John Jacob — who lost his Indiana House seat last year — confirmed to the Capital Chronicle late Monday that he will seek the Senate District 36 seat vacated in the sudden death of Sen. Jack Sandlin, R-Indianapolis.
Sandlin was elected to the Indiana Senate in 2016 to represent southern Marion County and part of Johnson County.
He unexpectedly died Sept. 20. Several memorials are planned for this week.
But Jacob has already announced his plan to run for Sandlin’s seat in a GOP caucus of precinct committeemen. He lost his re-election bid in the May 2022 primary to Rep. Julie McGuire, who was backed by the House GOP caucus.
Though Jacob is a Republican, he was one of the most extreme members of the caucus, and his GOP colleagues often shut him out.
He has focused on anti-abortion legislation; and during the 2022 special session chastised fellow members who supported a rape exception to Indiana’s abortion ban, saying all abortion is murder.
“The body inside of the mom’s body is not her body. Let me repeat that: the body inside of the mom’s body is not her body. Not her body, not her choice,” he said on the House floor.
Other bills he authored included constitutional carry; an audit of the state COVID-19 response; increased penalties for sex offenses and a prohibition against seizing someone’s home for delinquent property taxes.
There will be a public visitation for Sandlin at the Statehouse Friday starting at 9 a.m., followed by a noon memorial service. The graveside service will be Saturday, Sept. 30, beginning at 10 a.m. at Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery: 1415 North Gate Road in Madison.
There will be an additional public memorial service for Sandlin on Thursday, Sept. 28, from 3–7 p.m. at G.H. Herrmann Funeral Homes: 5141 Madison Avenue in Indianapolis.
Those who’d like to send their support to Sandlin’s family can send cards to P.O. Box 47802, Indianapolis, Indiana 46247. Sandlin’s obituary can be found here.