Mike Sodrel has loaned himself $425K

Yesterday, I did a quick rundown on what some of the top Republican candidates in the 9th congressional district race have raised.

Mike Sodrel had raised the most — $467,370…

…but most of it was from himself.

Sodrel loaned his campaign a whopping $350,000 on March 3. His FEC report from the first quarter also shows three other smaller loans to his campaign — $37,100 on February 4, $12,900 on March 8 and $25,000 on March 30.

There’s also an “in-kind” contribution listed for $4,420.

These add up to $425,000 — out of the total $467,370 raised.

This is not really a surprise.

Sodrel is the owner of Sodrel Truck Lines, a successful trucking company, and has self-funded his campaigns in the past.

This is his sixth time running for the seat.

He first ran in 2002, as the Republican nominee challenging Democrat Rep. Baron Hill, losing 46% to 51%.

He ran against Baron Hill again in 2004, and won, serving in Congress from 2005 to 2007.

Baron Hill ran against him in 2006, and defeated him 50% to 46%.

In 2008, Sodrel ran to try to get the seat back from Baron Hill, but lost badly with a 20-point spread between them — 58% to 38%.

He ran again in 2010, but didn’t win the Republican nomination: He came in third in the Republican primary after Todd Young and Travis Hankins. Todd Young went on to beat Baron Hill in the general election that year and that was the last anyone heard of Baron Hill.

But Sodrel apparently isn’t finished, and is determined to win next month’s Republican primary.

Among his contributors is Jamey Noel, the Clark County sheriff and a longtime supporter, who gave Sodrel $2900.

There’s also a $2900 contribution from John McCue, listed as the president and COO of Sodrel Truck Lines, Inc.

Indianapolis attorney and lobbyist Bob Grant contributed $1,000.