'No one knew she was dead': GOP primary winner reportedly died 2 months ago
A projected Indiana Republican primary winner died two months ago, according to Wednesday reports.
Per the Colorado Gazette, 59-year-old Jennifer Pace died "suddenly in early March, according to reporting from the IndyStar and WIBC Indianapolis, and had previously run for the nomination in 2022, earning 12% of the vote."
The state's primary elections were held Tuesday, May 7, Newsweek reports. Pace was nominated to run against Democratic incumbent André Carson for control of Indiana's 7th Congressional District in November.
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"No one knew she was dead. Last week I researched the candidates online. I read their websites and questionnaire responses. I googled them. No mention of her death. No obituaries," a social media user who lives in the district wrote, according to the Gazette.
"Given her responses I strongly considered voting for her. Local media failed again."
Indiana Republican Party Press Secretary and Digital Director Griffin Reid provided a statement to the Gazette on Pace's death, saying, "It is our understanding that that is accurate."
When asked about whether the state GOP knows the cause of her passing, Reid replied, "We do not."
Newsweek notes, "The seat is unlikely to become competitive in November, as the district comprises Democratic-leaning Indianapolis."
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Carson won the district in 2022 — and President Joe Biden won in 2020 — according to the news outlet.
The Gazette's full report is available at this link. Newsweek's report is here.