By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – Applications for two of the 14 who have filed to run for the special election in Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District will not participate in Saturday’s GOP caucuses.

While the Secretary of State’s website shows 14 people filed, two people failed to file paperwork with the Republican State Committee.

A person at the Indiana Election Division said he believed the lack of paperwork filed with the Republican party was believed to be the problem. Calls left with the state Republican Party were not immediately returned.

Those two were Michael Nidiffer of Granger and Mick Hoeflinger of Elkhart. They are still listed on the Secretary of State’s website since they filed correctly with that office.

The 12 candidates expected to participate Saturday, Aug. 20, include:

• Dallas Barkman
• Terry Harper III
• Curtis Hill, Jr.
• Michael Hogberg
• Scott Huffman
• Tiernan Kane
• Daniel Koors
• Marvin Layne
• Curtis Nisly
• Christy Stutzman
• Scott Wise
• Rudolph Yakym III

The caucuses will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20, at Grissom Middle School, located at 13881 Kern Road, Mishawaka, IN 46544; doors will open at 10 a.m.

A Facebook Live stream will be available at www.facebook.com/indgop for those interested in watching the caucuses.

The caucuses will be presided over by Indiana Republican Party Chairman Kyle Hupfer and be conducted in accordance with Indiana Republican State Committee-approved caucus rules and procedures, the committee said in a recent news release.

Redistricting of congressional districts will be a factor in the caucus involving the special election to fill the existing vacancy and the general election.

The number of precinct committee members voting will differ depending on where they live in the district.

In the current district, there are 505 precinct members, including 27 in Kosciusko County. Then new district will have 531 precinct committee members, including 51 in Kosciusko County.

Each candidate will be given the opportunity to have an individual speak for two (2) minutes by way of introduction and each candidate themselves will be given three (3) minutes to speak.

Following candidate speeches, voting will then occur, beginning with the caucus to fill the ballot vacancy for the general election. Following each round of voting, if no candidate receives 50 percent + 1 of the votes of those eligible, present, and voting, the candidate or candidates who receive the lowest number of votes will be dropped. That same process will be repeated until a candidate receives 50 percent + 1, making them the nominee for the general election. 

Following the selection of the nominee for the general election, the selection of a nominee for the special election to fill out the remainder of the vacated term will then occur. Only precinct committeemen representing the current Second Congressional District will be allowed to participate in this process. The same voting procedures used during the first caucus will be used during the second.

Once both nominees have been selected, Chairman Kyle Hupfer will submit a notice of nomination for each caucus to the Indiana Election Division.