Tea party activist enters Indiana congressional race

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – A tea party activist is joining the field of Republican candidates for the southern Indiana congressional seat that GOP Rep. Todd Young is giving up.

Robert Hall of Bloomington announced his candidacy Wednesday, saying he was a “true conservative” who would vote against Republican House Speaker John Boehner  and oppose raising the federal debt limit. Hall says he’s been a manufacturing executive and consultant for more than 30 years.

Hall joins state Attorney General Greg Zoeller and state Sens. Erin Houchin of Salem and Brent Waltz of Greenwood as Republican candidates in the 9th District, which stretches from the southern suburbs of Indianapolis to the Indiana suburbs of Louisville, Kentucky.

Young is seeking to succeed retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Coats.