by Niki Kelly, Indiana Capital Chronicle
March 24, 2025
Former state senator and President Donald Trump’s state director Carlin Yoder is considering a primary challenge to fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Todd Young.
Young’s term isn’t up until 2028 but Yoder is exploring his options.
“As you know, in this day and age and culture of politics, starting early is better than starting late. So if you’re going to take on an incumbent, you have to lay the groundwork, and you have to work really hard to get your name out and show the differences,” said Yoder. “So, while it’s a little early to declare a candidacy, it’s not too early to start laying the groundwork to do that. So that’s what I’m doing.”
He spoke this weekend to a group called Hoosiers for a Conservative Senate, a grassroots group looking to oust Young.
Young has been criticized for previously refusing to endorse Donald Trump for president; supporting several large spending bills, voting for the Respect for Marriage Act and working with Democrats to pass the CHIPS Act.
Cam Savage, a key advisor for Young’s campaign apparatus, pushed back, saying “Todd Young is one of the most effective conservative leaders in the country and no one has done more to deliver wins for Hoosiers, support our troops and veterans, or fight back against the Chinese Communist Party. He will win again because no one works harder for Hoosiers and already has $5 million on hand for his campaign to beat back any challengers.”
He won reelection in 2022 by more than 20 percentage points, and didn’t have a primary that year.
Young has supported all of Trump’s cabinet nominees, But Yoder said he had to be pressured into that support.
“I have a very strong conservative voting record. (Young’s) voting record has gotten very spotty over the last four to six years as a U.S. senator,” Yoder said. “I would be a reliable vote for the MAGA community and for the America First community. And you know, we’re always sweating it out with Todd Young. We just never can rely on him to be a solid vote for the agenda that the President is pushing forward.”
