Republican Primaries Already Shaping In 5th Congressional District

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(UNDATED) - For a second straight election, the Dean of Indiana’s US House delegation is likely to face a fierce primary challenge next year.

Fifth District Republican Dan Burton isn't making a formal announcement, but says he expects to run for a 15th term. He says it's important for Republicans to have someone who understands the congressional labyrinth to help make a stand against what he calls President Obama's "runaway spending spree."

Burton survived a primary challenge last year from former Marion County Coroner John McGoff by just 7 percentage points. The margin, the closest of Burton's congressional career, may have lured more prospective rivals into the race.

Brose McVey, the GOP nominee against democratic US Rep. Julia Carson in 2002, and Indianapolis State Representative Mike Murphy have filed paperwork establishing "exploratory committees," the first legal step toward running. Murphy says he's "pretty far down the road" toward jumping in.

Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi also formed an exploratory committee, but told the Howey Political Report newsletter he won't run now that Burton is apparently a candidate. Brizzi was an investigator for the House Government Reform Committee when Burton chaired the panel in the 1990s.

Some analysts have suggested McGoff might make a second run. And former Shelbyville State Representative Luke Messer, a former executive director of the state GOP, has been making the rounds of Republican Lincoln Day dinners, though he hasn't filed any paperwork.

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