Bucshon To Have Democratic Challenger
US Rep. Larry Buschon, a Republican representing Indiana's 8th Congressional District, is facing a challenge announced by Democrat and former State Rep. David Orentlicher. Wikimedia Commons
A former state legislator is seeking the southwestern Indiana congressional seat now held by Republican Larry Bucshon. Democrat and former Indiana State Rep. David Orentlicher says he's moving from the Indianapolis area to Terre Haute to challenge Bucshon, a three-term Republican Congressman, for the 8th District US House seat.
The announcement Sunday from David Orentlicher makes him the first Democrat to enter the 2016 campaign for the seat in Indiana's 8th Congressional District, which borders eastern Illinois.
Orentlicher is a physician and attorney who teaches at Indiana University's schools of medicine and law. He represented an Indianapolis district in the Indiana House for six years before unsuccessfully seeking the city's 7th District congressional seat in 2008.
Orentlicher says he is moving to Terre Haute, where he teaches at IU's regional medical school. He says economic issues will be his top campaign priority.
Bucshon won election to a third term in 2014 with about 60 percent of the vote.