A longtime Indiana Republican lawmaker is calling it quits — and he’s not mincing words about why. Rep. Ed Clere, a fixture in the Indiana General Assembly for nearly two decades, says the Republican Party he joined no longer exists, replaced by what he describes as a Trump-driven culture of “toxic and divisive politics.”
Clere, who has represented the New Albany area since 2008, announced he will not seek a 10th term in the state House this year. Instead, he plans to leave the GOP entirely and run as an independent for New Albany mayor in 2027. His exit comes amid open warfare inside Indiana Republican ranks following a failed congressional redistricting push demanded by President Donald Trump.
That redistricting fight proved to be a breaking point. Clere was one of 12 Republicans who joined Democrats to vote against the bill when it cleared the House in December. The legislation ultimately collapsed in the Republican-controlled Senate, but not before Trump vowed political revenge against GOP lawmakers who defied him. In recent weeks, Trump has endorsed five primary challengers to sitting Republican senators tied to the rebellion.
Clere told the Indiana Capital Chronicle that the episode was a “very obvious and extreme example” of Washington-style politics infecting the state. “A lot of Indiana Republicans wanted nothing to do with it, and saw how dangerous and destructive it was, but still felt they had to go along with it,” he said. “I know lots of other people who are not OK with this but most of them are keeping their head down and hoping all of this blows over.”
Clere has increasingly found himself at odds with his party. In recent years, he voted against Indiana’s 2022 abortion ban, a 2023 prohibition on transgender medical care for minors, and a 2025 bill allowing partisan school board elections — all of which became law despite his opposition. He has also criticized cuts under the Braun administration to Medicaid, child care, and food assistance, warning of what he called an “ideological focus” overtaking state government.
He contrasted the current environment with the Republican Party of former Gov. Mitch Daniels, who was in office when Clere was first elected. “There’s still good legislation, but it’s not like it was when I arrived,” Clere said. “It’s a very different focus and a very different atmosphere.”
Despite leaving the party, Clere said he will remain in the House Republican caucus and serve out the remainder of his term through November. Republican leadership offered no immediate public response, though Clere said he informed House Speaker Todd Huston of his decision in what he described as a “very cordial” conversation.
Local GOP officials were less charitable, issuing a statement saying Clere “has stepped away from Republican values by supporting legislation not aligned with the Republican platform.”
Clere is perhaps best known for championing legislation in 2015 allowing syringe exchange programs following a devastating HIV outbreak in southern Indiana. Though he lost his committee chairmanship afterward, he calls the measure his proudest achievement, saying it “has saved countless lives.”
