana is a different one.

“I don’t think she’s the best candidate,” said Daviess County Chairman Dave Crooks, who doesn’t think Ritz can win.

He believes her campaign will hurt the party.

“I’m not worried about that at all,” said Ritz last week when asked if she might divide the Democratic Party. “In fact, a primary’s good to get all the issues out there.”

But Crooks says Democrats should unite behind a single candidate and thinks it should be John Gregg.

“Any Democrat that’s going to be the next governor has got to find a way to carry southern Indiana again,” he said. “I don’t think that Glenda Ritz is going be the person that’s going to put us in the victory column.”

Crooks and Emily’s List do share a common goal.

“We really want to make sure we have a candidate who can draw that clear contrast with Governor Pence,” said Stech. “He has just a destructive record when it comes to the economy with supporting the religious freedom bill.”

But in pursuit of that goal, things may get messy.

Democratic Party Chairman John Zody is in no mood to referee. Through a spokesman, he said that Democrats will unite behind a nominee after the May primary.