President Donald Trump has endorsed 17 candidates for state legislative seats in Indiana, including five challengers to Republican state senators who voted against the redrawn map in December. This endorsement was a rare rebuke for Trump, who has maintained a firm grip on the Republican Party since his return to office. The endorsement came just weeks after Blake Fiechter was endorsed by Trump for a state Senate seat in Bluffton City, Indiana, backed out of the race. Despite this, Fieachter re-entered the race the next day. Millions have been invested into Indiana's Republican Senate primaries ahead of the May 5 primary. The conservative group Club for Growth announced it will spend $1.5 million on six Trump-backed Senate candidates in Indiana. Outside groups tied to U.S. Sen. Jim Banks, who supported the redistricting effort, have also contributed to the campaign.