What’s behind the primary challenge of Congressman Jim Baird

Charles Bookwalter said he was told not to jump the line in 4th District, says time’s now to make a conservative stand. Plus, another primary shapes up in Fairfield Twp. And about all that snow coming

(Photo: Dave Bangert)

It’s already been suggested to Charles Bookwalter, a Thorntown Republican who filed this month to challenge Congressman Jim Baird for the U.S. House 4th District seat, that people might have been surprised to see a primary challenge.

After all, Baird, a Greencastle farmer and former state representative tested in a crowded GOP field in 2018, won with more than 63% of the vote in the past two general elections.

Bookwalter asked a question  in return.

“Are you surprised that people primary politicians?” Bookwalter, 45, a U.S. Army veteran and business owner, asked.

Charles Bookwalter (Photo: Bookwalter for Congress)

“You’d think that people would encourage this, particularly in a primary,” Bookwalter said. “You know, iron sharpens iron, let’s get the best candidate to represent us in D.C. But that hasn’t been my experience.”

Instead, Bookwalter said, that since he filed to run three weeks ago, he’s been told by party insiders that he should wait his turn – “that there is somebody on the horizon and the seats get protected.” In this case, Bookwalter said “the history of the Baird family” – with Jim Baird’s son, Beau, replacing him in the Indiana House when he was elected to Congress – was predicted to happen again when Congressman Baird decides to retire from the U.S. House.