The first Republican to challenge Sen. Evan Bayh (D) has officially thrown his hat into the ring.

State Sen. Marlin Stutzman (R) held his campaign kickoff event over the weekend in Kendallville.

A couple other Hoosier Republicans have talked about the race, although neither former state Rep. Dan Dumezich nor Weaver Popcorn Co. Owner Will Weaver has announced his candidacy. Both Dumezich and Weaver are personally wealthy and are in a position to self-fund their campaigns if they decide to run.

Senate Republicans have not indicated they plan to target Bayh, who is not viewed as vulnerable and reported having more than $12 million in his campaign account earlier this year.