Northwest Indiana will be losing a major player in statewide politics. Longtime Indiana state legislator Ralph Ayers had decided to withdraw from the November general election. Ayers, a Republican from Chesterton, has served 26 years in the Indiana House.

Porter County Republican Party chair Chuck Williams says Ayers’ leadership is hard to come by.

“Ralph worked well on both sides of the aisle, and was kind of the go-to guy on his side of the aisle for Northwest Indiana.”

Williams says a caucus will be held soon to select a replacement for Ayers. With Ayers, Republicans hold a slight majority in the Indiana House.

Another downstate Republican also announced on Monday plans to withdraw from the November election.