Indiana primary features 2 key congressional contests

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The departures of two Republican congressmen have left open Indiana seats which candidates have lined up to fill, leading to crowded ballots for the GOP primary on May 3.

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3rd District, Republican primary

Prominent candidates: State Sens. Jim Banks of Columbia City and Liz Brown of Fort Wayne; agricultural business owner Kip Tom of Leesburg; retired surgeon Pam Galloway of Warsaw.

Location: Covers all or parts of 12 counties in northeastern Indiana, including Angola, Fort Wayne and Warsaw.

Significance: The district is considered the state's most Republican, requiring candidates to out-flex each other in conservative credentials to win the party's nomination. Incumbent Rep. Marlin Stutzman was part of the far-right Freedom Caucus, which helped oust former Speaker John Boehner last year. The winner will be a heavy favorite against any of the little-known candidates seeking the Democratic nomination.

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9th District, Republican primary

Prominent candidates: Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller of New Albany; state Sens. Erin Houchin of Salem and Brent Waltz of Greenwood; business executive Trey Hollingsworth of Jeffersonville

Location: Most of 13 counties from the Ohio River communities near Louisville, Kentucky, to the southern suburbs of Indianapolis.

Significance: Hollingsworth moved to Jeffersonville last year from Tennessee and faces off against three state elected officials with a large family fortune backing his campaign to succeed Rep. Todd Young. The district is GOP leaning, but Monroe County Councilwoman Shelli Yoder of Bloomington is seeking the Democratic nomination again after a competitive loss to Young in 2012.