{"id":2268824,"date":"2024-06-16T07:19:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-16T11:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/death-becomes-her-indiana-gop-scrambles-to-replace-candidate-who-won-from-beyond-the-grave\/"},"modified":"2024-06-16T07:22:29","modified_gmt":"2024-06-16T11:22:29","slug":"death-becomes-her-indiana-gop-scrambles-to-replace-candidate-who-won-from-beyond-the-grave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/death-becomes-her-indiana-gop-scrambles-to-replace-candidate-who-won-from-beyond-the-grave\/","title":{"rendered":"Death Becomes Her: Indiana GOP Rushes to Replace Candidate Who Won Posthumously"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdeath-becomes-her-indiana-gop-scrambles-to-replace-candidate-who-won-from-beyond-the-grave%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2268824&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The \u200bIndiana Republican Party is in the process of appointing\u200b a\u2063 new GOP candidate for the U.S. congressional seat following the unexpected\u2062 posthumous victory of Jennifer Pace, who won the primary for Indiana&#8217;s 7th Congressional District\u2064 despite being deceased. Pace died\u2063 from a heart attack \u2064on\u200b March \u20646th but remained on the ballot, securing 31.2% of the vote. Since her death wasn&#8217;t widely\u2062 known at the time\u2062 of the voting, her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chinas-uyghur-persecution-is-like-the-holocaust-except-for-one-factor-how-will-it-end\/\" title=\"China\u2019s Uyghur Persecution Is Like The Holocaust, Except For One Factor: How Will It End?\">victory resulted<\/a> \u2064in\u200b a vacant nominee spot which now \u200crequires filling.<\/p>\n<p>The selection of a new\u200c candidate will\u2063 be done through a\u200b caucus by the Indiana GOP on \u200bJune 22nd, as mandated by state law.\u2063 The\u2064 selected \u200dcandidate will challenge the incumbent Democrat, Rep. Andr\u00e9 Carson,\u2063 in the upcoming\u2064 November elections. Notably, Carson has held the \u200cseat for nine \u2063terms \u2062since \u200d2007 in a district that leans Democratic.<\/p>\n<p>Among the considered replacements are \u200cCatherine Ping, a retired Army lieutenant and seasoned \u2064political contender, and Phillip Davis, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/indiana-primary-election-first-polls-close-to-decide-governor-senate-and-house-races\/\" title=\"Indiana Primary Election: Initial Polls Closing to Determine Governor, Senate, and House Contests\">retired postal worker<\/a>.\u200c Both had competed in the primary, securing close \u2064percentages of the \u2063vote \u200dbehind Pace. Also mentioned was Gabe Whitley, \u2062a former mayoral candidate in\u2064 Evansville, who has since \u2064withdrawn his\u2062 candidacy.<\/p>\n<p>The final selection, pending official GOP endorsement and \u200bannouncement, will directly \u2063contest with Rep. Carson in an attempt to shift the\u2062 typically \u2062Democrat-favoring district.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/indiana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Indiana\">Indiana<\/a> Republican Party is moving forward with plans to appoint a new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"GOP\">GOP<\/a> candidate after the primary race for a U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"congressional\">congressional<\/a> seat was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/2995644\/indiana-election-results-jennifer-pace-wins-house-primary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Indiana\">won<\/a> by a woman who passed away months before the election.<\/p>\n<p>Jennifer Pace won a GOP primary for Indiana\u2019s 7th Congressional District on May 7 with 31.2% of the vote, <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/projects\/election-results-2024\/indiana\/?r=15034\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>according <\/a>to the <em>Associated Press. <\/em>The 59-year-old had been deceased since March 6 after suffering a heart attack. Pace\u2019s name appeared on the ballot anyway, and the news of her death <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/2995644\/indiana-election-results-jennifer-pace-wins-house-primary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>did not appear<\/a> to be widely reported at the time of the election.<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>A flyer for Jennifer Pace\u2019s 2022 bid. Facebook\/Jenn Pace <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Next week, Indiana Republican party officials will find a replacement for Pace via a caucus. According to Indiana Code, <a href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/codes\/indiana\/title-3\/article-13\/chapter-1\/section-3-13-1-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>IC 3-10-8-7.5<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/codes\/indiana\/2022\/title-3\/article-13\/chapter-1\/section-3-13-1-8\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>3-13-1-8<\/a>, a caucus of precinct committeemen in the 7th District will be called by the state GOP to fill the vacancy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Indiana GOP had 30 days after receiving official notice of a ballot vacancy to hold a caucus. In compliance with that, the caucus will be held on June 22nd,\u201d said Griffin Reid, press secretary and digital director for the Indiana Republican Party, in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>The candidate chosen will face off in November against incumbent Rep. Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-IN), who has served nine terms since filling the seat in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-republican-winning-an-indiana-house-primary-is-deceased\/\" title=\"The Republican who won the Indiana House primary has passed away\">2007 special election<\/a>. The district is located entirely within Marion County, which includes most of Indianapolis, which favors Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of the Republicans under consideration for the nomination:<\/p>\n<h2>Catherine Ping<\/h2>\n<p>The retired Army Lieutenant received 30% of the vote in the primary, losing the race to Pace by only 320 votes, <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/projects\/election-results-2024\/indiana\/?r=15034\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>according<\/a> to the <em>Associated Press. