The district is currently represented by RepublicanJim Banks, who succeeded fellow Republican Marlin Stutzman. Stutzman succeeded Mark Souder in a special election in 2010. Souder resigned after admitting his involvement in an affair with a married member of his congressional staff.
Congressman Marlin Stutzman announced he would not run for reelection and instead campaign for the Republican nomination to succeed retiring Senator Dan Coats. On May 12, 2015, Indiana State SenatorJim Banks announced his intention to run for Indiana's Third Congressional District.[3] Another Indiana State Senator, Liz Brown,[4] also announced she would seek the Republican nomination.[5]
The district and its predecessors have typically been strongly Republican. It occasionally elected Democrats in the past, but the Democrats have not come close to winning it since 1994. Pockets of Democratic influence exist in Fort Wayne itself, which frequently elects Democratic mayors and occasionally sends Democrats to the state legislature. However, this is nowhere near enough to overcome the overwhelming Republican lean of the rest of the district.
5 Blackford County exists in both the 3rd and 5th congressional districts. One city, Montpelier, exists in the 3rd congressional district; and one city, Hartford City, exists in the 5th congressional district. One township, Harrison, exists in the 3rd congressional district; and three townships, Washington, Licking, and Jackson, exist in the 5th congressional district.
64 Kosciusko County exists in both the 2nd and 3rd congressional districts. Half of one city, Warsaw, exists in the 2nd and 3rd congressional districts; twelve townships, Clay, Etna, Franklin, Harrison, Jefferson, Lake, Plain, Prairie, Scott, Seward, Turkey Creek, Van Buren exist in the 2nd congressional district; and three townships, Jackson, Washington, and Wayne, exist in the 3rd congressional district. They are partitioned by Indiana S 1000 W35, North 200W and West 700N.
