SOUTH BEND - Jackie Walorski has been endorsed by several GOP committee chairs in her bid to claim the 2nd District U.S. House seat.

 

Walorski, R-Elkhart, has received the backing of seven Republican central committee chairs, including Elkhart County chairman Dale Stickel. Chairs in St. Joseph, LaPorte, Pulaski, Fulton, Starke and Miami counties also endorsed her.

 

A former state representative, Walorski narrowly lost the 2nd District election in 2010. U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly was re-elected to a third term, but he will seek a U.S. Senate seat next year.

 

With Donnelly's exit, the Washington publication Roll Call now predicts that the seat will flip parties, moving the seat into it's "likely Republican" column.

 

All of Elkhart County will return to the 2nd District in 2012, after a decade of being split with the 3rd District.

The Indiana Republican Party elected new officers to its state committee Tuesday. Sam Frain of Pulaski County was elected 2nd District chairman and Deb Fleming of St. Joseph County was elected vice-chairwoman.