Former Democratic representative and John Gregg gubernatorial running mate Christina Hale has announced she’s running for Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District. The district includes the IPR area counties of Blackford, Grant, and Madison. As Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Emily Cox reports, the open seat will soon have two Democrats vying for the nomination.

Democrat Christina Hale served in the General Assembly from 2012 to 2016, when she ran for lieutenant governor.  Most recently, Hale served as the Executive Director of Kiwanis Youth Programs at Kiwanis International.

She will face Democrat Dee Thornton in a primary. Thornton will officially announce her candidacy next week.

Hale says her political background sets her apart from her primary opponent.

“I’m the only person getting into this race so far that actually has a record,” says Hale.  “So I have a reputation and a record for being collaborative.”

Hale says she’s prioritizing health care access and workforce development as a tool to support Indiana’s middle and working class.

Hale feels in addition to her political experience, her personal experiences of paying for school and being a single mom means she has a better understanding of what many Hoosiers in the 5th District face.

“I hope people everywhere in Indiana realize that there’s hope,” Hale says. “There’s opportunity.”

The current Fifth District Representative, Susan Brooks, announced in June she would not be running for her fifth term in Congress.