Rep. Luke Messer, R-Ind., always thought big. But maybe that Indiana conservative thought a little too big. Running for Senate in the Republican primary, Messer accidentally expanded his district.
While discussing federal disaster relief with the local Journal and Courier, Messer was asked whether Henryville, which was destroyed by a tornado in 2012, was part of his district. “It sure is,” replied Messer.
The little town is located near Messer’s 6th Congressional District, but it falls inside Clark County, located in Indiana’s 9th Congressional District and represented by Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (a Republican). When the tornado tore through that area, Messer was still working as a school-choice lobbyist. He would win the election later that year and came to Congress in 2013.
But tornadoes aren’t orderly things. They care little for lines drawn on maps inside state houses. Messer told me as much Friday morning, noting that the Henryville storm also tore through towns in the 6th District. There were, Messer remembers, “fatalities and devastation [that] occurred in both communities.”
An aide from the Messer campaign also confirmed the geography gaffe. The spokesman noted though that the town was just a six-minute drive outside of his boss’ district. No doubt, Republican primary competitor Rep. Todd Rokita will make a problem out of Messer’s mistaken topography.
But if Messer wins and gets elected to the Senate, then his district will be bigger: It’ll be the whole state.
Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
