Democratic incumbent Rochelle "Shelli" VanDenburgh takes on Republican challenger Ron Johnson in the race for the recently redrawn 19th District of the Indiana House of Representatives.
VanDenburgh, 42, is seeking a third term after being chosen in 2007 to fill a vacancy and then winning election to the seat in 2008 and 2010.
She said she wants to continue to work for the district.
"I care about the people that live here, and I want a better life for them," she said.
Johnson, senior pastor of Living Stones Church in Crown Point, said his candidacy gives voters a clear choice.
"I am a fiscal conservative. I am an opponent of raising taxes and growing government. I would be for shrinking taxes and shrinking government," Johnson said.
Johnson ran for the 19th District seat in 2000 but lost to then-incumbent Robert Kuzman.
The General Assembly last year rearranged the 19th District, removing some south Lake County precincts but retaining Crown Point and gaining the town of Winfield and a number of Hobart and Merrillville districts.
The change eroded some of VanDenburgh's base, she said.
"Now it's a very different district, down to 46 percent Democrat from being 50.7 percent Democrat," she said.
Johnson said the redistricting might be good for his candidacy, "but anytime you're running against an incumbent, it's an uphill battle."
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