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Wealthy state lawmaker joins GOP’s Indiana Senate race

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A wealthy Indiana state legislator is joining what has already become a bitter campaign for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly next year.

State Rep. Mike Braun of Jasper said Tuesday that his background owning and operating a national auto parts distributor gives him outsider credentials for a primary race expected to include U.S. Reps. Luke Messer and Todd Rokita.

If elected, Braun pledges to support President Donald Trump “as he takes on the DC swamp.”

Braun was first elected to the Legislature in 2014 and is not well known around the state.

But Braun says hostility between Messer and Rokita is turning off voters. He says that will help Donnelly, who is considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats up for re-election next year.

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