Sen. Dan Coats, an Indiana Republican, announced Tuesday he will not run for re-election in 2016, setting up a competitive race for to win his seat.
“Today I am announcing that I will not seek re-election to the United States Senate,” Coats said in a statement. “This was not an easy decision. While I believe I am well-positioned to run a successful campaign for another six-year term, I have concluded that the time has come to pass this demanding job to the next generation of leaders.”
Coats had an unusual tenure in Congress, having served in the House and Senate from 1981 until 1999, when he left under a pledge to adhere to term limits.
He was lured back into the Senate in 2011 by Republicans who needed a well-known and moderate candidate to run on the GOP ticket.
Coats also served as U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 2001 until 2005.
Republicans said Tuesday they are committed to holding onto the seat, but it could be difficult as Hoosier State voters have a history of choosing Democrats as well as Republicans to serve in Congress.
Coats succeeded Democrat Evan Bayh and the GOP contender who runs to replace him will do so in a presidential election year.
In 2012, Indiana voters chose Republican Mitt Romney but President Obama prevailed in 2008.
“We have a strong Republican bench in Indiana and I am confident we will have another capable Republican joining us in the Senate in 2016 to continue Dan’s great work,” Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Republican campaign arm, said in a statement Tuesday.
But Democrats say they believe Coats’ exit will give them a chance to flip the seat back into Democratic territory.
In 2012, Democrat Joe Donnelly won the seat held by then-Sen. Richard Lugar, a Republican.
“Indiana’s Senate race is now one of the most competitive Senate races in the country, and Democrats are ready to put together a strong campaign just like we did in 2012,” Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate fundraising arm. “We’re confident that we will find a great candidate who will put Indiana first and win this seat in 2016.”
