Staff Reports
The Indiana Republican Party is taking action to select a new GOP candidate for the U.S. congressional seat after the primary election was won by a woman who had passed away several months before the vote. Jennifer Pace, despite her death in March, secured victory in the GOP primary for Indiana’s 7th Congressional District, receiving 31.2% of the vote, according to the Associated Press. It appears that the news of her passing was not widely known at the time of the election.
To fill the vacancy, the GOP will hold a caucus of precinct committeemen in the 7th District, as stipulated by Indiana Code. State Republican officials have scheduled the caucus for June 22nd to choose Pace's replacement. The chosen candidate will face incumbent Rep. André Carson (D-IN) in the November election. The district, located in Marion County, is predominantly Democratic.
Washington Examiner: Death becomes her: Indiana GOP scrambles to replace candidate who won from beyond the grave https://t.co/Xe6x4ExsMk
— Ian Hansen 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@IanHansenFeed) June 16, 2024
Catherine Ping, a retired Army Lieutenant who closely followed Pace in the primary with 30% of the vote, is among the Republicans being considered for the nomination. Another contender is Phillip Davis, a retired postal worker who garnered 26% of the vote. Gabe Whitley, a mayoral candidate, has reportedly withdrawn from consideration.
This situation is reminiscent of a recent case where a deceased candidate won a primary election, as seen with Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ), who posthumously secured victory in the primary election in early June. These instances highlight the need for clarity and fairness in the electoral process to ensure that living candidates represent the people's interests.
