Indiana state Rep. Ed Clere has announced that he will leave the Republican Party and not seek reelection to his House seat, instead launching an independent bid for mayor of New Albany in the city’s 2027 municipal election.
The News and Tribune first reported on Clere’s decision to leave the Republican Party earlier this week. According to the report, Clere, who has represented Indiana’s House District 72 since 2008, said his decision reflects growing disagreements with the direction of the Republican Party, particularly its legislative priorities, and a belief that he could be more effective in local leadership. His term runs through the end of 2026.
In recent years, Clere has publicly broken with party leadership on several high-profile issues, including a bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth, a syringe exchange program, and proposals to make school board elections partisan. He was also among a group of House Republicans who voted against a Trump-backed midterm redistricting effort last year. Following that vote, Clere reported that his home was targeted by a pipe bomb threat, which remains under investigation by state police.
Notably, Clere previously ran for mayor of New Albany in 2023 as a Republican, losing narrowly to incumbent Democratic Mayor Jeff Gahan. He said his upcoming campaign as an independent would better allow him to focus exclusively on local issues without party constraints.
Shortly after Clere’s announcement, the Indiana House Republican caucus voted to remove him from its private caucus meetings. House Speaker Todd Huston confirmed the decision in a brief statement, saying Clere would no longer caucus with Republicans following his departure from the party. Huston added that Clere’s committee assignments and staffing would remain unchanged.
Clere told reporters he had hoped to remain in the Republican caucus while completing his term but said he was informed of the expulsion just before the first caucus meeting of the legislative session. “I was surprised, and I am very disappointed, but I will continue to represent my district to the best of my ability, as I have for 18 years,” he added.
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