Former state Republican Party chairman Eric Holcomb is leaving the race to replace Senator Dan Coats in Washington. Today, Holcomb filed paperwork with state election officials to withdraw his name from May’s primary ballot. In an email statement, Holcomb says he and his wife have been “called to serve” Indiana “in a different capacity,” but did not give details about what he’ll do next. He’s previously held positions as a top aide to Senator Coats and former Governor Mitch Daniels.

That leaves three people running for the open US Senate seat – GOP US Representatives Marlin Stutzman and Todd Young and former Democratic US Representative Baron Hill. Holcomb did appear in a debate and straw poll in Rushville this weekend. In a vote of 54 GOP committeemen, Holcomb came in third place with about 28 percent of the vote. Stutzman led that vote and Young took second place.