Onetime Chicago resident Todd Connor lost his bid to represent Porter County in the Indiana state Senate.
State Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, edged Connor and Ron Meer in the May 3 primary election, The Shelbyville News reported. Pol next will compete in the Nov. 8 general election against former Porter County Councilman Jeff Larson, who defeated Johannes Poulard to win the Republican nomination.
"We fell short and came in secondbut I will tell you I am super-grateful, have no regrets and feel invigorated by the people I have met here in Northwest Indiana [NWI]," he said in an open letter.
He added, "I continue to think NWI has a once-in-a-generation economic development opportunity to steward, that we have to protect the most vulnerable among us, build the middle class with real opportunities, defend reproductive rights, and stop the culture wars that not only degrade us spiritually but economically as well."
Connor, who's openly gay and who served in the U.S. Navy during 2000-04, is currently CEO of Veterans for Political Innovation, which aims to make "democracy more competitive, less polarized and more productive," according to his LinkedIn profile. He is also the co-founder of The Collective Academy and the founder of Bunker Labs; the latter "helps the military-connected community start and grow businesses." He also owns the La Porte spot Emerson House, a private wedding and event venue.