Democrat Baron Hill joins U.S. Senate race

A former U.S. congressman from Seymour has announced he will seek the Senate seat that Dan Coats will vacate.

Baron Hill, a Democrat who served Indiana's 9th District in the House of Representatives until 2010, announced Wednesday he will run for U.S. Senate.

"Today I will be filing to run for the United States Senate because working people across Indiana need a fighter," Hill said in a statement released Wednesday. "That's what I've been, and that's what always I'll be."

Hill painted himself as a man with working class roots who will fight to restore the "American dream" and the middle class.

Republicans have two announced candidates, Eric Holcomb, former GOP chairman, and U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-3rd District.

Hill first was elected to the 9th District to begin serving in 1999, and held the seat until 2004, when he lost a reelection bid.

He was elected again in 2007 and served until 2010 when he was bumped off by Rep. Todd Young, who some Indiana Republicans are urging to join the race.

Hill challenged Coats for the Senate seat in 1990 after serving in the Indiana House of Representatives.

Hill also referenced his past as an Indiana high school basketball star in his announcement, stating: "We didn't have much, but I always had food in my belly and a basketball in my hands, and most of all, I had faith that even though I wasn't born rich or well connected, I could achieve the American Dream."

As a player at Seymour High School who graduated in 1971, Hill was a lead scorer with 1,724 points and was a first-team all-state selection.

Star reporter Will Higgins contributed to this article. Call Star reporter Madeline Buckley at (317) 444-6083. Follow her on Twitter:@Mabuckley88.