INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ Indiana Republican Party Chairman Eric Holcomb leads a number of high-level departures from the state party half a year after the 2012 elections.
 
  Holcomb announced Wednesday he was leaving to take a job outside politics. Former Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, Vice Chair Sandi Huddleston and Executive Director Justin Garrett also are leaving their posts within the party.
 
  The departing group had worked closely with former Gov. Mitch Daniels over the last eight years in building the party into a dominant force in state politics. Gov. Mike Pence had asked Holcomb to stay on.
 
  Republicans held the governor’s office in last year’s election and built a supermajority in the Indiana House of Representatives. However, Democrats won a U.S. Senate seat and the state school superintendent’s office.