Congressman-elect Mark Messmer, who would not debate his 2024 election opponents, will not agree to take questions live from the Evansville Courier & Press.
An aide to Messmer, a Jasper-based Republican, said Wednesday that the 8th District's new representative will answer questions from the Courier & Press by email if they are submitted in writing. Messmer will succeed retiring Republican Congressman Larry Bucshon on Jan. 3.
It was not the newspaper's first attempt to pose questions to Messmer since his election on Nov. 5.
The Courier & Press began trying to arrange a phone interview with Messmer on Dec. 9, reaching out to Adam Johnson, his 2024 campaign manager. Johnson replied by text that if the Courier & Press would submit its questions by email, he would "have Mark work through them for you."
The newspaper told Johnson the questions concerned Messmer's agenda moving forward, which committees of the U.S. House of Representatives he wishes to join, staffing and his thoughts about working with President-elect Donald Trump.
Johnson advised the Courier & Press to call Messmer at his workplace on Dec. 11 or 12. A reporter called both days and once this week, leaving messages and getting no reply from Messmer.
In a phone conversation Wednesday, the Courier & Press made a final attempt to speak to Messmer.
"Mark has asked that you please submit your questions in writing," Johnson said by text. Johnson confirmed that Messmer was still proposing to answer questions by email.
Messmer's district is Republican turf
Having emerged from an eight-candidate GOP primary in May, Republican Messmer will soon represent one of the most Republican congressional districts in the nation.
The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index, or "PVI," measures how voters in the nation's 435 House districts cast their ballots in presidential races compared to the country as a whole. A "PVI score" of R+3, for example, means that in recent presidential elections, that district voted three percentage points more Republican than the national average.
The 8th District's PVI score? R+19.
Nearly a quarter of the 21-county 8th District's population resides in Vanderburgh County, according to U.S. Census data. The district is home to 756,642 people, including those who live in Warrick, Gibson and Posey counties.
When Messmer opted not to debate Democratic opponent Erik Hurt and Libertarian Party nominee Richard Fitzlaff in the fall election, University of Southern Indiana political scientist Matthew Hanka said the 8th District's Republican bent was a likely reason.
"It’s just probably a perfect example of running out the clock," Hanka said. "I think (Messmer) is basing it on the side of, ‘I’ve got this won. I’m going to win because it’s a deep red (Republican) district. I’m not going to risk losing it by putting myself out there.'"
'He's more than capable' of handling questions
Messmer's soon-to-be constituents are not well-served by his refusal to take questions from a news organization and subject himself to follow-up questions, said Steve Key, retired executive director and general counsel for the Hoosier State Press Association.
"It's disappointing that a U.S. congressman who represents such a large number of Hoosiers would be unwilling or reluctant to have a conversation with a reporter who is a conduit between the congressman and his constituents," Key said Wednesday.
Key said Messmer, who served as a member of the Indiana Legislature from 2008 until this year, should be used to answering questions from journalists.
"He's more than capable, from his past actions, of being able to respond to questions on the fly and not have to have a controlled dialogue where everything is in writing and then everything is written back," Key said.
"It's surprising and real disappointing, knowing his background."