Pro-labor Republicans recruit for House races

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Updated: February 9, 2012 11:07PM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Pro-labor Republicans are targeting several GOP lawmakers who backed divisive right-to-work legislation that made Indiana the 23rd state to ban unions from collecting mandatory representation fees.

The pro-labor Lunchpail Republicans have recruited eight candidates to run in the May Republican primary. A list of candidates obtained by The Associated Press Thursday shows some candidates, such as high school teacher Diana Boersma, are taking on powerful House members, such as Rep. Douglas Gutwein of Francesville. Others, such as Randy Conner and Jon D. Hare, are challenging freshmen legislators elected in 2010’s Republican sweep.

A spokesman for the group, Ed Maher, did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday.

Gov. Mitch Daniels signed right-to-work legislation into law last week over the objections of Democrats and union members. A handful of House Republicans running for re-election in union-heavy districts like northwest Indiana voted against the measure.

“It’s an open process and most likely the House Republican caucus is going to support incumbents that have been on our team,” said Mike Gentry, senior political strategist for the House Republican Campaign Committee.

He noted that incumbents such as House education Chairman Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, will have a strong fundraising edge is expensive media markets, while freshmen such as Rep. Timothy Wesco, R-Osceola, should do fine if they campaign as hard as they did last year.

Gentry left open the door to supporting Lunchpail Republicans running in newly-created districts following last year’s redistricting.