Op-Ed: Unity Requires Respect for Voters and Each Other
This op-ed, authored by Wells County Republican Chairman Preston T. Wright and Jay County Republican Chairwoman Jenae Blasdel, originally appeared in the January 30, 2026, edition of the Bluffton News-Banner and was also published in the February 4, 2026, edition of the Portland Commercial Review.
As county party chairmen, we stay closely connected to Republican voters in our communities. That is why we are concerned by recent efforts from President Trump and Governor Braun to recruit primary challengers against State Senator Travis Holdman and other sitting state senators.
President Trump recently criticized Senator Holdman on Truth Social, calling him a “RINO” and an “America Last politician.” That criticism appears to stem from a single vote. Senator Holdman was one of 21 Republican state senators who voted against mid-cycle redistricting.
We represent two of the counties Senator Holdman serves. In both of our counties, many Republican voters took the time to share their concerns about mid-cycle redistricting with Senator Holdman. He weighed that input and voted based on what he heard from the people he represents. For that, he is now being targeted by leaders within his own party.
For months, the Governor’s team has attempted to recruit local elected officials to challenge Senator Holdman. Between five and ten respected local officials declined. That alone shows how much respect Senator Holdman has earned in his district and in the communities he serves.
At some point, legislators have to decide whether they answer to their constituents or to party leadership when the two do not align.
Both of us voted for President Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024. We support his agenda to lower taxes, reduce inflation and interest rates, unleash American energy, secure the border and put Americans first. Senator Holdman supports those same priorities. The idea that he should be forced out over a single vote taken in line with constituent opinion defies common sense.
We believe competition is healthy, including in Republican primaries. If an elected official is negligent or out of step with voters, they deserve to be challenged. That is not the case here. Senator Holdman did his job. Neither of us agrees with him on every issue, just as we do not agree with each other on everything. Debate strengthens our party. Blind loyalty does not.
It is also evident that President Trump does not fully know Senator Holdman’s record. As chairman of the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee, Senator Holdman has played a key role in lowering Indiana’s income tax and authored last year’s property tax relief legislation. These are core conservative accomplishments that align directly with President Trump’s stated priorities.
Indiana Republican Party Chairwoman Lana Keesling has emphasized unity as a guiding principle for Republicans this year. No matter the outcome of the primaries, we will support the Republican candidate who wins. Unity after primaries is essential if we expect voters to trust us and if we want to win.
Rather than expending energy on internal retribution, we encourage President Trump and Governor Braun to focus on winning the First Congressional District. With a strong candidate, Republicans have a real opportunity to flip that seat from Democrat to Republican. The district has grown more Republican each election cycle. That is where our collective efforts would be far better spent.
Republicans succeed when we respect voters, allow room for principled disagreement and focus on expanding our majority. Targeting a conservative state senator for honoring his constituents accomplishes none of those goals.
Preston T. Wright is chairman of the Wells County Republican Party. Jenae Blasdel is chairwoman of the Jay County Republican Party. Together, they represent counties within Indiana State Senate District 19.