State Treasurer Richard Mourdock plans to challenge Indiana Senator Richard Lugar in 2012. Mourdock made the announcement over the weekend at a gathering of the Tippecanoe County Republican Women's Club. A spokesperson for Lugar says the incumbent Senator is ready for the challenge. Tea Party organizations have been making plans to unseat Lugar and are calling on him not to seek re-election. Lugar however did announce in January that he plans to seek a seventh term. Mourdock says he plans to make his official announcement on February 22.
State Senator Mike Delphi has also been rumored as a possible Lugar challenger. Lugar has not faced a primary opponent since he was first elected to the Senate in 1976.