(AUBURN) – Former U.S. Congressman Marlin Stutzman is running for the seat he used to hold.

Stutzman gathered with family and friends Tuesday in Auburn to announce his campaign for the Republican nomination for the Indiana 3rd District seat in the U.S. House Of Representatives.

Stutzman says his reason for running is just like countless other people in Northeast Indiana, he is fed up. As a father, a Christian and a small business owner, Stutzman says he is tired of the Federal government’s constant attack on hard working, God-fearing Americans.

Stutzman says he loves his home and the people of the 3rd District. He says they know his strong, conservative record and know in him they will have an America-first champion who is tough enough to fight for them in Washington. Stutzman says he will be unapologetic and relentless on the critical issues facing the United States.

The 46 year old Stutzman represented the Indiana 3rd Congressional District from 2010 to 2017. The seat will be open because current 3rd District Congressman Jim Banks has announced he is running for the Indiana Senate seat currently held by Mike Braun. Braun says he is running for Indiana Governor.

Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District includes all of LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Huntington, Wells and Whitley Counties, along with northern Jay and northeastern Kosciusko Counties.

Stutzman is the sixth candidate to join the Republican race for the 3rd District nomination. The other candidates who previously announced are former U.S. Senate staffer Jon Kenworthy, State Senator Andy Zay of Huntington; former Allen County judge Wendy Davis; Chandler Likes, a law school student; and Michael Felker, a retired Indiana National Guardsmen from Warsaw.

The 2024 primary election will be on May 7.