Buttigieg campaign manager seeking to lead Indiana Democrats

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The manager of former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg's 2020 presidential campaign is entering the race to become the Indiana Democratic Party's new leader.

Mike Schmuhl announced Wednesday his bid to replace state Democratic Chairman John Zody, who announced in November he wouldn't seek reelection to the position he's held for eight years.

Schmuhl said the state Democratic Party 'œneeds a fresh vision and a strategic plan to start winning again to improve the lives of Hoosiers.'ť

Indiana Democrats have suffered several years of devastating election losses, not winning any statewide races since 2012 and holding no positions of power in state government.

Schmuhl will be running with Marion County Clerk Myla Eldridge as a candidate for party vice chair.

Schmuhl was Buttigieg's mayoral chief of staff and campaign manager before Buttigieg launched his longshot presidential bid in 2019. Buttigieg outperformed expectations, finishing the Iowa caucuses in a virtual tie with Sen. Bernie Sanders, and has been confirmed as President Joe Biden's transportation secretary.

Trish Whitcomb, who was the manager of Democrat Glena Ritz's successful 2012 campaign for state schools superintendent, entered the state chair's race last month.

The state Democratic central committee is scheduled to vote on a new party leader in March.