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>Ping is no stranger to political campaigns \u2013 she has run for the 7th District seat four times in the past, including in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2016. Her closest race was in 2014, when she lost to Carson by 13 percentage points in the general election.<\/p>\n<p>According to her <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Catherine_Ping\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Ballotpedia<\/a> page, Ping served for 33 years in the United States Army Reserves and earned the rank of lieutenant colonel. After completing her time in the military, Ping returned to Indianapolis in 2006 to grow and expand her IT Network Service Provider business, Data Dudes of Indy, LLC. She is currently still serving as the owner and president of the company that services small to medium sized companies with a wide range of IT products and services. <\/p>\n<h2>Phillip Davis <\/h2>\n<p>Phillip Davis, a retired postal worker, received 26% of the vote on election night. The father of five and grandfather of three is a sixth-generation Hoosier who graduated from Indiana University in 1982 and previously worked as a mail carrier and business owner and manager. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am a pro-life, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/conservatives-are-woefully-out-marketed-by-liberals-its-time-to-level-up\/\" title=\"Conservatives Are Woefully Out-Marketed By Liberals. It\u2019s Time to Level Up.\">pro-business<\/a>, pro-2nd Amendment, pro-personal freedom and responsibility conservative who believes the Constitution of the United States is the guideline under which we live,\u201d Davis said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Philip_Davis_(Indiana_congressional_candidate)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Ballotpedia <\/a>candidate survey.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement on what appears to be a campaign Facebook page, Davis acknowledged his candidacy is unlikely to move forward in the future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI imagine the party will appoint Cat Ping to fill the position (if you didn\u2019t know, the winner Jenn Pace is deceased). I support Cat wholeheartedly and hope she takes down Andre Carson. It\u2019s time for him to go home,\u201d Davis <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/p\/Davis-for-The-People-2024-100089954674751\/?_rdr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>wrote<\/a> in a post.<\/p>\n<h2>Gabe Whitley<\/h2>\n<p>Gabe Whitley, who ran for Evansville mayor in 2022, has reportedly taken himself out of the running for consideration for the congressional seat. The 26-year-old, who has nicknamed himself \u201cHonest Gabe,\u201d finished last in the race with 13.2% support. <\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7195545756424916992\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>post <\/a>on LinkedIn, Whitley expressed frustration that the voters had selected a candidate who is deceased. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter deep consideration and talking with my supporters I will not be running in the special election,\u201d Whitley wrote. \u201cThe voters deserve the dead person to represent them. I am young and I will focus on my life, my career and starting my own family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Whitley garnered attention this cycle after questions were raised about his campaign contributions and allegations of fraudulent financial reporting, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/indianacapitalchronicle.com\/2024\/02\/21\/indiana-congressional-candidate-faces-campaign-finance-scrutiny\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>reporting<\/a> from the Indiana Capital Chronicle. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>A history of deceased candidates winning elections<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Pace\u2019s win in Indiana\u2019s 7th District comes just before Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3026021\/late-new-jersey-congressman-donald-payne-jr-win-primary-special-election-following\/\">still won<\/a> his primary election in early June, even after he passed away from a heart attack in April. He was running for reelection unopposed for his seat in a deep blue suburb of New York City.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Due to New Jersey\u2019s filing rules, the deadline for the <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2024-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>2024 election<\/a> has already passed, meaning no one could replace Payne in the regular primary before the election. Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) set a July 16 special primary election and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-state-senate-committee-releases-2022-redistricting-maps-barely-gerrymanders-or-head-fake\/\" title=\"Florida State Senate Committee Releases 2022 Redistricting Maps: 'Barely Gerrymanders' or 'Head Fake'?\">special general election<\/a> on Sept. 18 to select a new member to close out Payne\u2019s term.<\/p>\n<p>There have been some less recent examples of deceased candidates winning elections. In 1972, Rep. Nick Begich (D-AK) won his election after an airplane he was flying in went down, and he was presumed dead. In 2000, Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan won a Senate race after he died a month previously.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Indiana Republican Party is proceeding to select a new GOP candidate for the U.S. congressional seat in Indiana\u2019s 7th District. This follows the posthumous primary win of Jennifer Pace, who secured 31.2% of the vote on May 7, despite having passed away months earlier<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2268825,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/AP22300025847404.jpg.optimal.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2268824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/AP22300025847404.jpg.optimal.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2268824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2268824"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2268824\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2268825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2268824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2268824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2268824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}