INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Democrat Evan Bayh launched a bid Wednesday to recapture the Indiana Senate seat he left six years ago, a move that boosts his party’s chances to pick up the GOP-held seat in their effort to regain control of the chamber this fall.
Bayh, who retired in 2010 following two Senate terms, announced that he would seek to make a political comeback two days after former U.S. Rep. Baron Hill cleared the way by withdrawing as the Democratic nominee.
Bayh released a statement acknowledging his complaints about Capitol Hill gridlock when he left office.
“With the challenges facing Indiana and our country, I can no longer sit on the sidelines and watch as partisan bickering grinds Washington to a halt,” Bayh said. “Hoosier families deserve more and I’ve decided to run to take their cause to the U.S. Senate.”
Bayh’s return boosts the chances of Democrats to win the seat now held by Republican Sen. Dan Coats, who is retiring.